Peter Pan & Wendy: the actor with Down syndrome is there but why does he speak so little?

“Wendy, one girl is worth more than twenty children,” he said Peter Pan in JM Barrie’s novel. And it’s really her Wendythe absolute protagonist in Peter Pan & Wendythe new live action from Disney available on Disney+ since the end of April.

It’s a Wendy plus independent, rebel, who left behind the role of the little girl to save. If anything is she a save Peter, as when, during a skirmish with Captain Hook, he cuts the ropes of the mainsail and makes it fall on the enemy. His courage and her wisdom also find support in Tinker Bell and Lily Tiger, the other two girls protagonists. All three no longer accept being considered the background of Peter Pan, and claim their importance.

“I’m Peter Pan. I never need help.”

“You have a magical fairy who makes you fly, a bevy of children at your service, and a princess who makes up for your damage as you play pirate-fighting. Do you really think you can beat Captain Hook by yourself?”

It is Wendy who reminds him of this, after placing a slap in the face for putting all of their lives in jeopardy.

In addition to the extraordinary visibility of the female gender (we also notice it in the girls of the Lost Children group, traditionally all males), what is striking is inclusiveness of the cast. Starting from Yara Shahidithe African-American actress who plays the Tinker Bell fairyAnd Alyssa Wapanatahkwhich he interprets Tiger Lily and who shares its roots with his character. Then there are the African American twins Skyler and Kelsey Yatestwo of the Lost Boys girls, along with Diana TsoyKorean-Canadian, e Caelan Edie, African American. Also among the ranks of the pirates are black actors Garfield Wilson and Kevan Cameron. Peter Pan himself has some non-Caucasian features given Alexander Molony’s multi-ethnic heritage. But among the interpreters that we most appreciate there is Noah Matthews MatofskyThe first actor with Down syndrome in a «prominent» role, as announced by the mass media, within a Disney film. He is the leader of the Lost Children, Slightly, who wears a pirate tricorn hat and with a spyglass points the horizon in search of Wendy’s brothers. A spyglass from which Wendy sees nothing, only to succeed when it is explained to her: “You’re looking the wrong way”.

And who knows if it wasn’t all of us looking the wrong way?

Actors with Down Syndrome are among the least likely job opportunities in Hollywood right now. This is because despite the air of greater inclusion, with a particular emphasis on female roles and representatives of the multi-ethnic and LGBTQIA+ community, the people with disabilities are still struggling to emerge on the big screen.

For this the role of Noah in Peter Pan & Wendy, although we would have loved to hear more about it. His presence had been anticipated by newspapers from all over the world, so seeing him in the film, but hearing him speak through very few lines, was disappointing. A kind of false narrative to show an inclusiveness which, in fact, is exploitedis not complete, and will only be complete when ads like this are no longer needed.

His role comes a month after that James Martin went down in history as first actor with Down syndrome in an Oscar-winning film, An Irish Goodbye.

Among the successful actors with Down syndrome we remember Zack Gottsagenstarring alongside Hollywood stars Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson in the breakthrough film Journey to a Dream – The Peanut Butter Falcon (2020); And Kassie Mundhenk, Moira Ross in the HBO miniseries Murder in Easttown (2021). But taking a dip in the past, Corky’s role in the series is iconic A family like any otherplayed by lead actor Chris Burke.

Even in the world of theater Jamie Brewer changed Broadway, playing the first lead role of an actress with Down syndrome in Amy and the orphans (2018).

And in Italy? There have been movies like Up & Down – A normal film (2018) by Paolo Ruffini, documentary of the homonymous theatrical show which included five actors with Down syndrome and one autistic; or Rai fiction as **Everyone is perfect **(2019), based on the Tytgat Chocolat series and adapted by Giacomo Campiotti.

Yet there is still a long way to go from a representation standpoint for this community. We should follow the example of Lindsey Ferrentino, the screenwriter of Amy and the orphans, when he wrote the following note to the directors who would be working on his script: “Finding a talented actor with Down syndrome is not difficult. So do it.”

Recognizing yourself on television, as well as in textbooks or toys, has an extraordinary impact on those who live on the margins.

Last April was born the first Barbie with Down syndrome in the history of Mattel.

After the curvy Barbies, the multi-ethnic Barbies, the Barbies in wheelchairs and those with prostheses, the first Barbie with Down syndrome has finally arrived. An important step because it not only allows people in this group to recognize each other, but normalizes a diversity that broadens the views of the youngest and frees them from prejudice.

She was chosen as testimonial Ellie Goldsteinalready famous for being the first model with Down syndrome in the advertising campaign of a prestigious maison, Gucci.

“When I saw the doll I felt excited and proud,” Ellie wrote on social media. “It means a lot to me that children can play with this doll and learn that each of us is different. I am proud that Barbie has chosen me to introduce her to the world. Diversity is important because people need to see more people like me, instead of hiding them.”

So let’s turn the telescope the other way, like Wendy did. To discover extraordinary things that we hadn’t noticed; things that were there all the time, in front of our eyes. We just weren’t ready to see them.