St. Luke’s Church makes Peter Pan’s backstory magical with its production of “Peter and the Starcatcher,” writes Matthew J. Palm.
“Peter Pan” is flying high in Central Florida this season.
Seminole State College in Sanford staged “Peter and the Starcatcher” in February, and productions are playing at Osceola Arts in Kissimmee and at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando.
I caught St. Luke’s show Friday, and the magic of this quirky comedy with musical interludes was on full display. Director Steve MacKinnon has assembled a winning cast and deftly found the balance between slapstick and heart that keeps this form of theatrical storytelling aloft.
Based on a children’s novel by humorist Dave Barry and thriller writer Ridley Pearson, the play explains how Peter came to be the boy who never grew up that we know today.
The play’s humor depends on fast-talk, anachronistic modern references, puns and double entendres — and MacKinnon’s able cast gets all of this just right. The occasional songs, accompanied by music director Josh Ceballos and percussionist Jesus Aponte, sound rich and full. (And you can understand all the words.)
As Peter, Michael Thibodeau shows that the striking combination of intensity and vulnerability he brought to a 2016 production of the heavy drama “Equus” transfers beautifully to lighter fare. He is well-matched by Andrea Hochkeppel as Molly Aster — a brainy, self-confident girl (think Harry Potter’s Hermione). Hochkeppel tempers the overbearing qualities with a hefty dose of charm.
Sage Starkey is the hammy villain, Black Stache, and he chews the scenery with gusto — though adding some darker shadings to the character wouldn’t hurt. Supporting players are equally fun: Blake Aburn as a prim yet sassy governess and Eric Desnoyers as her lug of a love interest, Drew Mierzejewski as Molly’s serious-minded father, Jonathon Timpanelli as goofy Smee.
Joe C. Klug’s scenic design and Michael Powers’ lighting means the St. Luke’s stage has never looked better. It may be a trite statement, but it’s true: Each show I have seen at St. Luke’s is better than the last. “Peter and the Starcatcher” delightfully continues that upward trend.