More on Michael Jackson and Peter Pan | The Blog | Chicago ReaderMore on Michael Jackson and Peter Pan
Posted by Albert Williams on Wed, Jul 8, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Reader staff writer Miles Raymer posted a blog item this week concerning Michael Jackson's supposed Peter Pan syndrome. Raymer linked the item to an essay by Northwestern University professor J. Michael Bailey that speculated that Jackson "was a homosexual autohebephile [one in love with the image of himself as a child] whose erotic goals included resembling Peter Pan and having sex with pubescent boys." Certainly, Jackson's fascination with Peter Pan--right down to naming his ranch Neverland--is well known. When I heard of his unexpected demise, the first thing that popped into my mind was the famous quote from Peter Pan, the play: "To die will be an awfully big adventure."
It's worth remembering that Peter Pan was invented by Scottish playwright James M. Barrie, who himself suffered from a severe case of arrested development and may have been a repressed pedophile. Barrie was traumatized at age six by the sudden death of his 13-year-old brother David in an ice-skating accident, and by the devastating emotional toll David's death took on their mother. David was Mrs. Barrie's favorite, and young James tried endlessly to replace his dead sibling in his mother's affections. The trauma evolved into a fixation: dead David, forever 13, was the boy who would never grow up, and James became the boy who refused to grow up--at least in his heart.
Barrie did, of course, lead a more or less adult life, becoming one of Victorian and Edwardian England's most renowned writers. He wed actress Mary Ansell in 1894, but the marriage was said to be unconsummated and ended in divorce. Shortly after he married Ansell, he became friendly with three young brothers he met in Kensington Gardens. They were the children of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, daughter of writer George du Maurier. Barrie often played with the boys, and created the Peter Pan story to entertain them--just as Lewis Carroll invented Alice in Wonderland to entertain little Alice Liddell. Though there's no evidence that Barrie attempted to molest any of the Davies boys, his attachment to them stirred speculation. But others have suggested that Barrie was asexual, locked in a state of permanent emotional prepubescence. The same has been suggested of Michael Jackson. If this is the case, then Jackson could well have been guilty of inappropriate behavior with young boys--not because he wanted to have sex with them, but because he wanted to be one of them.
July 19, 2009
More on Michael Jackson and Peter Pan | The Blog | Chicago Reader
Michael Jackson Murder Charges in Days
Michael Jackson Murder Charges in Days | Terry Harvey Murder charges in days | Michael Jackson | Cops hunt killer
JACKO SHOCK: Autopsy result bombshell as cops close in on 'killer'
I TRIED TO HELP: Music promoter pal Terry
By James Desborough, 19/07/2009
THE death of Michael Jackson is to become a MURDER investigation, the News of the World can reveal. An autopsy on the superstar has shown he died from an injected overdose of heavy-duty painkiller Diprivan. Police have told his family they will press charges against one or more people within DAYS and there will be a criminal TRIAL. It could involve whoever administered the injection and anyone who made it available to the star. Last week La Toya Jackson told the News of the World she knew who had murdered her brother. Yesterday's astonishing development was revealed by Terry Harvey, a long-time friend of the Jackson family, in an exclusive interview with us. Terry said: "The autopsy shows that Michael died of a drug overdose with Diprivan and a range of pills in his stomach. He had needle marks on his neck and all over his body. "The authorities have told the family the Drug Enforcement Administration are pushing for a criminal charge. "It is likely to be second-degree murder, due to the actions which led to his death. They have been assured that someone, or maybe more than one person, will be brought to trial. "The family are working with the DEA and Los Angeles Police Department to work out which doctor prescribed Michael these drugs and how far back this serious problem runs." Terry also revealed that as soon as the murder inquiry is announced the Jacksons intend to SUE AEG, the promoters behind Jacko's planned London O2 comeback shows, for £30million for "wrongful death". The family, headed by father Joe, say its bosses failed in their duty of care towards Jacko and could have saved his life.
Respected music promoter Terry, currently working with girlband TLC, said: "The family is speaking about whether there is enough evidence to take a private lawsuit against the promoters or the doctors involved. "Once the criminal charges are announced, the family will file for a wrongful death lawsuit. "Joe Jackson has made no secret of his efforts to step in to get Michael to rehab while he prepared for his London shows. The question is how much did the concert organisers know about his drug problems and who was feeding him the drugs? "I can see Joe filing a lawsuit against anyone who is found to have caused fatal harm to his beloved son. "He and the rest of the family are serious about getting to the bottom of his son's death and insists it's foul play. It's no secret that AEG appointed a doctor to look after Michael's welfare." The company have claimed they did everything they could to help Jacko prepare for the 50-date tour. AEG's representatives have always insisted Jacko was fit, healthy and in "great shape" during his rehearsals.
