Peter and the Starcatcher
at W. T. Woodson High School

Reviewed on April 29, 2017

Mallory Stokker
Freedom High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Peter and the Starcatcher, based on the novel of the same name written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson and adapted for the stage by Rick Elice, serves as a prequel to the iconic tale of Peter Pan, like the fairytale version of a superhero origin story. The script features jokes, puns, running gags, and many other comedic elements, all of which were heartily embraced by the cast of W.T. Woodson's production. Using everything from outrageous physicality and bold acting choices to creative set pieces and quirky costumes, the cast of Peter and the Starcatcher at W.T. Woodson High School fully committed to both the comedy of the show and the emotional intensity of the few but poignant serious moments, providing for a hilarious and heartfelt experience.

Comedy was the focus of the show, and the cast excelled at bringing the humor in the script and stage directions to life. Caroline Grass who starred as the pirate captain Black Stache (who is set up to become Captain Hook by the end of the show), had the challenge of not only performing in a demanding comedic role but also playing a character of the opposite gender. Grass, however, was absolutely hilarious in her role and owned every aspect of the character using bold physicality and an affected accent. Her costume, including a flamboyant mustache, added to her character. Another comedic star of the show was Andrew Black, starring as Ted, a food-obsessed boy who is stuck on the Neverland ship with Peter (Jack Hopewell) and another future Lost Boy, Prentiss (Jacob Lamb). Black had excellent voice technique, comedic timing, and physicality throughout the show, and his final scene when he fell in love with a pineapple caused an uproar of laughter.

The male and female leads of the show, Peter (Jack Hopewell) and Molly (Caroline Orejuela), respectively, provided the basis for the show's occasional more serious moments, such as when Molly and Peter discuss their feelings for each other or the bittersweet moment at the end where Molly is forced to leave the boys behind, but they were no less stellar in their own comedic moments. One running gag that was particularly enjoyable was the constant contest for leadership between Molly and the hilariously pretentious Prentiss. The chemistry among Molly, Peter, Ted, and Prentiss was one of the highlights of the show.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the show was how involved and enthusiastic the entire ensemble was. During running gags such as shouting "God save her!" every time the Queen was mentioned or all running out on stage and saying in unison "We can!" every time someone mentioned keeping a secret, their energy and enthusiasm were palpable. The entire cast struck a perfect balance between taking the show seriously enough to put on a great performance but also lightheartedly enough to embrace the humorously unrealistic parts of the show. Some examples are having ensemble members lift and carry people while waving blue and cloths to represent them "drowning" or "swimming," or gleefully announcing for the audience to please imagine a cat or bird flying in cases where things were supposed to be suspended by the magical substance, stardust. Overall, the involvement of the entire cast, creative sets and costumes, and comedic yet heartfelt performances contributed to a memorable and highly enjoyable performance of Peter and the Starcatcher.

Nick Geier
Teens and Theatre Company
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

We all know what we would wish to become; some, a soldier, and others, politicians, but as seen in W.T. Woodson High School's Peter and the Star Catcher, there is more to what we want to become than what "catches" the eye...

Written by Rick Elice as an adaptation of the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Peter and the Star Catcher follows the story of an orphan (Jack Hopewell), later to become Peter Pan, who only longs to become a normal boy. Left as an orphan in Britain, he is taken upon the ship The Neverland to embark on a journey to become one of the king's helpers. While on the ship, Peter meets Molly (Caroline Orejuela), a star catcher whose father, also a star catcher is aboard another ship, The Wasp, attempting to destroy a box of precious starstuff which has been collected by order of the queen. Starstuff, as its name implies, is the stuff of stars, and has the power to make anyone become what they wish to become, even someone they cannot imagine. After the ship is taken by pirates led by the ruthless Black Stache (Caroline Grass), Peter learns the true meaning of his journey, Peter decides to join Molly and protect the starstuff at what seems all costs and to return it to her father.

