Side Dish: Peter and the StarCatcher – An extraordinary boy you can believe in

Life in NY can be busy and loud and just too damn serious; we’re occupying lower east streets, overpaying to run on glamorized hamster wheels and what’s up with this ban on soda?

Take a second and just run away with me.

Anguilla.

Bora Bora.

Cambodia.

How about Neverland? Except, its not quite the Neverland that you know, yet. The Neverland a ship that is slow, cramped, dark, and damp. And probably smells worse than Chinatown in a heat-wave. I was invited upon this journey to see Peter and the Starcatcher last night and it was just deelightful. For those of you who have not heard (which included me 5 minutes before curtain call) Peter and the Starcatcher is the prequel of our mischievous little midnight kidnapper, Peter Pan. Adapted for the stage by Rick Lice from the popular book of the same title by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the play answers the question about how a poor boy with a dark past comes to be a mystical king of island with his entourage of lost boys.

Framing the story, like the spine of an antique book.

Peter’s story is big and elaborate with two separate ships and story-lines that merge into one upon the fantastical island in the second act. I was most impressed and intrigued by creative use of simple common items to visually represent movement and scenes; just some thick rope, ladders, two toy boats and two trunks are used to bring the creaky ships, stormy seas, and island adventures to life. The crawl space only tunnels, boxing matches, and captains quarters all ingeniously re imagined with a 40ft rope.

Of course this inventive and intricate dance is only possible with the work of an exceptional cast. The cast of characters themselves also bend themselves into different roles across two ships; one scenes a row of actors with their backs to the audience and some clever lighting are utilized to depict all the nooks and crannies in the sub-belly of a boat. The scenes and players move like clockwork to invite us in for one of the best bedtime stories on and off Broadway. You’ll leave enchanted and more inclined to believe that Peter and his posse must be out having adventures in the middle of the night somewhere off your peripheral vision.

Mermaids. Watch out for the Mermaids.

The language is readily accessible to the masses and various bits of modern popular allusions are made, such as ttfn- ta ta for now and how certain characters‘ milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. While the story is about Peter Pan, parts of it can be a little bit more difficult for the average 9 year old to grasp. Though I did hear a few excited gasps from young-in’s in the dark.

Highly recommended by this foodie. I went before dinner and surprisingly I only had time to think of my empty tummy at intermission.

Naughty-nelly as I am, I may have stolen a few quick pics of the staging before curtains!

If you can believe it, catch it now : Peter and the Starcatcher !!