New Musical: “Peter And The Starcatcher”

A new play has arrived at Green River College called “Peter and the Starcatcher” and it is here to make a splash, put on by the college drama department. 

 This play is a relatively new stage play/musical by Rick Elice. It is an adaptation of the book written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson named “Peter and the Starcatchers”. It’s a modern prequel to the age-old story of “Peter Pan” that delves into how “Peter” became “Peter Pan”

In 2004, Berry and Pearson published a book that added a whole new story on top of the one commonly known. Then Elice (the writer) picked up the story and converted it into a stage play which culminated into its first-ever performance in 2009. This fun-filled comedic adventure follows Boy, an orphan, and his two friends Prentis and Ted who are sent to work on the ship Neverland. Their time working with the ship brings them to meet a girl named Molly the daughter of a famous Starcatcher. Together the group must keep a chest of valuable treasure out of the hands of the sinister Pirate, Black Stache.

“It’s riotously funny, it is so dang funny.  It’s a story that everybody knows it’s the Peter Pan story, but it’s how Peter Pan and Hook became Peter Pan and Hook,” said Robin Bowles, the director/drama teacher, when speaking about what drew him to this play. Bowles is the drama teacher here on campus. He stated that it would both carry the spirit of the origin story and add a new perspective to it. “It becomes very familiar very, very, quickly for those who know the Peter Pan tale, but we get lots of new background information we didn’t know before because the writers made it up!”

Hannah Simpson, a fairly new actress on campus, who plays Molly, explained what inspired her to audition for the Starcatcher. “I felt like I could relate to Molly the most in that she really wanted to be a leader and she’s kind of tomboyish and she really wanted to be a part of something bigger than herself and I really relate to that a lot.”Simpson has a particular preference towards the character development in the play and how you really get to see what made the characters into who they are and how they experience life. 

“To describe Black Stache is sort of like, what I see is sort of a mixture between Jack Sparrow and Willy Wonka. Sort of a weird zany wacky sort of character but is really fun” said Colton Abraham when describing his character for the play. Black Stache is a very comedic character who often breaks the fourth wall which is an aspect that Abraham describes as an aspect he enjoys about the play adding a “zany wacky” sense of fun!

Bowles describes the play as being anachronistic and the dialogue is fun and quick-witted.

Being a unique play/musical, a different approach is needed to be successful during rehearsals. Bowles said that “you need to take the time it takes to do it” to really put the young actors of this play in a position where they can break out of their comfort zone and try different approaches in their acting. He explains that it’s all about experimentation which separates it from normal rehearsals you need to try different things to see what works and what doesn’t because “[y]ou never know what’s going to work until you try it!”

This December, consider checking out the fun-filled two-hour work of art “Peter and the Starcatcher.” The showing dates are Dec. 6 and Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. or Dec. 9 where they’ll have a matinee showing at 2:00 p.m. and a final showing at 7:30 p.m. in the theater building. Tickets will be at the door for 5$.