TIL fairy dust was added to Peter Pan so that children wouldn't hurt themselves trying to fly when they got home from seeing the play.

radix , 11 months ago

Where is this in the Wikipedia article?

squirmy_wormy , 11 months ago

…the author attributes the idea of fairy dust being necessary for flight to practical needs:

…after the first production I had to add something to the play at the request of parents (who thus showed that they thought me the responsible person) about no one being able to fly until the fairy dust had been blown on him; so many children having gone home and tried it from their beds and needed surgical attention. – J. M. Barrie

groknull , 11 months ago

Second paragraph of the “Abilities” section:

…after the first production I had to add something to the play at the request of parents (who thus showed that they thought me the responsible person) about no one being able to fly until the fairy dust had been blown on him; so many children having gone home and tried it from their beds and needed surgical attention. – J. M. Barrie

radix , 11 months ago

Huh. Today I learned I can’t search text in collapsed headers on mobile. Thanks for explaining. 🫠

Mr_Blott , 11 months ago

…after the first production I had to add something to the play at the request of parents (who thus showed that they thought me the responsible person) about no one being able to fly until the fairy dust had been blown on him; so many children having gone home and tried it from their beds and needed surgical attention. – J. M. Barrie

👆 It’s there

RustedSwitch , 11 months ago

I’m surprised that was enough - don’t underestimate a kids ability to make their own pixie dust out of whatever they have around. Now there’s plant soil and sugar on the floor too.