“Peter and the Starcatcher” begins at SBCC
The Lost Boys will surf the clouds into Neverland when “Peter and the Starcatcher” opens at the South Broadway Cultural Center on Thursday, June 15.
Based on the 2004 children’s novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, this “Peter Pan” prequel scored five Tony Awards when it closed on Broadway in 2013.
The fanciful tale tells the story of how a nameless, angst-ridden orphan became the immortal Peter Pan. Dubbed “steampunk theater” by the New York Times, it playfully explores the depths of greed and despair, as well as friendship and love.
“It’s really funny, heartwarming and raucous,” said Doug Montoya, co-artistic director of the Cardboard Playhouse Theatre Company. “It’s sort of like a Monty Python type of show. There’s a lot of silliness. It basically tells the story of how Peter Pan became Peter Pan.”
The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up and his mates ship off from Victorian
England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of a mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, containing a precious, otherworldly cargo. A precocious young Starcatcher-in-training named Molly discovers the boys at sea realizes the cargo is “starstuff,” a celestial substance so powerful it must never fall into the wrong hands.
Brace for pirates, British naval officers, treasures, singing mermaids and Black Stache, the bombastic buccaneer who will become Captain Hook.
The cast of 12 portrays more than 100 roles in a hybrid of theatrical savvy and childlike wonder.
“We step in and out of parts throughout the show,” Montoya said. “That’s what makes it silly and raucous and fun.”
The two-act play features songs, flying, adventures and fantasy.
The play was conceived for the stage by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker. It opened at California’s La Jolla Playhouse before transferring to Off-Broadway in 2011.