“Peter And The Starcatcher” Draws Soldout Theatre

BY GEORGE J. DACRE

In March of 2011 I reviewed this production off Broadway on the East Side of New York City and gave it Four Stars Out Of Four. I predicted it would be a sure bet to wind up on Broadway. Sure enough it did.

I attended a preview Saturday night at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 47th Street. The show has the same “pizzazz” it had last year and much more. The producers added more strobe lights and action. They also included many topical and past one-liners that had the capacity audience laughing.

Berat, along with “Smash” star Christian Borle as the pirate Black Stache, forerunner to Captain Hook and Celia Keenan-Bolger as Molly, Peter’s love interest, led the same cast that played a year ago. They have improved and so has the play. We will see what happens on Broadway, and how long it will run.

“Peter And The Starcatcher” is the prequel to Peter Pan and tells the story of the orphan “Boy”. He did not want to grow up and gets involved with friends of Queen Victoria, their enemies, pirates, and lovely Molly on a quest for stardust that will set him free.

Berat mastered his role and you feel for him as he overcomes beatings by the pirates, threats of cannibals on an island that they ultimately call Neverland.

The music and sound effects match the high energy that the cast of a dozen brings to Brooks Atkinson’s stage and there are no dull moments in “Peter”.  Christian Borle puts on a possible Tony award performance, as Black Stach. Keenon-Bolger may also be a possible Tony award nominee for her Molly role. She is very comedic and the audience loved her.

The use of props such as toy ships to simulate a battle at sea comes off well stirring the imagination of the playgoers. The dialogue by Rick Elice and the music by Wayne Barker with direction the of Roger Rees and Alex Timbers makes “Peter and The Starcatcher” a great show.

I rate it Four Stars Out Of Four Stars!!!! Grand opening was Sunday night after very well attended previews.

Tickets at Ticketmaster.Com or PeterandtheStarcatcher.com.

  dacre, peter and the star catcher, rockland county