“Peter and the Starcatcher” won five Tony Awards for good reason.
The play is a sort of prequel to “Peter Pan,” before Peter even got his name. As an orphan without a name, he is shipped off with a few friends to be sold to a sea captain. But soon his story merges with that of Molly, a “starcatcher” who is working diligently with her father to prevent “star stuff” from falling into the wrong hands. Enter some dastardly pirates, two different ships and several mix-ups, and you have quite the show. We also meet the future Captain Hook (before he has a hook), Smee, Tinkerbell and the infamous ticking crocodile, all of whom will play a very important role in the life of Peter Pan.
The most impressive part of the show is the inventiveness of the staging. There is little in the way of props, but the cast uses a few ropes and some other key pieces to create doors, cages, waves, stairs, and anything else they need to illustrate the story. Perhaps because of the simplicity and imagination of the staging, the show becomes magical, bringing the audience back to childhood when all you needed was a box and a broom and suddenly you had a vast pirate ship. At the same time, the characters are often very tongue-in-cheek and aware that an audience is present, making it seem as though the audience is sharing a little inside joke with whichever character is making a face at the time.
Although “Peter and the Starcatcher” is technically classified as a play, there are a few musical numbers and plenty of incidental music, making it a sort of hybrid between a straight play and a musical. The show is hilarious, especially as the plot gets more ridiculous and the future Captain Hook becomes more and more desperate to find his treasure.
This show is a must-see for anyone who enjoys “Peter Pan,” laughter, imagination or any combination of the above. The show is family-friendly, but it is recommended for children ages 10 and up.
Regular ticket prices are $89-$125, but TicketNews readers can save up to 33 percent off ticket face values when they use “Peter and the Starcatcher” discount code STAR1.
The regular production schedule includes performances at 7 p.m. on Monday and Tuesdays; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays; 7 p.m. on Thursdays; 8 p.m. on Fridays; and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturdays. “Peter and the Starcatcher” is currently playing at Brooks Atkinson Theatre, located at 256 West 47th Street in New York, NY. The show runs about 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one intermission.