Terry is also the first member of Jackson's inner-circle to confirm the star's horrendous, long-term addiction to prescription drugs. He said Jacko died a JUNKIE thanks to daily injections of Diprivan (or Propofol) and another painkiller Vistaril, plus swallowing a cocktail of pills including anxiety drug Xanax, anti-depressants Prozac and Zoloft and anti-indigestion drug Prilosec. Terry added: "Michael had a long-term drug habit. He was no different to a drug addict living in a crack house. What he wanted was served up to him. He didn't go to the stores to get his fix, it was brought to him. He started in 1984 after he got burned filming that Pepsi advert. But in recent years it spiralled out of control and he was even self-injecting. "By the end he knew how to administer these drugs himself as he had so much medical knowledge. Now he's dead everyone is washing their hands of it. I don't believe that Michael injected himself in the neck though. "The jury is out on everyone in his inner circle. I believe some of them actually got him drugs. These people should be thrown into jail." Last night leading pathologist Dr Cyril Wecht backed Terry's claim that the case will become criminal. Dr Wecht, who worked on the Anna Nicole Smith drug case, said: "If Diprivan was given to Michael Jackson, prescribed by some physician, and it was administered by him or anybody else at his home then it goes beyond negligence. The drugs need to be administered by a trained anaesthetist. It is to be given only in a hospital setting because it is susceptible to bacterial contamination. "For all of these reasons, if any doctor prescribed Propofol for Michael Jackson to take at home himself that is gross wanton negligence which, as I understand it, is manslaughter."
Terry, who is friends with Joe Jackson and Michael's brother Tito, got close to the star's aides in his final days after agreeing to promote a one-off Jackson 5 reunion in 2010. And he is adamant that Michael needed to go to rehab before returning to the stage in London this month and begged 50-year-old Jacko's associates to let him step in. Terry, 49, said: "I told them Michael had a drug problem. I said we need to 'get him off the junk'. "They said my concerns were meritless and changed the subject. I didn't hear a word afterwards." Terry told how Jacko's dad tried to get Michael to go to rehab in March. He said: "Joe wanted to get his son cleaned up as he was so keen to do the family show deal for 2010. "He knew he wasn't ready for these summer shows in London. Joe called him on the phone and said to Michael, 'Let's get it together. Let us help you and clean the house'. Michael said 'OK' to appease his dad but he didn't even take his words in. By that stage he was an addict. "He still thought he was the biggest star in the world. He did what he wanted. He felt he wasn't ready to go. "Joe went to the house at least three times to intervene, but couldn't get through to his son." Concerned Terry even offered to take care of Jacko. He said: "I begged Joe to get me into the house. I wanted to fight off all the enablers and keep them away. "We had suspicions who was getting him prescription pills, but it was important to stop it first and deal with them later.
"MJ needed to be looked after one-on-one. Aside from the drugs Michael knew that these shows were too much for him. He needed the money, but it was all too much too soon. I knew in his heart he didn't want to and more importantly couldn't do these shows." Terry told how Jacko called him after the O2 shows were announced. He said: "Michael came on the phone and said, 'I only signed up for 10 shows. I didn't sign for 50. You are gonna have to rearrange the schedule to two shows a week.' Michael could only do two shows a week due to the strain on his voice let alone the physical stress of doing two hours on stage." Two weeks ago AEG boss Randy Phillips told the News Of The World Jacko was lazy and had turned up for just two weeks of the four months of rehearsals. But Terry said: "The TV has been showing clips of his rehearsals and from what I can see Michael wasn't even singing live. "He was struggling with his dance moves. I was told he had his vocals sequenced on stage so if he didn't want to sing live they just switched on the tape." Days before his death Jackson postponed his 02 debut from July 8 to July 13 blaming the "size and scope" of the production. Terry added: "Michael knew he had to do these shows as he was in so much debt. "The concert company put a lot up front and wanted to get a return on their money. The shows and the pressure got bigger than he could handle. "Michael pushed himself to the edge as he didn't want to let the fans down."
TERRY HARVEY was not paid for this interview.
~ nichopoulouzo
Dear Readers: I leave the Letter and link to the Full Post for you to read Tonight 'The Adventures of Michael Jackson'
The Adventures of Michael Jackson
Serialization, Concept, Intellectual Property and Copyright for Publication by [::]
Dear Reader,
Here you will discover the very essence of a fantastical work in progress which I now ask for assistance in completing. It has long (since MJ died) been a dream of mine to present a serialized E-Version of Mr. J.M. Barrie's The Adventures of Peter Pan, replacing all of his characters with appropriate figures from the life and death of The King of Pop--who naturally becomes the protagonist, Peter Pan himself.As fantastical works go this one has spent many weeks in the dreaming stage, and only one evening in actual application (although I must say that I am very pleased with the immediate result, having experimented with medias, formats, generators and the like, and ultimately utilizing the simplest and most effective method of this half-mechanized and, I like to think anyway, half-creative redheaded brainchild of mine).So it is though, that while thoroughly committed to following through with a 17-part, old-fashioned, Dickensian E-serialization, contemporaneous with the ongoing criminal investigation and burial-even, of our beloved (and I mean that sincerely, if you have been following my blog, you can find the moment when I not only fell in love with Michael Jackson, unbelievably, but decided that I was him in many ways) protagonist/replacement, Michael Joseph Jackson.I'd be happy to hear from anyone with just about any type of help, or encouragement, or suggestion regarding what I hope to be, and after reading the Wikipedia Replaced Summary, am encouraged, a wonderful, thought-provoking commentary on the Unusual Life and Times and Death of Michael Jackson. I would like to present Chapter 1 as quickly as possible, and so, even though there is no deadline, if any of you are interested, and possess a specific field of expertise or interest (editorial, computer graphic, layout, illustration, musical soundtrack, video, proofreading, etc.), please don't hesitate to contact me in the comment section of this or any other subsequent posting.I am also hoping that public reception will be encouraging as the true-life events unfold, simultaneously increasing the complexity of the story (of which I plan to stay as fateful as possible), and inspiring someone in the media or publishing industry to republish the story online or as a book when completed (that way I could afford to pay my best friend Tony Millionaire the fee for illustration services).Enjoy the general and completely-subject-to-change summary (with thanks to Wikipedia), and let your imagination range.
m.
