Neverland

"All children, except one, grow up," as J.M. Barrie wrote in beginning the story of "Peter Pan," published 100 years ago. In honor of the centennial, Harvard professor Maria Tatar dug into the real-life backstory of the enchanting tale to produce "The Annotated Peter Pan" (Norton). Her voluminous footnotes sometimes overwhelm Barrie's text, but her explanations (such as the medicinal uses of rhubarb leaf) and digressions (including the Jungian meaning of Neverland) are fascinating.

PETER PAN Play, adapted by Tanya Ronder from the book by J.M. Barrie. Directed by Ben Harrison. Set, costume, and 3-D projecting design, William Dudley. Original music, Benjamin Wallfisch. Choreography, Fleur Darkin. Sound, Gregory Clarke. Lighting, Mark Henderson. Fight direction, Nicholas Hall. Puppetry design, Sue Buckmaster. Illusions, Paul Kieve. Presented by threesixty° entertainment At: threesixty° Theatre, City Hall Plaza through Dec. 30. Tickets: $35-$75.

PETER PAN Play, adapted by Tanya Ronder from the book by J.M. Barrie. Directed by Ben Harrison. Set, costume, and 3-D projecting design, William Dudley. Original music, Benjamin Wallfisch. Choreography, Fleur Darkin. Sound, Gregory Clarke. Lighting, Mark Henderson. Fight direction, Nicholas Hall. Puppetry design, Sue Buckmaster. Illusions, Paul Kieve. Presented by threesixty° entertainment At: threesixty° Theatre, City Hall Plaza through Dec. 30. Tickets: $35-$75.

"All children, except one, grow up," as J.M. Barrie wrote in beginning the story of "Peter Pan," published 100 years ago. In honor of the centennial, Harvard professor Maria Tatar dug into the real-life backstory of the enchanting tale to produce "The Annotated Peter Pan" (Norton). Her voluminous footnotes sometimes overwhelm Barrie's text, but her explanations (such as the medicinal uses of rhubarb leaf) and digressions (including the Jungian meaning of Neverland) are fascinating.

PETER PAN Presented by threesixty° At: threesixty° Theatre, City Hall Plaza, Oct. 18-Dec. 30. Tickets: $35-$75. 888-772-6849, www.peterpantheshow.com/boston "Peter Pan," said producer Charlie Burnell, is a "portal story. " "You fly off through the window and off to Neverland … this completely magical land where you can leave all your responsibilities behind," Burnell said by phone from London. But the threesixty° production of "Peter Pan" that pitches its 1,340-seat tent on City Hall Plaza Oct. 18-Dec.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Michael Jackson heard his accuser level graphic allegations of child molestation during his trial yesterday after the singer arrived late in pajama pants and slippers and was threatened with jail by a judge who was unswayed by his claim of a back injury. The dramatic entrance quickly paled as the trial reached the heart of the prosecution's case, with the accuser describing lewd remarks and acts by Jackson and then engaging in a combative exchange with Jackson's lawyer.

LOS OLIVOS, Calif. -- Michael Jackson's accuser is distressed and having "a difficult time" dealing with the not-guilty verdict against the pop singer, the prosecutor in the molestation case said yesterday. Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon told NBC's "Today" that he spoke to the accuser immediately after Jackson was acquitted on all counts Monday. "He's very down. He's having a difficult time understanding why people didn't believe him," Sneddon said.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Michael Jackson's lawyer said yesterday that the pop star is going to be more careful from now on and not let children into his bed anymore because "it makes him vulnerable to false charges. " In an interview the morning after Jackson's acquittal on all counts, Thomas Mesereau Jr. said he is convinced the pop star "never molested any child. " He said Jackson will continue to be "a convenient target for people who want to extract money or build careers at his expense.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Jurors were given opposing images of Michael Jackson as the pop star's trial opened yesterday -- the prosecution portraying him as a perverted child molester and the defense saying that he was the victim of a con artist who used her cancer-stricken son to prey on celebrities for money. District Attorney Thomas Sneddon outlined a complicated and sometimes bizarre story involving Jackson showing the youth sexually explicit material and groping him as his associates threatened to kill the youth's mother if he told anyone.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- During the weeks surrounding the broadcast of a damaging documentary about Michael Jackson, his associates apparently made dozens of phone calls to each other, prosecutors showed yesterday in the pop star's child molestation and conspiracy trial. The phone records and unexplained testimony about one associate cashing two huge checks on an account shared with Jackson were offered as the prosecution neared the end of its case. The jury was not told how the calls support the case, but prosecutors are expected to say in final...

