We’re trying to play this off as “events you can bring your children too,” but let’s be honest: we might go whether we have a tyke in hand or not. How can you resist Peter Pan? Consider some of the more mature reasons to see James Barrie’s classic at Seattle Center this weekend:

1. Peter Pan was a Tony Award-winning musical in the 1950s, when the charming Mary Martin played the title role.

2. Women’s lib has always gotten a boost from this play, which has traditionally featured women as the male lead since early 20th century productions.

3. Will the children see the irony in the play being sponsored locally by Continental Airlines? What, do Peter, Wendy and the gang book business class when Tinkerbell is out of fairy dust? I bet they leave the Lost Boys in coach. Poor Lost Boys.

4. Granted, the show is appropriate for children ages 6 and up, but crocodiles with a hankering for man hands are scary no matter what.

The show, performed by Seattle Children’s Theatre, runs tonight through January 10. Here’s a sample of what’s in store:

If a 2 hour, 15 minute play is a bit too much for the little ones, know that Fantastic Mr. Fox — Wes Anderson’s stop-motion film adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel — also opens tonight. It stars a cast of thousands, including George Clooney and Meryl Streep as the voices of Mr. and Mrs. Fox, as well as Anderson regulars Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Owen Wilson.

Click here for Music Met Picks and here for shows that are closing this weekend.