The cast W.T. Woodson did a fantastic job in presenting the play Peter and the Star Catcher. From the beginning, sounds such as the creaking of the ships or the ocean waves on a tranquil beach led the audience directly into each of the scenes. Embracing their characters with great energy, the actors were constantly engaged in each scene and used fantastic accents to bring their characters to even higher heights of believability.

The lead actor, Hopewell, brought Peter to life with emotions that took the play to a new level of feeling--beginning with the timidity and anger that Peter felt when he is the lost boy in a dirty cabin on the ship to becoming confident and sure of himself when he becomes the Peter Pan we know him to be. Hopewell showed the audience who Peter truly was and what he became in an almost perfect manner.

What really stole the show were characters such as Black Stache and her right-hand man Smee (Meryn Holtslander). Playing off each other with humor in every scene, the two brought life and laughter in the show, eliciting loud approval from the audience.

Aspects such as the enormous ships and the costumes such as those of Black Stache and his crew brought the show together nicely. Although the set transitions were sometimes distracting from the show, the cast never faltered and continued to be the main attraction.

The cast of W.T. Woodson did a praiseworthy job in portraying the story of Peter and the Star Catcher, a perfect prequel to the story of Peter Pan that left the audience asking the same question: "What happens next?"

Yael Cohen
The New School of Northern Virginia
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

Get your pixie dust ready because it's off to Neverland! W. T. Woodson High School's production of Peter and the Starcatcher transports its audience back to before time stands still when Peter Pan was just a young orphan who dreamed of being a normal boy. This prequel blends rollicking laughs with heartwarming tenderness for an entertaining yet emotional experience.

Written by Dave Barry, the story follows 13-year-old Peter(Jack Hopewell), at the time just called "boy," as his life takes an unexpected turn of events when he and two friends are sold to a ship captain. They meet a young girl, Molly (Caroline Orejuela), and join her mission to take care of her father's "stardust". On this adventure they encounter a rapping pirate named Black Stache(Caroline Grass), singing mermaids who used to be fish, and Fighting Prawn (Marc Manaloto), the island chief whose language consists only of names of Italian food, all ending in the discovery of their true home, Neverland.

Although the beginning of the production was at times slow-moving, the liveliness and vibrancy soared in the second act along with remarkable comedic timing and the deepening of the relationship between Peter and Molly. The cast at large engaged the audience with high energy and melodramatic reactions throughout the multiple ensembles. This was especially apparent in the climactic fight scene against the pirates which showcased excellently the choreographed stage combat and the complexity of character relationships in intertwining story lines.

As a complement to thought provoking scenes where Peter struggles with his emotional development, multiple comedic actors are featured throughout the journey. Most notably are Molly's nanny, Mrs. Brumbrake (Sean Coady), who is fiercely committed to enforcing her ideas of feminist strength, her new boyfriend Alf (Nick Dache) and pirate Black Stache's right hand woman, Smee (Meryn Holtslander). Peter's friends, Prentiss (Jacob Lamb) and Ted (Andrew Black), stand apart with consistently impeccable comedic timing that strengthens as the show goes on. The duo's one-liners and joint dynamic produce roaring laughs from the audience and at times provide relief from the awkward innocence of teen romance.

The set design cleverly uses the stage to create over 10 different locations, that along with the lighting, assisted with the credibility of a purposefully ridiculous script. The actors make superb use of the space with bold physical movements that give life to both the drama and satire of the show.

With its playful humor and pleasantly absurd story line, Woodson High School's performance of Peter and the Starcatcher is an enjoyable experience that evokes both the difficulties and joy of childhood.

Gabriella Mancusi
South County High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

"It's supposed to hurt. That's how you know it meant something". Woodson's "Peter and the Starcatcher" catches the whimsy of child-like imagination and tugs at the heartstrings with a coming-of-age story in this intriguing prequel to Peter Pan.

