When NBC’s Peter Pan Live! aired, it wasn’t Peter Pan or Captain Hook who stole the show for many viewers. Instead, it was the surprisingly captivating crocodile, Captain Hook’s persistent nemesis, that became the unexpected star. Social media buzzed with questions and admiration for the realistic and expressive reptile. But who was the person inside the impressive croc suit, bringing this character to life? It certainly wasn’t a celebrity cameo, despite some humorous guesses floating around online. The answer is Charlie Williams, the assistant choreographer for Peter Pan Live!, who quite literally took on a role that kept him low to the ground but high in audience appreciation.
Much of the excitement during the live broadcast centered around this crocodile, hailed by many as the true scene-stealer of the entire production. Entertainment Weekly (EW) managed to get in touch with Williams to uncover the secrets of playing Captain Hook’s reptilian foe and what it was like interacting with Christopher Walken, the iconic Captain Hook, from inside a bulky costume.
The Unexpected Call to Play the Croc
Interestingly, the role of the crocodile wasn’t initially planned for Williams. It was director and choreographer Rob Ashford who proposed the idea. As Williams recalls, “He said he had a fun little part for me.” Despite initial hesitations about missing out on other aspects of the show, Williams accepted the challenge. He explained, “I was nervous at first about saying yes because I didn’t want to miss out all on the other fun stuff, but we were obviously able to make it work.” This decision allowed him to contribute to the production in a uniquely memorable way.
More Than Just the Croc: A Night of Many Roles
Far from being limited to the crocodile, Williams was a busy part of the Peter Pan Live! ensemble throughout the night. “Yeah, you see me throughout,” he confirmed. His versatility was remarkable, managing ten costume changes during the live performance. He elaborated, “I was an islander, a pirate, and also partnering the mermaids in the lagoon. It was a busy night.” This reveals the demanding schedule and diverse contributions of performers in live television events.
The Reality of the Croc Suit: No CGI Magic
One of the biggest points of discussion online was the realism of the crocodile. Many viewers wondered if computer-generated imagery (CGI) was involved. Williams set the record straight: “No. It was 100% me.” He found humor in the online speculation, noting, “It’s funny to hear people online saying, ‘Oh, I wish the croc had always been the guy and not CGI’d in’ or whatever when it was me the whole time in the croc suit.” This highlights the dedication to practical effects and performance in the live production.
Inside the Croc Suit: Comfort and Challenges
Stepping into the crocodile suit was far from a comfortable experience. “It wasn’t the most comfortable thing ever,” Williams admitted. Transitioning between elaborate dance numbers and the restrictive costume required significant adjustment. However, Williams was involved in the costume’s design process, collaborating with Catherine Zuber and the costume creators. “I worked with Catherine Zuber and the creators of the costumes, who were open to helping me design it.” This collaboration ensured the suit allowed for the specific movements he needed to perform, explaining, “It worked perfectly the way I wanted to puppet it, with my head down and a long kind of extension of my spine straight up.”
Despite the functional design, the suit presented considerable challenges. “But the costume was very hot and very bulky, especially since it involved a helmet,” Williams noted. He humorously concluded, “I wouldn’t want to wear it around town, but I really had a good time doing it.”
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Performing Blind: Navigating Neverland in the Dark
The most significant challenge of the croc suit was the severe limitation of vision. Williams explained his head position within the costume: “Yeah. And the biggest challenge was that I could never see. To keep the croc’s head level my nose was basically pressed into the ground.” This meant relying on other senses and spatial awareness to perform. “I was just listening for people around the stage, and I had to find landmarks in Neverland to guide me.” Acting alongside other performers became an exercise in trust and spatial memory. “It was very difficult to act with people in the scenes because I never could see them.”
The Weight of the Croc: A Heavy Burden
Adding to the discomfort and difficulty was the sheer weight of the costume. “Yeah. It was made as light as possible, but even so it stuck out so far from the top of my head,” Williams described. The design incorporated bungee cords to help manage the weight distribution. “There were bungee cords that went from the forehead of the croc all the way down my back to help support the weight.” Getting into the suit was a multi-step process, requiring assistance. “So not only did I have to get into a big body suit, my dresser also had to attach those cords as I held the helmet on.”
