On Saturday, “Peter and the Starcatcher” will open as the Lost Flamingo Theatre Company’s last show of the semester. The cast and crew have worked since the beginning of the semester to put the show together and are buzzing with excitement for audiences to see it.
Ava Kmetz, a sophomore studying psychology, is the director of the show. She started as the show’s assistant director, but after circumstances changed less than a month ago, she moved into the role of director.
“I really didn't know anything about the show going into it,” Kmetz said. “Over the course of the show, I've grown to love it a lot more, just the whole world that's built within ‘Peter’ and the relationships and the messages that it tackles.”
The play, written by Rick Elice, is based on the first book in a children’s book series, “Peter and the Starcatchers” by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The play was first performed in 2009 at the La Jolla Playhouse in California. The show won multiple Tony awards after its Broadway debut in 2012.
The story follows Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training, and a group of boys, one of whom is the orphan Peter, according to Music Theatre International. They are sailing away from Victorian-era England to an island when pirates take over the ship. Onboard is an important trunk containing “starstuff” that must be kept away from the pirates.
“You kind of have to erase ‘Peter Pan’ from your mind when you go see ‘Peter and the Starcatcher,’” Kmetz said. “It is such a unique and completely original story on its own and introduces so many new elements that aren't in the original story.”
While audiences may think they know Peter already, this version is before he becomes “The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up.”
“When we see Peter Pan in the Disney version, he's very cocky, kind of full of himself,” Kmetz said. “But the Peter we see in ‘Peter in the Starcatcher’ is much more emotional, almost like a thunderstorm of emotions … it's so much more. It's a lot more human, in my opinion.”
Isabella Campi, a freshman studying acting and history, plays Peter in the show.
“The thing about Peter Pan is, although he is a hero, he is a little bit ambiguous morally,” Campi said. “He represents childhood, and children aren't bad or evil or anything; they're just children. That means sometimes they're rude, and sometimes they hurt their friends' feelings. All these things happen as you grow up, but there's also a lot of fun and playfulness that goes with that.”
Caroline Padden, a sophomore studying integrated language arts, plays Molly in the show.
“For Molly, a big part of her character arc is just wanting to be taken seriously,” Padden said. “She's taken on this leadership role, and her father has given her trust that he's never given her before … so she's really ecstatic at taking on this leadership role. She's just gone on a heroic journey throughout the show.”
When the two characters interact, their chemistry changes.
“Peter is usually very quick to anger or aggression, and Molly is very quick to defensiveness and trying to prove herself,” Kmetz said. “When they interact, they kind of allow themselves to let those guards down and truly be themselves.”
As the semester wraps up and opening night approaches, everything seems to be coming together for the show. Looking back at what the production went through to get to this point, Kmetz said she is extremely grateful for the support she received both from those in the show and from the wider company. Kmetz said the show wouldn’t be possible if it weren't for her stage manager, Chloe Dixon.
“I've seen every single member of our cast and crew put in a ridiculous amount of hard work, and it's now creating a ridiculously amazing show,” Kmetz said. “All of the hard work is truly paying off, not that it's creating just a show, but it's a whole experience and something fun that we get to perform this weekend.”
After almost 15 weeks of hard work, it culminates this weekend with the two shows.
“It's kind of bittersweet,” Padden said. “I'm excited for it to happen, I'm insanely nervous for it to happen and I'm sad that it'll be over.”
The play will be performed Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Arts West, 132 W. State St. Tickets are $5 at the door, cash only.
“I hope that if kids come to the show, they will see themselves in Molly and in Peter,” Campi said. “That's them, and that's us.”