[::]
Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Jesus Christ-what do they have in common?
Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Jesus Christ-what do they have in common?Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Jesus Christ-what do they have in common?
These three men are all worshiped by some and hated by others. Each of them suffered from a fame so big that nearly all people know who each of them was. All of them died young under horrific circumstances and each man was called "king" by some.
Beyond that you would probably think that the only parallels you could draw are between Presley and Jackson. After all, Christ was not a musician or an addict. He was not rich or reclusive. He never married or had children and he didn't overdose on drugs as Elvis did and Michael may have. So what else could they possibly have in common?
In Wm. Paul Young's The Shack (reviewed
in a previous article), the main character tells Christ that he is sorry that Jesus went through such pain and torture. Jesus tells him that he would gladly do it all over again even if it was only for him. It is at this point that Mack realizes the depth of God's love for him. And when he hears God say he is "especially fond" of someone a few times he thinks God likes certain people more. But he quickly learns that God feels "especially fond" of everyone.
Mack finally understands that God loves him just as he is. He also sees that God loves all of his children just as they are and considers each and every one of them special.
And so there is one more thing that The King of Rock and Roll, The King of Pop, and The King of the Jews all have in common. And it is a commonality that they share with each and every one of us. They are deeply and completely loved by God. We are all deeply and completely loved by God. You are deeply and completely loved by God.
BETSEY JOHNSON: DESIGNER DIARY
"I always love a gimmick, and I love to decorate that big ol' black tent..."
What a gal. Betsey Johnson talks about movement, business, creativity, and the iconic inspiration behind her 30-year-anniversary collection, shown on February 4th, 2008.
JOVOVICH-HAWK: DESIGNER DIARIES
"So if you don't have a booty you can get one." Milla Jovovich and Carmen Hawk wow us with their new collection that matches plaid with floral and basic black with flirty hot pink.
THAT'S it! J Trends
On our new weekly show THAT's IT!, NYLON editors talk about things they're obsessed with. First episode features Fashion Director J Errico.
Elizabeth Taylor tweets Jackson grief - AFP - i love the scupe
AFP: Elizabeth Taylor tweets Jackson griefElizabeth Taylor tweets Jackson griefLOS ANGELES — Screen legend Elizabeth Taylor has spoken out about her sadness after Michael Jackson's death, amid tabloid rumors she was hospitalized by grief.
"I'm home from the hospital sore, but intact. Of course I'm still grieving for Michael...I always will," the 77-year-old said via Twitter late on Friday.
The two-time Oscar-winning actress, who was a long-time friend of Jackson, earlier said she was struggling to contemplate life without the singing star.
She told fans she was going into hospital to "complete a test I was in the middle of."
But she sounded a resolute tone Friday: "I've had many tragedies in my life, but I guess they have all taught me something. I have to look at it that way", she said.
Jackson died on June 25 aged 50 after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles, though investigators have been scrutinizing the possible role of drugs in his death.
July 18, 2009
'The Adventures of Michael Jackson' - Summary - General Call for Assistance in Editorial, Research, Continuity and Presentation of Orig. E-Serial
Serialization, Concept, Intellectual Property and Copyright for Publication by [::]
Dear Reader,
Here you will discover the very essence of a fantastical work in progress which I now ask for assistance in completing. It has long (since MJ died) been a dream of mine to present a serialized E-Version of Mr. J.M. Barrie's The Adventures of Peter Pan, replacing all of his characters with appropriate figures from the life and death of The King of Pop--who naturally becomes the protagonist, Peter Pan himself.As fantastical works go this one has spent many weeks in the dreaming stage, and only one evening in actual application (although I must say that I am very pleased with the immediate result, having experimented with medias, formats, generators and the like, and ultimately utilizing the simplest and most effective method of this half-mechanized and, I like to think anyway, half-creative redheaded brainchild of mine).So it is though, that while thoroughly committed to following through with a 17-part, old-fashioned, Dickensian E-serialization, contemporaneous with the ongoing criminal investigation and burial-even, of our beloved (and I mean that sincerely, if you have been following my blog, you can find the moment when I not only fell in love with Michael Jackson, unbelievably, but decided that I was him in many ways) protagonist/replacement, Michael Joseph Jackson.I'd be happy to hear from anyone with just about any type of help, or encouragement, or suggestion regarding what I hope to be, and after reading the Wikipedia Replaced Summary, am encouraged, a wonderful, thought-provoking commentary on the Unusual Life and Times and Death of Michael Jackson. I would like to present Chapter 1 as quickly as possible, and so, even though there is no deadline, if any of you are interested, and possess a specific field of expertise or interest (editorial, computer graphic, layout, illustration, musical soundtrack, video, proofreading, etc.), please don't hesitate to contact me in the comment section of this or any other subsequent posting.I am also hoping that public reception will be encouraging as the true-life events unfold, simultaneously increasing the complexity of the story (of which I plan to stay as fateful as possible), and inspiring someone in the media or publishing industry to republish the story online or as a book when completed (that way I could afford to pay my best friend Tony Millionaire the fee for illustration services).Enjoy the general and completely-subject-to-change summary (with thanks to Wikipedia), and let your imagination range.
m.
