A wild ride from start to finish, Peter and the Starcatcher has made its way to Brisbane as the last leg of its Australian tour. Originally developed by Disney Theatrical Group, Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s novel was adapted for stage by Rick Elice, finding its way to Broadway and picking up five Tony awards.
Reimagined now for an Australian audience as a co-production between Dead Puppet Society, Glass Half Full Productions, JONES Theatrical Group, and Damien Hewitt, it showcases some exceptional local Australian talent on and off the stage. Dead Puppet Society, under the helm of Director and Designer David Morton, bring their signature style of puppetry and technology mix to create a theatrical feast.
A loose prequel to Peter Pan, Peter and the Starcatcher illustrates how Peter and Neverland came to be. It follows a journey of the elusive magical ‘starstuff’ that has the power to transform. We meet swashbuckling pirates, orphan boys, and a Starcatcher on a mission while playing with the notion of finding home.
For what sounds like a simple premise, Act I is complex in its world-building and at times hard to keep up. Heavy in exposition and overly fast-paced staging, it felt confused about what kind of show it is. Act II finds its footing, allowing the established cast to shine in longer scenes and entertaining musical numbers. The story and staging settle and allow for a sense of whimsy to develop. The musical opening number of Act II, complete with colourful mermaid costumes (sparkly silver-heeled boots included), is certainly a memorable highlight.
The fantastical elements in the story are brought to life through cohesive production design, incorporating bold costumes and live music. The use of lighting is incredibly effective, from the atom-styled lights, glowing puppets, and of course many, many stars.
For a storyline focused around starstuff, you would expect beautiful lighting elements. Ben Hughes’ lighting design was so thoughtful in its integration and execution, working well alongside the illuminated puppets. Anna Cordingley’s costumes match a storybook aesthetic and also serve as a way to navigate the ensemble’s constantly changing characters. James Dobinson brought Wayne Barker’s original score to life with additional music, playing as part of the staging alongside musicians Annie Silva-McKnight and Luke Volker.
With a huge lineup of highly established performers, including some household names, Peter and the Starcatcher is a showcase of strong ensemble work. The cast impressively navigates jumping from character to character while changing sets and operating puppets. Even in the last leg of their tour, the cast finds room to play, keeping the action fresh and full of energy.
Bringing that playful energy in bucketloads is Colin Lane as the pirate Black Stache, who clearly finds joy in making both his audience and cast laugh. His years of experience showed when a bungled line became a humorous ad-lib opportunity. Pete Helliar, as right-hand man Smee, also provides plenty of laughs.
The orphans are an incredibly strong trio, with Otis Dhanji as Boy/Peter, Morgan Francis as Prentiss, and Benjin Maza as Ted. They all demonstrate excellent comedic timing alongside their impressive acting chops.
As our Starcatcher apprentice Molly, Olivia Deeble gives an energetic performance throughout. Paul Capsis as Captain Slank / Hawking Clam and Alison Whyte as Molly’s father, Lord Aster, bring powerhouse energy and dynamite vocal energy. Morton’s production impressively showcases the actors’ additional skills, such as Deeble’s acrobatics, Lane’s improv, and Francis’ musical talents.
Peter and the Starcatcher brings a little bit of magic back to ordinary life. Just as Peter continues his Neverland adventure with Molly’s descendants, this production has multi-generational appeal. Peter and the Starcatcher reignites that youthful wonder in an older audience while setting a new adventure for its youngest. A playful production perfect for those who never grew up.
Peter and the Starcatcher is on now and runs until 6 April at The Playhouse QPAC.
Tickets: https://qpac.n.qtix.com.au/tickets/series/dpspeterstarcatcher25
Website: https://peterandthestarcatcher.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/peterandthestarcatchertour/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/deadpuppetsociety/
Photo credits: Daniel Boud