PETER PAN Presented by threesixty° At: threesixty° Theatre, City Hall Plaza, Oct. 18-Dec. 30. Tickets: $35-$75. 888-772-6849, www.peterpantheshow.com/boston "Peter Pan," said producer Charlie Burnell, is a "portal story. " "You fly off through the window and off to Neverland … this completely magical land where you can leave all your responsibilities behind," Burnell said by phone from London. But the threesixty° production of "Peter Pan" that pitches its 1,340-seat tent on City Hall Plaza Oct. 18-Dec.

One night, when my daughter was about to turn 7, I asked her what she wanted for her birthday. We discussed various toys, and after a while she began to drift off to sleep. I had just tiptoed out when she jolted awake and suddenly sat up. There must have been a moon through the window, because I recall the bright clarity of her face. "I know just what I want!" she said. "I want a little room. One you could put in my real room. " There would be hardly any space between the inner room and the outer.

LOS OLIVOS, Calif. -- Michael Jackson's accuser is distressed and having "a difficult time" dealing with the not-guilty verdict against the pop singer, the prosecutor in the molestation case said yesterday. Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon told NBC's "Today" that he spoke to the accuser immediately after Jackson was acquitted on all counts Monday. "He's very down. He's having a difficult time understanding why people didn't believe him," Sneddon said.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Michael Jackson's lawyer said yesterday that the pop star is going to be more careful from now on and not let children into his bed anymore because "it makes him vulnerable to false charges. " In an interview the morning after Jackson's acquittal on all counts, Thomas Mesereau Jr. said he is convinced the pop star "never molested any child. " He said Jackson will continue to be "a convenient target for people who want to extract money or build careers at his expense.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- The Michael Jackson child molestation trial hurtled toward a close yesterday as prosecutors showed jurors a video of the accuser being interviewed by police and defense lawyers decided not to put on a rebuttal case. Closing arguments could begin as early as Wednesday. The tape of the 2003 interview showed the boy -- downcast and speaking quietly -- telling investigators for the first time that he was molested by Jackson. The defense then decided not to call the accuser back to the stand -- as they had planned to do -- and closed their case.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Macaulay Culkin, who starred in the movie "Home Alone," firmly testified yesterday that he was never molested by Michael Jackson and told jurors that he and the pop star have a bond based on the shared experience of being children thrust into stardom. The 24-year-old actor was the third young man to testify at Jackson's trial that as boys they slept with Jackson at his Neverland ranch and were neither molested nor inappropriately touched, as prosecution witnesses have alleged.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Macaulay Culkin, who starred in the movie "Home Alone," firmly testified yesterday that he was never molested by Michael Jackson and told jurors that he and the pop star have a bond based on the shared experience of being children thrust into stardom. The 24-year-old actor was the third young man to testify at Jackson's trial that as boys they slept with Jackson at his Neverland ranch and were neither molested nor inappropriately touched, as prosecution witnesses have alleged.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Michael Jackson's young accuser took the witness stand yesterday, saying he once considered the pop star now charged with molesting him "the coolest guy in the world. " The 15-year-old was not asked about the molestation allegations before court ended for the day, but described viewing adult Internet sites with Jackson present and said the singer told him to "call me daddy" during the taping of a documentary. The young cancer survivor said yes when District Attorney Tom Sneddon asked him if he recognized the defendant.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- During the weeks surrounding the broadcast of a damaging documentary about Michael Jackson, his associates apparently made dozens of phone calls to each other, prosecutors showed yesterday in the pop star's child molestation and conspiracy trial. The phone records and unexplained testimony about one associate cashing two huge checks on an account shared with Jackson were offered as the prosecution neared the end of its case. The jury was not told how the calls support the case, but prosecutors are expected to say in final arguments that they show...

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- A prosecution witness lashed out at Michael Jackson's attorney from the witness stand yesterday, quoting another witness saying: "You have made this court like O.J.'s court or Robert Blake's court. " Jamie Masada, a comedy club owner believed to have put Jackson in touch with the boy who now accuses him of molestation, sparred with defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. throughout a long cross-examination. Masada mostly kept the tone light and frequently drew laughter.