A bold `Peter' delights at COM
Theatergoers have a treat in store with College of Marin's “Peter and the Starcatcher,” at the James Dunn Theatre through Oct. 15.
An audacious production in the biggest and best theater in the county, the story is a fantastic riff on “Peter Pan” — actually a relatively recent “prequel” to J. M. Barrie's classic “Peter and Wendy” by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, adapted for the stage by Rick Elice.
Directed with wry aplomb by Elena Wright, it's a big rambling and loose-aroundthe-edges piece involving a seriously determined quest, long voyages, dastardly pirates, exotic adventures, personal identity, magic, misfortune, love, loss and destiny. It's also part childhood fantasy, part musical and large part comedy — including plenty of pratfalls, lots of ham acting, swordfights, goofy dancing and enough contemporary references to make it wildly amusing for those quick enough to catch all the rapid-fire dialog.
The story launches from the docks of Portsmouth, England, where a speedy sailing ship called the Wasp and a slower one called the Neverland are being loaded for journeys to the faraway kingdom of Rundoon. Each ship carries
a large trunk — one filled with the Queen's precious cargo, the other with a mysterious substance (“starstuff”) that may prove either harmful or beneficial. A nobleman named Lord Aster (Cyrus Thelin) instructs his daughter Molly (Alexandra Fry) to guard the starstuff, and
promises that he will meet her when the two ships arrive at their destination.
On the docks we also meet an initially unnamed boy (Dominic Canty) conscripted into duty for the voyage and given the name of “Peter” by a pirate captain named Black
Stache (Grisha Driscoll). Many outrageously silly shenanigans transpire. Attendees who really wish to understand the complex plot are encouraged to read the Wikipedia synopsis, but full comprehension of the tale really isn't necessary