If you have ever lay awake at night wondering about the origins of the character Peter Pan, then Peter and the Starcatcher could be a cure for your insomnia. Then again it could just add to it.
This spectacular Dead Puppet Society production is overflowing with amazing characters including a fighting prawn, a scotch salmon turned mermaid, shipwrecked Italian chefs and a chorus line of singing/dancing mermaids who provide just one of many highlights of this production.
How they feature in the transformation of orphan boy (Otis Dhanji) who together with his two mates Prentiss (Morgan Francis) and Ted (Benjin Maza) find themselves unwittingly imprisoned on a ship called Neverland, under the command of brutal Captain Slank (Paul Capsis, delighting with a thousand expressions, who also doubles as Hawking Clam on the Wasp) is something you need to see for yourself to find out.
Also, on board the Neverland is Lord Leonard Astor (expertly portrayed by Alison Whyte) and his daughter, Molly Astor (a vivacious and surprisingly athletic Olivia Deeble), who befriends the three orphans; together with her nanny Mrs Bumbrake (former Canberra actor, Lucy Goleby).
The Neverland is pursued by another ship, the Wasp, captained by the dastardly Black Stache (Colin Lane, hilariously stealing the show at every opportunity) and henchman, Smee (a bemused and bewildered Peter Hellier) intent on stealing a trunk full of a magical substance called ‘starstuff’.
Molly’s father has been captured by Black Stache, who does not know that the trunk of ‘starstuff’ has been switched.
Yes, it is complicated and gloriously silly and gets even sillier in Monty Pythonesque style, as the storyline pursues evermore outrageous and unlikely situations demanding all common sense be abandoned.
A beautiful fairy-tale setting by director, David Morton, is complimented by Anna Cordingley’s fanciful costumes and the magical lighting design by Ben Hughes.
Onstage musicians under the musical direction of James Dobinson join in the fun being whisked around the stage inhabited by astonishing puppets which include the most magical crocodile ever.
Despite a long series of previews it was hard to escape the impression that in this meticulously rehearsed and delightfully entertaining production some of the large cast were still discovering the correct dynamic level for their characterisations.
This was especially true of Otis Dhanji as the orphan boy whose strongly physical interpretation might have been more effective had he adopted a more naturalistic approach to his role to separate his character from the highly stylised version adopted by the rest of the cast, to better express the wonder felt by the boy to the events surrounding him.
Peter and the Starcatcher
Canberra Theatre – Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, Canberra
Performance: Thursday 24 October 2024
Season continues to 27 October 2024
Bookings: www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Following the Canberra season, Peter and the Starcatcher will play Arts Centre Melbourne from 8 November 2024, Adelaide Festival Centre from 9 January 2025, Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from 31 January and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) from 14 March 2025. For more information, visit: www.peterandthestarcatcher.com.au for details.
Images: The Australian production of Peter and the Starcatcher – photos by Daniel Boud
Review: Bill Stephens OAM