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Imagination Takes Flight in “Peter and the Starcatcher”
The Upper School production of “Peter and the Starcatcher” took audiences on a magical swashbuckling journey through Neverland. Written by Rick Elice, the Tony Award-winning play is based on a novel by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry. The frenetically paced production is a prequel to “Peter Pan.” It reveals the fantastical backstory of the whimsical characters of “Peter Pan,” playfully exploring the depths of greed and despair – and the bonds of friendship, duty, and love. Hilarious hijinks, quirky characters, and witty banter delivered in a fast-paced staccato cadence punctuated the production and provided plenty of laughs.
An “incredibly complex” show, according to director Sara Figoten, it featured 14 actors on stage for the majority of the two-hour play. The ensemble cast portrayed over 100 characters and created various environments using physicality, simple props, and their voices. Pirates, sailors, mollusks, and mermaids were just a few of those characters, as well as inanimate objects such as stars, doorframes, and the ocean.
The story holds a special place in Figoten’s heart as “Peter Pan” was the first full-length musical she directed as a young director. “It is a story that I keep coming back to,” said Figoten. “Every time I do, I am reminded of the epic scope of the storytelling, and simple questions it poses. The story is a wonderful reminder to ignite our imaginations, and to keep dreaming and playing.”
The actors enjoyed exploring the nuances of their characters, and even themselves, finding new ways to add more depth to each of their performances.
“During each show, I find new moments, and discover more about the character,” said Aviva Miller ’20 (Molly Aster). “I’ll never be done preparing for the role because there will always be new discoveries to be made, even when the show is long over.”
“At the end of every show, I would learn something new that I never discovered about myself from my character, said Ava Tabachnick ’21 (Smee and Greggors).
The close-knit cast bonded quickly and created a memorable learning experience for the ensemble.
“Peter and the Starcatcher is my favorite play that I have participated in ever,” remarked Josh Ehrlich ’21 (Grempkin and Fighting Prawn), who wrote and directed the preshow. Throughout the rehearsal process, I learned how important commitment and time management are. Because we were such a small cast, we bonded with each other really easily."
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