Peter and Starcatcher

A terrific production captures the holiday spirit

By Joanna Brady

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the musical Peter and the Starcatcher, opening at the Waterfront Playhouse Thurs., Dec. 13. It was a big hit on Broadway, where it garnered 5 Tony awards. From the title I assumed it was a holiday confection for children, an impression that was quickly dispelled after just a few minutes.

Rather, this play is more in the tradition of the British ‘Christmas pantomines’, those fun pieces that are ostensibly for kids, but whose naughty undercurrents are directed squarely at adults with off color lines and risqué double entendres.

As to the story, think of it as a prequel to Peter Pan, the beloved Victorian character who touches the part of all of us that resists growing up. Action on stage is punctuated by Molly, who calls herself the ‘star catcher’ as she gazes up at the heavenly bodies in the night sky. The play glitters with a sprinkle of magic that reaches out to capture our spirit of oneness with the universe. It’s based on the 2004 novel Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, adapted for the stage by Rick Elice. Music is by Wayne Barker.

The first act of the play sets the stage for the 12 hard-working actors playing various parts to establish the characters, a motley crew of ungovernable seafaring toughs from a port in England. This, they manage to do with bewildering energy as they board a British navy ship—energy that picks up the pace even more in Act II with its wild seas and an exciting ship chase.

In this adventure on the high seas, and later, on faraway Mollusk Island,

an orphan boy named Peter, pressed into indentured service on the ship, meets Molly, the willful daughter of a stuffy British diplomat. Overcoming parental objection, Molly has insinuated herself into the crew of The Wasp. Peter and Molly overcome bands of pirates and thieves in their quest to keep a special trunk hidden from the villains of the play, a gang of merciless badass pirates. Dark characters include the scary “Black Stache” and the ferocious crocodile Mister Grin, the latter brought to life by clever stagecraft.

The sea voyage is a turbulent one. The trunk is billed as holding the “greatest treasure on earth,” and is thought by its pursuers to be gold or jewels but finally revealed to be “star stuff.” A kind of magic dust that can change lives.

The coveted trunk gets moved around with mind-boggling frequency through storms and sea battles, and ends up on the open sea. Peter and Molly still desperately struggle to keep it out of the wrong hands, away from those who would spread evil in the world. Eventually, they land on the island where they encounter a tribe of hostile cannibals who eye them with dinner in mind.

But the plot is incidental. The play is really a vehicle to present the disreputable low life of this quirky collection of characters; and to showcase the considerable comedic and musical talents of the players who bring them to life on stage—often taking on a couple of different parts and doing song and dance numbers. It’s also meant to be a catalyst showing how Peter becomes the flying legend we know him to be.

There is plenty of talent to go around. While impossible to describe the performances of all the cast members, Alan Gillespie, who plays Black Stache, the pirate-in-chief, does so remarkably, lighting up the stage with charismatic élan right from his commanding entrance. Susannah Wells turns in a brilliant performance, holding her own as the only woman in the cast, and Trey Forsyth kept me laughing. Voices, too, were excellent, and the musical numbers were entertaining, especially on the island. The ones that stand out feature the Mollusk people doing a native dance behind painted shields; and another, with the men dancing in drag as mermaids.

Kudos to Tom Thayer, who directs the play in this, his first season as Managing Artistic Director in Key West. Congratulations! We look forward to future productions.

Mary Folio designed the costumes. Technical direction by Michael Boyer.

Appropriate for all ages, the show runs through Jan. 6. Curtain times at 8:00 pm. Opening night party in the garden. Tickets available at www.waterfrontplayhouse.org or at 305-294-5015. In addition to discounted Friday nights, there will be ticket deals available throughout the run. And a matinee at 2:00, Dec. 30. Children and students $30.

 

 

(Joanna Brady is a local writer, author of the historical novel of Key West, The Woman at the Light, published by St. Martin’s Press)

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