Theater Review: 'Peter and the Starcatcher' by Spotlight Stage Company

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

Spotlight Stage Company will take audiences on the journey to where it all began when they present “Peter and the Starcatcher” this weekend only at the High Lane Club in North Haven. I was invited to attend one of the final dress rehearsals of this rollicking and hilarious play with music that is the spring production of Spotlight Stage.

The cast is made up of 13 community theater actors that hold our attention as they purposefully move about the stage, narrating (sometimes in unison) this clever prequel to “Peter Pan.” The troupe plays over 100 characters (seriously) as they act out “a race for a pirate’s treasure, a young girl’s destiny and a search for a young boy’s home…”

“Peter and the Starcatcher” is a play based on the 2004 novel “Peter and the Starcatchers" by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, and was adapted for the stage by Rick Elice. The clever script ingeniously provides a backstory for the characters of Peter Pan, Mrs Darling, Tinker Bell and Hook, and therefore serves as a prequel to J. M. Barrie's “Peter and Wendy.”

The “crew” of actors is both directed by Vincent McCoy, assisted by Sophie Kass. Natalia Sorenson was kept busy as the stage manager of this visually busy show. Music Director Fiona Bryson was in charge of helping the actors sing with the musical tracks and the company’s artistic director/designer is Christopher Zullo.

Erin Mann completely embodies the role of the plucky Molly Aster with a British accent and a strong stage presence. Molly is an intelligent but friendless 13 year-old apprentice Starcatcher who is a bit of a know it all.

Bob Filipowich is a villainous delight in the role of Black Stache, the pirate chief who is known for his riotous misuse of words and references that will land with contemporary audiences. Filipowich is a wonderful comedic actor and here he has a great time chewing the scenery as this character, which Christian Borle played in the original Broadway cast.

Breaking the fourth wall, Black Stache observes that the people in the audience "have paid for nannies and parking."

Oliver Kochol plays Boy/Peter, who desperately does not want to grow up. This is decidedly the story of who Peter was before he came to Neverland and the actor tells it well.

Chris Hetherington plays Molly’s father, Lord Leonard Aster, a Starcatcher on a secret mission for Queen Victoria (“God save her!”) Tom Schmidt takes on the fun role of Smee, the faithful (if slightly dimwitted) first mate at Stash’s side. Michael Wright plays Captain Robert Falcon Scott, the captain of “The Wasp.”

Allie Reya plays the orphan boy Ted, who is obsessed with food, and Anthony Belbusti makes us laugh in the role of the orphan Prentiss. One of the roles played by Austin Charles is Fighting Prawn, the chief of the island’s natives, the Mollusks.

Tracy Durand covers the role of Molly’s nanny Mrs. Bumbrake, a character that I have only seen portrayed by a male presenting performer, and Teacher.

Nikolas Brannan appears as Alf and others. Alf is a salty sailor on The Neverland, who falls deeply and instantly in love with Mrs. Bumbrake.

Melissa Jensen gets to play Hawking Clam, Grempkin, Sanchez, and Mack. Jeremy Ajdukiewicz plays the sinister pirate Slank, the greedy captain of the Neverland.

What makes this script unique is that the ensemble cast is kept very busy as they portray narrators, mermaids, pirates, sailors, islanders, and various other creatures, people, and even locations throughout the show.

The costumes include crowns, wigs and gowns for the mermaids and there is some nice shadow work by the lighting crew.

Please note that, unlike the upcoming production of “Senior Citizen Peter Pan” by the Golden Year’s Theatre Company, there is no flying in “Starcatcher,” unless you count a small seesaw that lifts one of the characters off the ground briefly. There is the requisite smart stagecraft that involves the clever use of rope, a wooden door and a ladder, without which the “spleens,” er “scenes,” would be incomplete. There is some haze used that compliments the nautical scenery.

“Starcatcher” will make audiences smile their way through the two acts. Performances are scheduled for May 10 at 7:30 p.m. and May 11 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

From Spotlight Stage Company: Due to the historic nature of the building, patrons must ascend one flight of stairs to reach the performance space. There is no handicap accessibility. Each performance is a cabaret style BYO food and drink if you'd like. Tables and chairs will be set up for each performance. Doors open to the large ballroom 30 minutes prior to showtime.

VIP SEATING: Seating at VIP tables include upgraded chairs, unobstructed views, early seating (45 minutes before showtime), a bottle of water per patron, a bucket of ice, and a small tray of desserts for the table.

https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/82764