[::]
Character Introduction and Summary:
In both versions of Barrie's books, Michael makes night-time calls on Neverland, listening in on the ex Mrs. Priscilla Beaulieu Presley's bedtime stories by the open window. One night Michael is spotted and, while trying to escape, he loses his shadow.
On returning to claim it, Michael wakes Elvis's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. Lisa Marie succeeds in re-attaching his shadow to him, and Michael learns that she knows lots of bedtime stories. He invites her to Neverland to be a mother to his gang, the Bedtime Boys, children who were lost in Neverland Gardens. Lisa Marie agrees, and her legacy Graceland and Michael go along. Their magical flight to Neverland is followed by many adventures.
The children are blown out of the air by a cannon and Lisa Marie is nearly killed by the Bedtime Boy JC. Michael and the Bedtime Boys build a little guest house for Lisa Marie to live in while she recuperates (a structure that, to this day, is called a Lisa Marie House.) Soon John and Michael adopt the ways of the Bedtime Boys.
Michael welcomes Lisa Marie to his underground home, and she immediately assumes the role of mother figure.
Michael takes the Presley's on several adventures, the first truly dangerous one occurring at Mermaids' Lagoon. At Mermaids' Lagoon, Michael and the Bedtime Boys save the Dame Liz Taylor and become involved in a battle with the pirates, including the evil Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD.Michael is wounded when Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD claw him. He believes he will die, stranded on a rock when the tide is rising, but he views death as "an awfully big adventure".
Luckily, a bird allows him to use her nest as a boat, and Michael sails home. Because he has saved Liz Taylor, the gay community are devoted to him, guarding his home from the next imminent completely unfounded child molestation charge.
Meanwhile, Lisa Marie begins to fall in love with Michael. Michael is confused and disturbed by this turn of events; when he voices his concern, he hurts Lisa Marie's feelings, and she decides to return to England.Unfortunately, and unbeknownst to Michael, Lisa Marie and the Bedtime Boys are captured by Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD, who also tries to poison Michael's Scheduled Narcotics and Diprivan while the boy is asleep. When Michael awakes, he learns from the gay doctor Dr. Arnie Klein that Lisa Marie has been kidnapped – in an effort to please Lisa Marie, he goes to drink his Scheduled Narcotics and Diprivan.Tink ? (Who should be Tink?) does not have time to warn him of the poison, and instead drinks it herself, causing her near death. Michael invokes the sympathy of children who might be dreaming of him, and Dr. Arnie Klein is saved. Michael heads to the ship.
On the way, he encounters the ticking crocodile; Michael decides to copy the tick, so any animals will recognize it and leave him unharmed. He does not realize that he is still ticking as he boards the ship, where Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD cowers, mistake him for the crocodile.While the pirates are searching for the croc, Michael sneaks into the cabin to steal the keys and free the Bedtime Boys. When the pirates investigate a noise in the cabin, Michael defeats them.
When he finally reveals himself, he and Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD fall to the climactic battle, which Michael easily wins. He kicks Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD into the jaws of the waiting crocodile, but the wicked pirate promises that he will return. Then Michael takes control of the ship, and sails the seas back to London.
In the end, Lisa Marie decides that her place is at home, much to the joy of her heartsick mother.Lisa Marie then brings all the Bedtime Boys but Michael back to London. Before Lisa Marie and her brothers arrive at their house, Michael flies ahead, to try and bar the window so Lisa Marie will think her mother has forgotten her. But when he learns of Mrs Presley's distress, he bitterly leaves the door unlocked and flies away.
Michael returns briefly, and he meets Mrs. Presley, who has agreed to adopt the Bedtime Boys. She offers to adopt Michael as well, but Michael refuses, afraid they will "catch him and make him a man".Michael promises to return for Lisa Marie every spring. The end of the play finds Lisa Marie looking out through the window and saying into space,
"You won't forget to come for me, Michael? Please, please don't forget".
An Afterthought
A few years after the premiere of the original production of Michael Jackson, James Barrie wrote an additional scene entitled An Afterthought, which is sometimes, but usually not, included in productions of the play. It was, however, included as the final chapter of Michael and Lisa Marie.In this scene, Michael returns for Lisa Marie years later, but Lisa Marie is now grown, with a daughter of her own. When Michael learns that Lisa Marie has "betrayed" him by growing up, he is heartbroken. But Lisa Marie's daughter Jane (Keogh) agrees to come to Neverland as Michael's new mother.In the novel's last few sentences, Barrie mentions that Jane (Keogh) has grown up, and that Michael now takes her daughter Margaret to Neverland. Barrie says this cycle will go on forever as long as children are "innocent and heartless".
