Peter and the Starcatcher REVIEW 10 Nov 2024 ***

THEATRE

Peter and the Starcatcher, David Barry & Ridley Pearson

At Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne until 1 Dec 2024

Stars: ***

This review is published only on this blog. I’ll present a radio review on Arts Weekly on 3MBS on Sat 16 Nov 2024. KH

PeterandtheStarcatcher-image Daniel Boud

 

Peter and the Starcatcher is the origin story of Peter Pan and this play with music and songs, is a whole lot of silliness.

 

The script, written by Rick Elice (who famously wrote the memorable Jersey Boys), is based on a novel of the same name (David Barry, Ridley Pearson) and features music by Wayne Barker and a motley cast of actors and comedians playing multiple roles.

 

The show, directed and designed by David Morton of Dead Puppet Society, is fun and exuberant, Its funniest moments feature flamboyant, vivid costumes (Anna Cordingley), demented song lyrics, idiotic rhymes, comic ad libs and playful interactions with the audience.

 

In this story of Peter’s beginnings, Peter, played by Otis Dhanj, is an orphan who is being shipped to a fate worse than the abusive orphanage in which he and his two friends have lived.

 

Two ships embark on their journeys with  their passengers and precious cargos, including a trunk filled with ‘star stuff’: magical sparkly stuff that can do wonderful or alarming things.

 

Molly (Olivia Deeble), who we discover is the mother of Wendy from the Peter Pan story, is the valiant, fearless and sometimes acrobatic heroine of the story. The exceptional actor, Alison Whyte, plays Molly’s toffy British father, Lord Aster (Is Lord Aster a woman to provide more female roles?).

 

Molly rescues Peter and his friends, and protects and salvages the precious ‘star stuff’ that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.

 

Sound silly enough for you?

 

The highlights come in the second act, after a patchy first half that relies too heavily on snatches of narration. The second half is more colourful and more bonkers, with gaudier costumes, madder songs, jokes and escapades, and a visit to a magical island of weird mermaids and prawn people. The highlight, however, is Colin Lane’s performance as Black Stache, the pirate captain who will become Peter Pan’s notorious adversary, Captain Hook. He is a riot!

 

Peter and the Starcatcher is not a masterpiece, but it’s a fun family event

 

By: Kate Herbert.

 

Cast

John Batchelor Alf / Teacher

Paul Capsis Slank / Hawking Clam

Olivia Deeble Molly

Otis Dhanji Boy / Peter

Morgan Francis Prentiss

Lucy Goleby Mrs Bumbrake

Ryan González Grempkin / Sanchez / Fighting Prawn / Mack

Colin Lane  Black Stache

Pete Helliar  Smee

Benjin Maza Ted

Hugh Parker Captain Scott

Alison Whyte Lord Aster

James Haxby Offstage Cover

Erika Naddei Offstage Cover

Natasha Veselinovic Offstage Cover

Annie Silva-McKnight Musician

Luke Volker Musician

 

 

Creative Team

 

Written by Rick Elice

Music by Wayne Barker

Director and Designer David Morton

Musical Director and Additional Music by James Dobinson

Movement Director Liesel Zink

Lighting Designer Ben Hughes

Costume Designer Anna Cordingley

Sound Designer Matthew Erskine

Casting Director Michael Topple

Creative Producer Nicholas Paine

Associate Director Matt Seery