Robinson Secondary Stages 'Peter Pan And The Starcatcher'

By Everett Davies
Osbourn Park High School

Pirates, tropical islands, and the magic of flying! In Robinson Secondary School's "Peter and the Starcatcher," the fantastical world of Peter Pan came to life on stage.

:Peter and the Starcatcher," originally a book series written by authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is an award winning play by Rick Elice that first premiered on Broadway in 2012. "Peter and the Starcatcher" follows 13-year-old Molly Aster (Bree Drake) in her adventures alongside the boy who will become Peter Pan. This whimsical prequel asks the audience to return to childhood years of imagination and wonder through use of fairytale costumes and props in place of an elaborate set.

Molly Aster stood out on stage for her splendid performance and facial acting. She was comedic and her sincerity pulled the audience into the scene. Her expressions invited the audience to see the world through her perspective, fully enabling the storybook feel of the show.

The drastic character transformation displayed by Boy (Jagger Grove), later Peter, was phenomenal. In the beginning of the show, his performance hooked the audience on his character of the lonely, friendless boy. Through the shows progression, the audience rejoiced with Peter as he found himself and his family, becoming the joyful Peter Pan we know and love.

The use of props (Mili Bhardwaj, June Wilson) was purposeful and immersive, creating ways for scenes such as getting lost in the jungle and characters such as Mister Grin to come to life. The giant leaves on the island were clever in their patchwork feel and further embellished the childlike fantasy. Peter and the Starcatcher employs the use of the audiences imagination for these moments to come to life, and this was done perfectly.

The lighting and atmosphere of this production fully teleported the audience into the show. The lighting fit the scene and mood, while still retaining the same feel throughout the show. The hanging lights resembling stars were a clever homage to the message throughout the show, and the idea of flying. During pivotal moments these lights flickered or grew brighter, emphasizing certain scenes and making the show memorable. The colors used were gorgeous and inviting, fully immersing the audience into the story and making the characters emotions reach those watching.

The show was coherent and thought-provoking, and all technical elements were consistent and fit the theme. Robinson Secondary School reminded the audience of childhood dreams and games of make-believe through their production of "Peter and the Starcatcher."