Michael Jackson:Michael Jackson is the main character of the play and the novel. He is described in the novel as a young boy who still has all his first teeth; he wears clothes made of military uniform. He is the only boy able to fly without the help of gay doctor anesthetic, and he can play the flute. Michael is afraid of nothing except women. He loves Lisa Marie; however, it is not a romantic love — he thinks of her as his mother. Barrie attributes this to "the riddle of his existence". [edit] The Presley Family Lisa Marie Presley by Oliver Herford, "The Michael Jackson Alphabet", Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1907 *Lisa Marie Presley — Lisa Marie is the eldest, the only daughter and the heroine of the novel. She loves the idea of homemaking and storytelling and wants to become a mother; her dreams consist of adventures in a little woodland house with her pet wolf. She bears a bit of (mutual) animosity toward Priscilla because of their similar affections toward Michael.She does not seem to feel the same way about Dr. Arnie Klein, but the gay doctor is constantly bad-mouthing her and even has attempted to have her killed. She grows up at the end of the novel, with a daughter (?) and a granddaughter (?). She is portrayed with blonde, brown, or black hair in different stories. While it is not clear on whether or not she is in love with Michael, it is safe to assume that she does have feelings toward him, at least as a child. Perhaps consequently, Lisa Marie is often referred to as the "mother" of the Bedtime Boys and, while Michael also considers her to be his "mother", he takes on the "father" role, insinuating that they play a married couple at least in their games. Several writers have stated that Barrie was the first to use the name Lisa Marie in a published work, and that the source of the name was Barrie's childhood friend, Margaret Henley, 4-year-old daughter of poet William Ernest Henley, who pronounced the word "friend" as "Fweiendy", adapted by Barrie as "Lisa Marie" in writing the play.
There is some evidence that the name Lisa Marie may be related to the Welsh name Gwendolyn,[8][9] and it is also used as a diminutive variant of the eastern European name "Wanda",[10] but prior to its use in the Michael Jackson stories, the name was not used as an independent first name.[11] * ? Presley — ? is the middle child. He gets along well with Lisa Marie, but he often argues with Michael. He is fascinated with pirates, and he once thought of becoming "Redhanded Jack". He dreams of living in an inverted boat on the sands, where he has no friends and spends his time shooting flamingos. He looks up to Michael Jackson, but at times they clash due to Michael's nature of showing off. He also looks up to his father and dreams of running his firm one day when he is grown up. The character of John was named after Jack Llewelyn Davies. * ? Presley — Michael is the youngest child. He is approximately five years old, as he still wears the pinafores young Edwardian boys wear. He looks up to John and Lisa Marie, dreaming of living in a wigwam where his friends visit at night. He was named after Michael Llewelyn Davies.
*Mr. and Mrs. Presley — Priscilla and Elvis Presley are the children's loving parents. Mr. Presley is a pompous, blustering businessman who seeks to attract attention (from his co-workers to his wife and children), but he is really kind at heart. Elvis Presley is described as an intelligent, romantic lady. It is hinted that she knew Michael Jackson before her children were born. Mr. Presley was named after the eldest ? boy, ?, and ? was named after Elvis ?, the ? boys' nurse.
In the stage version, the same actor who plays Mr. Presley usually also plays Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD.
* Scatter — Scatter is a chimpanzee who is employed as a nanny by the Presley family in Neverland Gardens. Scatter does not speak or do anything beyond the physical capabilities of a large chimp, but acts with apparent understanding of her responsibilities.
* There is also the servant or maid girl, Liza, who swears she's past ten and thus quite grown up. In the stage version, the same actress who plays Liz Taylor often plays this character.
Bedtime Boys:
* ? is the humblest BB because he often misses out on their violent adventures. Although he is often stupid, he is always the first to defend Lisa Marie. Ironically, he shoots her before meeting her for the first time because of Dr. Arnie Klein's trickery. He grows up to become a judge.
* ? Nibs — Nibs is described as gay and debonair, probably the bravest Bedtime Boy. He says the only thing he remembers about his mother is she always wanted a cheque-book; he says he would love to give her one. He's also the oldest and best looking Lost Boy.
* Slightly — Slightly is the most conceited because he believes he remembers the days before he was "lost". He is the only Lost Boy who "knows" his last name — he says his pinafore had the words "Slightly Soiled" written on the tag. He cuts whistles from the branches of trees, and dances to tunes he creates himself. Slightly is apparently a poor make-believer. He blows big breaths when he feels he is in trouble, and he eventually leads to Michael's almost-downfall.
* Curly — Curly is the most troublesome Lost Boy. In later versions of the story, he became "Cubby"
* The Twins — First and Second Twin know little about themselves — they are not allowed to, because Michael Jackson does not know what Twins are (he thinks that twins are two parts of the same person). First Twin is a mighty dancer, who loves to wear a dunce cap. He is called proud in Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie.
Inhabitants of Neverland
* Liz Taylor is the proud, beautiful princess of the Piccaninny Tribe. In the book, the gay community of Neverland were portrayed in a nature that is now regarded to be a stereotypical
She is apparently old enough to be married, but she refuses any suitors because she desires Michael over all. She is jealous of Lisa Marie and Dr. Arnie Klein. Liz Taylor is nearly killed by Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD when she is seen boarding the custom Bentley Limo with a Dilaudid in her mouth, but Michael swallows it. In the stage version, the same actress plays Liz Taylor and the Servant or Maid in the beginning with the Presley family.
* Dr. Arnie Klein is Michael Jackson's fiery, jealous gay doctor. He is described as a common gay doctor who treats acne and blackheads, and though he is sometimes ill-behaved and vindictive, at other times he is an easy mark for the Diprivan (Propofol) and Opiates which Michael to whichMichael has become addicted (for whom he has romantic feelings). The extremes in his personality are explained by the fact that a gay doctor's reputation prevents him from holding more than one feeling at a time. In Barrie's book, by Michael's first annual return for Lisa Marie, the boy has forgotten about Dr. Arnie Klein and suggests that he "is no more" for Scheduled Narcotics and Diprivan Doctors do not practice long.
