Created from the inspired best-selling novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, “Peter and the Star Catcher” is imaginatively transferred to the stage by Tony Award-winning writer Rick Elice, with award-winning directors Roger Rees and Alex Timbers. Twelve actors play some 50 characters, telling the story of how and why Peter Pan came to be the boy who never wanted to grow up.
The story tells about an abused, starved orphan who is sold with other orphans to work on The SS Neverland, under the command of the cruel Captain Black Stache (wildly hilarious John Sanders). The boy finds the courage to scuffle with pirates, escape giant crocodiles and questionable mermaids, all while protecting a treasure that was given to him to safeguard. With his lost boys (other orphans), he runs the gamut of surviving a shipwreck, almost drowning, winning a duel and realizing he can fly. He is attracted to kindness he has never known by Molly (a dazzling Megan Stern), the inquisitively intelligent organizer with a mission who manages the motley group.
Imagination is the key element here, with well-handled ropes as choppy seas, ladders as hills and mountains, bras made from vegetable steamers, teapots and saucers, a kitchen timer, toy boats, imagined wind and breezes and the cast themselves as doors, walls, mermaids and rubber-gloved birds, and an overstuffed, flying cat tests your creative eye.
The boy is finally given a name: Peter is decided and Pan is added since it means fun and mischief on the island. Molly – in all her wisdom- foresees Peter (a convincing Joey deBettencourt) coming from his island in the far future to take her daughter Wendy and her children on a glorious adventure.
Go see “Peter and the Star Catcher” with and open heart and mind and let your imagination enjoy the delight that scattered throughout this well-coordinated and hard-working cast.
Camille Bounds is the Theatre, arts and special events editor for Sunrise Publications.
Where: Curran Theatre, 445 Geary St., San Francisco
Through: Dec. 1
Details: (888) 746-1799 or visit www.shnsf.com.