We all know him as the mischievous Peter Pan, but before the Peter and the Pan he was just a little orphan boy without a name. The story centers on Molly Astor, an intelligent and athletic British girl whose father's boat gets hijacked by pirates. In her effort to save him, she befriends a trio of misfit orphan boys. Hilarity ensues as their journey takes them to a far-away island that will come to be known as Neverland. "Peter and the Starcatcher" is a sort of abstract play that is highly aware of its own abstractness. It is incredibly silly and comedic, but gives way to sentimental, heartfelt moments.

Leading the show was Caroline Orejuela as the somewhat socially awkward and uppity Molly Astor and Jack Hopewell as the neglected and friendless Peter. Despite them being total opposites, except in their feelings of loneliness, Molly and Peter develop a strong relationship throughout the show. From the beginning, Orejuela and Hopewell's chemistry was indisputable and assisted in portraying the more poignant parts of the story, which is a rarity in high school theatre.

A few standouts included Caroline Grass as the evil but not-so-menacing Black Stache and the other lost boys: Jacob Lamb (Prentiss) and Andrew Black (Ted). Black's comedic timing and puppy-like excitement at the mention of anything resembling food brought a lighthearted tone to much of the show.

"Peter and the Starcatcher" is ensemble-driven. Taking on a number roles of including narrators, pirates, and mermaids, the large ensemble created the world around the overarching story. Every actor brought their own character and energy to the play which made it truly enjoyable. The main ensemble of Peter, Ted, and Prentiss stood out as the strongest. Even Molly, who was first seen as an outcast for being the only well-off of the group and the only girl, definitively establishes herself as an important member. While they become friends by circumstance, not by choice, their comraderie and strength as an ensemble portrayed the theme of family and belonging that is crucial to this story.

The technical elements in the show were also commendable. The running crew navigated its way around a large, complicated set, despite some awkward transitions. Making do with minimal body microphones, the sound crew made sure that everyone on stage could be heard. Almost every scene was underscored by ambient noise such as waves when sailing or the rustling of leaves on the island. These sounds immersed the audience in the setting. The set design was something to marvel at. Its intricate and versatile design depicted many different locations from a pirate ship to an island and allowed the actors to truly play and create the story.

Like "Peter Pan," "Peter and the Starcatcher" is about growing up and letting go. Child-like innocence is something that we all let go of at some point. Woodson's "Peter and the Starcatcher" allowed the audience to indulge in their imagination once again and proved that, although we all have to grow-up at some point, we never really have to let go of our childhood wonder.

Taylor Aragon
Potomac Senior High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

A gentle hush fell over the audience Saturday night as the lights went out in W. T. Woodson's auditorium; you could nearly feel the buzz of anticipation that coursed through every member in that large crowd. When the lights went up on stage, the audience was transported to the wonderful, whimsical world of "Peter and the Starcatcher." We laughed, we cried, and most of all, we enjoyed the amazing performance put on by the Woodson Drama department. With strong leads, hilarious comic actors, versatile set, and creative dramaturgy, there was no reason not to enjoy the show that night.

Peter and the Starcatcher, performing on Broadway in 2009, is based off of the original 2004 novel written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The tale is far from your average "superhero origin story." We learn just how Peter got his name and how he and his friends, Ted and Prentiss, became what we know as "The Lost Boys." We also meet a new character in this iconic character's prequel. Molly Astor, a strong-willed and independent young girl, helps Peter truly discover himself as a person. Along the way, we meet the poetically villainous Black Stache and his right hand man, Smee. Despite the two and their crew being written as the antagonists, you can't help but fall in love with the iconic jokes and references they make you laugh with. Woodson Drama poured their heart and soul into this performance and connected the audience through the whimsical magic of childhood and imagination.

The cast had incredible leads that the audience just couldn't keep their eyes off of. Peter (Jack Hopewell) and Molly (Caroline Orejuela) had excellent stage chemistry and played off each other nicely. As individuals, they were just as strong, but the bond the two shared on stage was evident towards the end of act one and the entirety of act two. Their energy was infectious throughout the cast and helped each member truly shine.

