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| Adrienne Kaori Walters as Molly tells her dreams to Sean Okuniewicz as Peter. (Mark and Tracy Photography) |
“Peter and the Starcatcher” by Rick Elice is
regarded as a prequel to J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan.” This winner of five Tony
Awards in 2012 is being staged by Hillbarn Theatre and directed by Jeffrey Lo. According to program notes by artistic director Dan Demers,
Lo’s concept is of “a gypsy troupe mixing fun and silliness” in showing what
led up to Peter Pan’s story.
That concept starts before the show begins with actors’antics
in the lobby and then in the theater itself, playing on the stage and running
into the audience. This beginning sets the tone for what’s to come as 13 actors
energetically portray an array of characters.
The action is set in 1885, when two
ships leave London on their way to Rundoon. Both have an identical chest. The
one on the Wasp is guarded by Lord Aster (Scott Solomon). Pirates, led by Black
Stache (Will Springhorn Jr.) and his sidekick, Smee (Demers), take over the
Wasp.
Lord Aster entrusts the other one to his
13-year-old daughter, Molly (Adrienne Kaori Walters), on the Neverland.
Also on the Neverland are three
mistreated orphans, including Boy (Sean Okuniewicz), who takes the name Peter
after many harrowing adventures.
Although the show is filled with clever
staging and humorous dialogue, some of the humor is lost because several
characters overact. Because some also shout, their lines are hard to
understand. Director Lo should have instructed them to pull back.
Other actors do just that. Hence,
there’s Demers as Smee. He has acute comic timing. One of his more humorous
lines comes after someone calls him a ruffian. He replies something like, “I’m
not a ruffian. I’ve never been to Ruffia.”
Also noteworthy in the cast are
Okuniewicz as Boy, Walters as Molly and Solomon as Lord Aster.
Musical director Amanda Ku on piano and Lane
Sanders on percussion, provide accompaniment (music by Wayne Barker). The
choreography is by Lee Ann Payne.
The often zany costumes are by Y. Sharon
Peng. The set is by Christopher Fitzer with lighting by Michael Palumbo and
sound by Matt Vandercook.
Despite the production’s shortcomings,
notably the shouting and overacting, most in the opening night audience seemed
to enjoy it.
Running about two and a half hours with
one intermission, “Peter and the Starcatcher” will continue through Feb. 4 at
Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. For tickets and
information, call (650) 349-6411 or visit www.hillbarntheatre.org.
