Five-Day Forecast

When Tinker Bell first appeared in J. M. Barrie’s play Peter Pan in 1904, she wasn’t portrayed by an actress. She was just a circle of light reflected from offstage that darted about the props and scenery. Her “voice” was the tinkling of little bells – some from a belled collar and some imported by the author from Switzerland. On stage, she’s still presented in much the same way. In 2015, as a member of the orchestra in Murray’s Peter Pan, I played her “voice” on a keyboard imitating a celesta. Tinker Bell wasn’t portrayed by an actress in Disney’s 1953 cartoon, either. But an actress DID play her in the 1924 silent film version. (If you’re interested, you can catch the whole thing on YouTube.) So, I guess the second time anyone played Tinker Bell was in 1961, when a former circus aerialist first “flew” over the Sleeping Beauty castle. Tiny Kline was 4’10” and 98 pounds. And 71 years old.