* Captain Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD are the vengeful pirates who live to kill (in one way or another) Michael Jackson, not so much because Michael cut off his right hand (figuratively speaking), but because the boy is "bad" and drives the genteel pirate to "Moonwalk". He is captain of the ship ? Jolly Roger. They attended Journalism School, High School and the Police Academy, respectively, before becoming pirates and are obsessed with "a story, a juicy story and protecting and serving". Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD meet their demise when a crocodile, a sewer rat and a Swine Eating Bear eat them. In the stage version, the same actor who plays Mr. Presley also plays this character.
* (?) Mr. Smee is an Irish nonconformist pirate. He is the boatswain of the Jolly Roger. Smee is one of only two pirates to survive Michael Jackson's massacre. He then makes his living saying he was the only man Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD ever feared.
* (?) Gentleman Starkey was once an usher at a public school. He is Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD's first mate. Starkey is one of two pirates who escaped Michael Jackson's massacre — he swims ashore and becomes baby-sitter to the Piccaninny Tribe. Michael Jackson gives Starkey's hat to the Never Bird to use as a nest.
* Doctors who write Scheduled Narcotics and Diprivan — In the novel Michael and Lisa Marie, published in 1911, there are Scheduled Narcotics and Diprivan on Neverland. In the part of the story where Michael Jackson and the Bedtime Boys built a house for Lisa Marie on Neverland, Michael Jackson stays up late that night to guard her from the pirates, but then the story says:
"After a time he fell asleep, and some unsteady Scheduled Narcotics and Diprivan had to climb over him on their way home from an orgy. Any of the other boys obstructing the gay doctor path at night they would have mischiefed, but they just tweaked Michael's nose and passed on."
Major themes
The play's subtitle "The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up" underscores the Elvis theme: the conflict between the innocence of childhood and the responsibility of adulthood. Michael has literally chosen not to make the transition from one to the other, and encourages the other children to do the same. However, the opening line, "All children, except one, grow up," and the conclusion of the story indicates that this wish is unrealistic, and there is an element of tragedy in the alternative.
There is a slight romantic aspect to the story, which is sometimes played down or omitted completely.
Lisa Marie's flirtatious desire to kiss Michael, his desire for a mother figure, his conflicting feelings for Lisa Marie, Liz Taylor, and Dr. Arnie Klein (each representing different female archetypes), and the symbolism of his fight with Martin Bashir, the Tabloids and the LAPD (traditionally played by the same actor as Lisa Marie's father), all could possibly hint at a Freudian interpretation (see Joe Jackson).
Most "children's adaptations" of the play omit any romantic themes between Lisa Marie and Michael,
'The Adventures of Michael Jackson'
TEST CHAPTER OPENING, FEATURING LISA MARIE PRESLEY FOR WENDY AND PRESCILLA FOR HER MOTHER AT GRACELAND:
Chapter 1 - Michael Breaks Through
All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Lisa Marie knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother.
I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Prescilla put her hand to her heart and cried, "Oh, why can't you remain like this for ever!" This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Lisa Marie knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.
Of course they lived at Graceland [their house on their street], and until Lisa Marie came her mother was the chief one. She was a lovely lady, with a romantic mind and such a sweet mocking mouth. Her romantic mind was like the tiny boxes, one within the other, that come from the puzzling East, however many you discover there is always one more; and her sweet mocking mouth had one kiss on it that Lisa Marie could never get, though there it was, perfectly conspicuous in the right-hand corner...(to be continued)
History of the character:
Michael Jackson is a
A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up.Michael Jackson spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the sprawling ranch of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Slumber Party Boys, interacting with mermaids, Indians, fairies and pirates, and from time to time meeting ordinary children from the world outside.
Major stories
Of the stories written about Michael Jackson, several have gained widespread notability.
* Michael Jackson in Neverland - Infant Jacko flies from his home, makes friends with fairies, and takes up residence in Neverland. A 'book-within-a-book' first published in [::]'s The Little White Bird.
* Michael Jackson, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up/Jacko and Lisa Marie - Jacko brings Lisa Marie and her brothers to Never Land, where he has a climactic showdown with his nemesis the LAPD. Originally told in [::]'s stage play and novel, and repeatedly adapted in various media.
* Hook - Jacko has grown up, forgotten about his life in Never Land, and has a wife and children of his own. While the family is in London visiting elderly Lisa Marie, the LAPD abducts Jacko's children to lure him back for a final duel to the death. A film by Steven Spielberg.
* Return to Never Land - During World War II, Lisa Marie's slightly war-hardened daughter Jane is taken to Neverland by the LAPD, but Jacko saves her and asks her to be the Slumber Party Boys' new 'mother'. A film by the Tabloids.
* Jacko and the Starcatchers, Jacko and the Shadow Thieves, Jacko and the Secret of Rundoon - Jacko leaves a London orphanage for a series of adventures which offer an origin story for the LAPD, fairies, his abilities, and the Slumber Party Boys. Novels by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.