In addition to strong leads, there were equally strong comic characters that nearly stole the show. Black State (Caroline Grass) made the audience roar with her comedic bits, including the deliberate use of malapropisms, or the switching of words that sound similar but mean something entirely different for comedic effect. Moments like using "dike" instead of "deck" and "butch" instead of "beach" had the audience roaring. Black Stache's trusty sidekick, Smee (Meryn Holtslander), was also able to extract a few stomach-clenching laughs from the audience. Holtslander and Grass were a match made in theatre heaven. The two played off of each other so well and were able to make the audience thoroughly laugh.

"Peter and the Starcatcher" is known for its technical prowess; in 2012, it had won 4 Tony's for its tech team. W. T. Woodson's team was no exception and did an excellent job living up to the high standards the original broadway cast had placed. The costumes and makeup allowed for the actors to truly morph into their characters, especially the mermaids, with their colorful makeup and tails. The set was incredibly versatile and clever, allowing for several settings all in one set piece. The props were also extremely detailed, and a favorite was the magical necklaces that belonged to Molly and her father to communicate.

All in all, the entire cast and crew of W. T. Woodson's production of "Peter and the Starcatcher" should be very proud of their performance and deserve nothing but the best for their hard work and dedication to the theater community.

Maddie Gereski
South County High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

We've all heard the timeless tales of Neverland and Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up. Few, however know the reasoning behind Peter's shenanigans. W.T. Woodson High School's adaptation of "Peter and the Starcatcher" introduced the true backstory of Peter Pan, Wendy, Hook, and even the ticking crocodile. Originally based on a novel, the play, adapted into play form by Rick Elice, debuted on Broadway in 2012. It tells the story of a nameless boy and his orphan sidekicks and their encounter with Molly, an adventurous starcatcher on a mission to help her father destroy a magical substance referred to as star stuff. Through battling with pirates, island natives, and obstinate adults, the nameless boy gains the name Peter, and the four work to accomplish Molly's mission on the island that would later be named Neverland. With stellar characters, creative set choices, and impeccable comedy, "Peter and the Starcatcher" proved itself as a wildly entertaining performance.

The characters in Woodson's production were extremely well developed. Each actor took it upon themselves to embody their role and create a truly realistic personality. Some actors, such as Caroline Grass (Black Stache) and Meryn Holtslander (Smee), went about this in a comedic way. Grass spoke in a consistent and clear British accent, and embodied the quirky, evil personality of her character, while Holtslander played her character as Stache's groupie hilariously. Additionally, the actors had refined stage chemistry. For instance, Jack Hopewell (Peter), Andrew Black (Ted), and Jacob Lamb (Prentice) worked extremely well together. In a scene where they told a mixed-up version of "Sleeping Beauty" in order to entertain the Fighting Prawn and save themselves, the trio used their physicality and interacting personalities to create a memorable moment that entertained the audience. As a whole, the majority of the cast displayed high energy and involvement throughout the show. All in all, the characterization made the show.

The set was almost as impressive as it was massive. It proved a creative use of space, with the outside representing one, or occasionally two, ships, and a cut-out piece that served as a way to depict occurrences aboard the ship. Although difficult to see at times, the placing of the Lost Boy's deck at the base of the stage provided an entirely new level that created an interesting stage picture. Despite issues with lighting and occasionally spotty sound, other technical elements proved strong throughout the show. It was obvious that the team used elements of childish imagination in setting the stage for "Peter and the Starcatcher."

Finally, the comedic elements were superb. Each actor had impeccable comedic timing. They did not force the humor, but rather let the script speak for itself. With help from their advanced characterization, each cast member allotted pauses for laughter and delivered their lines clearly and effectively. Most importantly, the actors had fun with the comedy; they did not take themselves too seriously, and they used the absurdity of some of the humor to their advantage.

Through well-developed characters, impressive technical elements, and incredible comedic timing, Woodson's "Peter and the Starcatcher" was a delightfully entertaining take on the story of Peter Pan. By the end, the actors reminded the audience to always maintain an element of childlike wonder in their lives.