THE second and final episode of the two-part mini-series Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door aired on channel 7 on Sunday night and was viewed by more than 1.8 million people.
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It was an insight into the famous entertainer’s life, including his childhood visits to Tenterfield, and the inspiration for the song Tenterfield Saddler.
Fourteen-year-old Ky Baldwin was cast in the role of the young Peter Allen.
Ky’s father Rick grew up in the New England region. He and his wife Sally and Ky now live in Sydney.
Sally said the happy parts of the role, the song and dance routines, were a perfect match for Ky, however, he had no experience to draw upon when it came to the darker side of the script, Peter Allen’s relationship with his father who later took his own life.
“That was all new and very dark. So that was really just relying on the good actors around him to kind of pull him into the story, and pull out the emotions of what you think that would be like,” Sally said.
Sally said Ky was unlike Peter Allen, who could listen to a song once and play it.
“However, if you give Ky a good teacher he is a quick learner,” Sally said.
Sally said Ky’s ultimate aim is to get to America and live among the music.
“He’s very much into the music, he loves acting and welcomes another role, but in terms of what he’s aiming for in the long run, he wants to be a touring musician.”
Sally said work visas had been applied for and hopefully the family would make the move to the USA in January next year.