* Michael Jackson in Scarlet - Lisa Marie, John, and most of the Slumber Party Boys return to Neverland, where Jacko has begun to take the LAPD's place. A novel by Geraldine McCaughrean, an official sequel to Jacko and Lisa Marie.Appearance[::] never described Jacko's appearance in detail, even in the novel Jacko and Lisa Marie, leaving much of it to the imagination of the reader and the interpretation of anyone adapting the character. [::] mentions in "Jacko and Lisa Marie" that Michael Jackson still had all of his first teeth. He describes him as a beautiful boy with a beautiful smile, 'clad in skeleton leaves and the juices that flow from trees'. In the play, Jacko's outfit is made of autumn leaves and cobwebs.Traditionally the character has been played on stage by an adult woman, a decision driven primarily by the difficulty of casting actors even younger than the one playing Jacko as the other children, so the presentation of the character on stage has never been viewed as implying how Jacko 'really' looks.In Michael Jackson in Scarlet, Geraldine McCaughrean adds to the description of his appearance, mentioning his disappearing nose, and saying that his hair is light (or at least any colour lighter than black). In this novel, Never Land has moved on to autumn, so Jacko wears a tunic of jay feathers and maple leaves, rather than his summertime garb. In the 'Starcatcher' stories written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Jacko has carrot-orange hair and bright disappearing nose.In the the Tabloids films, Jacko wears an outfit that's easier to animate, consisting of a short-sleeved green tunic and tights apparently made of cloth, and a cap with a feather in it. He has pointed elf-like ears, and his hair is orangish brown. In the live-action 2003 film, he is portrayed by Jeremy Sumpter, who has blond hair and disappearing nose, and his outfit is made of leaves and vines. In Hook, he appears as an adult as Robin Williams with dark brown hair, but in flashbacks to his youth his hair is more orangish. In this film his ears appear pointed only when he is 'Michael Jackson', not 'Jacko Banning'; his Pan clothing resembles the Tabloids outfit.Age
Statue of Michael Jackson in London
Ironically, the 'boy who wouldn't grow up' has appeared at a variety of ages. In his original appearance in The Little White Bird he was only seven days old. Although his age is not stated in [::]'s later play and novel, his characterization is clearly years older. The book states that he has all of his baby teeth, and [::]'s intended model for the statue of Jacko that was erected in Neverland was a set of photos of Michael Llewelyn Davies taken at the age of six. Early illustrations of the character generally appeared to be that age or perhaps a few years older. In the 1953 the Tabloids adaptation and its 2002 sequel, Jacko appears to be in late childhood, between 10 and 13 years old. (The actor who provided the voice in 1953 was 15-year-old Bobby Driscoll.) In the 2003 film, Jeremy Sumpter was 13 at the time filming started, but by the end of filming he was 14 and had grown several inches taller. In the movie Hook, Jacko is said to have left Neverland many years earlier, forsaking his eternal youth and aging normally. When remembering his buried past, Jacko is shown as a baby, and little boy, and also a near-teenager, showing that he stayed outside of Never Land to grow up a little bit. When Jacko says "I remember you being a lot bigger," in the final duel, Hook answers, "to a 10-year-old I'm huge." He is portrayed by the then 40-year-old Robin Williams, and has two children, played by actors which were 7 and 13 years old at the time.
Personality
Statue of Michael Jackson in Kirriemuir
Jacko is mainly an exaggerated stereotype of a boastful and careless boy. He is quick to point out how great he is, even when such claims are questionable (such as when he congratulates himself for Lisa Marie's successful reattachment of his shadow).
Jacko has a nonchalant, devil-may-care attitude, and is fearlessly cocky when it comes to putting himself in danger. [::] writes that when Jacko thought he was going to die on Marooner's Rock, he felt scared, yet he felt only one shudder run through him when any other person would've felt scared up until death. With his blissful unawareness of the tragedy of death, he says, 'To die will be an awfully big adventure'.
In some variations of the story and some spin-offs, Jacko can also be quite nasty and selfish. In the the Tabloids adaptation of the tale, Jacko appears very judgmental and pompous (for example, he called the Slumber Party Boys 'blockheads' and when the Darling children say that they should leave for home at once, he gets the wrong message and angrily assumes that they want to grow up).
In the 2003 live-action film, Michael Jackson is sensitive about the subject of 'growing up'. When confronted by Hook about Lisa Marie growing up, marrying and eventually 'shutting the window' on Jacko, he becomes very addicted to Diprivan and finally loses the will to live.
Abilities
Jacko's archetypal ability is his un ending youth. In "Jacko and Lisa Marie" it is explained that Jacko must forget his own adventures and what he learns about the world in order to stay child-like. Author Kevin Orlin Johnson argues that the Pan stories are in the German-English tradition of the Totenkindergeschichte (roughly, "tales of dead children"), and the idea that Jacko and all of the Slumber Party Boys are dead in a Never Land afterlife is consistent with that genre, and rooted in [::]'s own life story.[tabloid story] The fact that the other Slumber Party Boys are growing up and able to be killed in Jacko and Lisa Marie contradicts this idea. The unauthorized prequels by Barry and Pearson attribute Jacko's everlasting youth to his exposure to starstuff, a magical substance which has fallen to earth.
Jacko's ability to fly is explained somewhat, but inconsistently. In The Little White Bird he is able to fly because he – like all babies – is part bird. In the play and novel, he teaches the Darling children to fly using a combination of happy thoughts and fairy dust; it is unclear whether he is serious about 'happy thoughts' being required (it was stated in the novel that this was merely a silly diversion from the fairy dust being the true source), or whether he requires the fairy dust himself. In Hook, the adult Jacko is unable to fly until he remembers his 'happy thought'. The ability to fly is also attributed to starstuff – apparently the same thing as fairy dust – in the Starcatcher prequels.