The Helmet’s Purpose: Supporting the Croc’s Head
The helmet, a key component of the costume, was essential for supporting the large and protruding crocodile head. “Because the headpiece was so large. My head was pretty far down into the gullet and the snout of the crocodile stuck out another two or three feet, so it needed support from somewhere,” Williams clarified. The helmet was a structural necessity, enabling him to control the croc’s movements effectively: “In order to handle the weight of the croc face I had to have a head contraption that enabled me to manipulate it in the way I wanted.”
Researching Reptilian Moves: Fantasy Meets Reality
To create a believable yet fantastical crocodile, Williams delved into research on crocodile movements. “I definitely did,” he confirmed. His goal was to blend realism with the whimsical nature of Neverland. “My goal was to make it as real as possible but keep it in the fantasy world of Neverland.” The costume’s design also influenced his performance style. “The way Catherine designed the costume, with the elaborate colors and the purples and blues, it wasn’t going to be obviously a normal crocodile.” This allowed for creative freedom in movement. “I was able to take some liberties in the movement as well. I didn’t have to keep completely with what a real crocodile would do, but I wanted to keep in that realm.” He opted for a deliberate and menacing pace. “To me slower was better—it was more confident, and more scary.”
Christopher Walken’s Croc Enthusiasm: Banter and Impromptu Lines
Working with Christopher Walken, known for his unpredictable and captivating performances, was a unique experience. “He’s great. You never know what Walken’s going to do. That’s part of his charm. He’s always on,” Williams shared. Their professional relationship was strong. “He and I had a great working relationship. Being the assistant choreographer, I also got to rehearse a lot with him one-on-one for his dance numbers.”
Walken was particularly intrigued by the crocodile costume. “He was always dying to see the croc suit,” Williams recalled. Even during rehearsals before the suit was ready, Walken’s fascination was evident. “During rehearsal I had nothing since they were busy building the suit, so I was crawling around, slithering around the room with no help from a costume. He kept saying, ‘I need to see the suit, I need to see the suit.'” When the costume was finally revealed, Walken was impressed and fully embraced the character interaction. “When it finally revealed itself he was very impressed, and he really got into it, especially at the end when I get to be on my hind legs, watching him walk the plank.” Walken even contributed to the croc-Hook dynamic with improvised lines. “He even added the line, ‘don’t rush me’ when I was trying to crawl and get to him on the deck of the ship. So the croc and Hook had a little banter, which was fun for me.”
The Croc’s Roar of Approval: A Breakout Star is Born
The audience’s reaction to the crocodile surpassed all expectations. Mashable declared the croc the “true breakout star” of Peter Pan Live! and online memes, like the “gators gonna gate” meme, further cemented its popularity. Williams was delighted and surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response. “I was completely flattered. I didn’t think the croc was going to get much attention at all, being that it had such little camera time.” He recognized the croc’s unique appeal. “But I do realize that it was a standout in the way that it was unique to everything else in the show.” The widespread attention even led to humorous rumors. “It’s great that everyone has an opinion about the croc, and I saw that people were claiming to be the croc. Even John Travolta was rumored to be in the croc suit, so I’ll take it.”
A Quintessential Croc Moment: Saving Peter Pan
For Williams, a standout moment for the crocodile was during “The Duel” scene. “The scene that we call ‘The Duel,’ when Peter Pan and Hook meet on Marooners’ Rock. Hook wounds Peter and then the croc comes in and kind of saves the day.” This scene was pivotal in the narrative and physically engaging to perform. “That was a big moment in the story and cool to do physically, because I got to wait down in the mist of the lagoon and rise up at the right moment to protect Peter.” The rehearsal process also added depth to the croc-Peter Pan relationship. “Allison and I had a lot of fun in rehearsals—we decided that the croc and Peter were buddies and had each other’s back. It was easy to play that when I wasn’t wearing the suit, because I got to act and look at her and have facial expressions. Of course, once I was in the suit no one could see any of that.”
Charlie Williams’s performance as the crocodile in Peter Pan Live! was a testament to the power of dedication, creativity, and embracing unexpected roles. He transformed a challenging costume into a captivating character that resonated with audiences, proving that sometimes the most memorable stars are found in the most surprising of disguises.