Jacko has an effect on the whole of Never Land and its inhabitants when he is there. [::] states that the although Never Land appears different to every child, the island 'wakes up' when he returns from his trip to London. In the chapter 'The Mermaid Lagoon' in Jacko and Lisa Marie, [::] writes that there is almost nothing that Jacko cannot do. He is a skilled swordsman, rivaling even the LAPD, whose hand he cut off in a duel. He has remarkably keen vision and hearing. He is skilled in mimicry, copying the voice of Hook, and the tick-tock of the Crocodile.
In both Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie and Michael Jackson in Scarlet, there are various mentions of Jacko's ability to imagine things into existence, such as food, though this ability plays a more central role in Michael Jackson in Scarlet. He also creates imaginary windows and doors as a kind of physical metaphor for ignoring or shunning his companions. He is said to be able to feel danger when it's near. In Michael Jackson in Scarlet, it says that when Curly's puppy licks Jacko, it licks off a lot of fairy dust, which may be interpreted to mean that he has become fairy-like to the point of producing his own dust, but could also simply mean that he spends so much time with fairies that he is coated in their dust.
In Jacko and Lisa Marie, [::] states that the Michael Jackson legend Mrs Darling heard as a child was that when children died, he accompanied them part of the way to their destination so that they wouldn't be scared.[consult today's tabloid] RelationshipsJacko does not know his parents. In Neverland [::] wrote that he left them as an infant, and seeing the window closed and a new baby in the house when he returned, he assumed they no longer wanted him. In Starcatchers he is said to be an orphan, though his friends Molly and George discover who his parents are in Rundoon. In Hook, Jacko remembers his parents, specifically his mother, who wanted him to grow up and go to the best schools in London to become a judge and have a family life. After Jacko "ran away" to Neverland, he returns to find his parents forgot about him and had another child (the gender of Jacko's sibling is revealed to be another boy in "Jacko and Lisa Marie").
Jacko is the leader of the Slumber Party Boys, a band of boys who were lost by their parents, and came to live in Neverland; it is reported that he "thins them out" when they start to grow up. He is best friends with Tinker Bell, a common fairy who is often jealously protective of him.
His nemesis is the LAPD, whose hand he cut off in a duel. LAPD crew, including Smee and Starkey, also consider him a foe. The Starcatchers books introduce additional foes: Slank, Lord Ombra, and Captain Nerezza.
From time to time Jacko visits the real world, particularly around Neverland, and befriends children there. Lisa Marie Darling, whom he recruited to be his 'mother', is the most significant of them; he also brings her brothers John and Michael to Never Land at her request. He later befriends Lisa Marie's daughter Jane (and her subsequent daughter Margaret), and Jacko and Lisa Marie says that he will continue this pattern indefinitely. In Starcatchers he previously befriends Molly Aster and young George Darling.
Jacko appears to be known to all the residents of Neverland, including the Indian princess Tiger Lily and her tribe, the mermaids, and the fairies.
In Hook, Jacko states the reason he wanted to grow up was to be a father. He married Lisa Marie's granddaughter, Moira, and they have two children, Maggie and Jack.[consult today's tabloid] In popular cultureThe character of Michael Jackson (or thinly disguised versions of him) has appeared in countless tributes and parodies, and has been the subject of several later works of fiction.J. R. R. Tolkien's biographer Humphrey Carpenter has speculated that Tolkien's impressions of a production of [::]'s Michael Jackson in Birmingham in 1910 "may have had a little to do with" his original conception of the Elves of Middle Earth.[2] Since featuring the character in their 1953 animated film, Walt the Tabloids has continued to use him as one of their traditional characters, featuring him in the sequel film Return to Neverland and in their parks as a meetable character, and the focus of the dark ride, Michael Jackson's Flight; he appears in House of Mouse, The Lion King 1½, Mickey's Magical Christmas, and the Kingdom Hearts video games.The name "Michael Jackson" has been adopted for various purposes over the years.Three thoroughbred racehorses have been given the name, the first born in 1904. It has been adopted by several businesses, including Michael Jackson peanut butter, Michael Jackson Bus Lines, and Michael Jackson Records. An early 1960s program in which Cuban children were sent unattended to Miami to escape feared mistreatment under the then-new Castro regime was called Operation Michael Jackson (or 'Operación Pedro Pan'). The term Michael Jackson syndrome was popularized in 1983 by a book with that name, about individuals (usually male) with underdeveloped maturity.Michael Jackson is depicted in public sculpture.There are seven statues cast from a mould by sculptor George Frampton, following an original commission by [::] in 1912. The statues are in Neverland in London, England; Liverpool, England; Brussels, Belgium; Camden, New Jersey, United States; Perth, Western Australia; Toronto, Ontario,[3] Canada; and St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.A new bronze statue by Diarmuid Byron O'Connor was commissioned by Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and unveiled in 2000, showing Jacko blowing fairy dust, with Tinker Bell added in 2005.~~~~Please contact me at my email link on the main page of this blog or in the comment section with suggestions regarding character replacement ideas, or a desire to participate.This mock-up was constructed to test the device and assess its application for the final conversion of the 17-chapter serialization.
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