A land of pirates, mermaids and tribal folk comes to life in a classic prequel to a classic tale as North Montgomery High School presents “Peter and the Starcatcher!”
Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the high school auditorium.
As two ships leave the port of England to set for a new kingdom, unlikely friendships form, secrets of an otherworldly treasure, the “starstuff,” are revealed, and ruthless pirates head toward both vessels’ tails in hopes of plundering whatever treasure comes their way in an exciting prequel to the beloved “Peter Pan.”
The cast has put so much effort into perfecting their accents, making and acting out their character choices effectively, and embodying the spirit of the story. Songs are scattered throughout, and moments of calm, comedy and action are intermixed to create an exciting adventure story, following the spirit of the novel of the same name.
Lily Mycroft, who plays Mrs. Bumbrake, spoke about her challenging experience developing her character.
“My character is a nanny to Molly Aster, who is the daughter of Lord Aster, and a bright-willed girl raised modestly,” Mycroft said. “To build my character, I built a strong connection with Courtney [Ratliff], who plays Molly, and then made sure to bring out my character’s loud, commanding voice while still acting and speaking in a proper British manner. Being sure I kept this proper accent and acted as such was a little difficult to do, as it is different from how I typically act and speak.”
Similarly, Savannah Crowe, who plays Prentiss, had similar views about bringing out her character.
“Before the show, the other people casted as the orphans and I didn’t know each other well, but at rehearsals we would bond and bring out the best in each other to ensure it looked like we had a sibling bond,” she said. “For my character specifically, they are, or at least act as, the group leader and are quite cocky, but in actuality they’re scared. I found it challenging to switch between their more authoritative voice and their scared, more nervous side as the show went on and the situation demanded it, so I had to analyze and read the script closely to make sure the personality change was clear and was done at the correct parts.”
On the other hand, some members, like Caden Tyo who plays Ted, already thought they related to their character.
“Ted is one of the orphans, and he is always hanging around with the other orphans,” Tyo said. “The orphans pretend to fight, play, and hang out a lot with each other, which is something I’ve always done when I was younger with my actual brothers. Ted’s a little quirky too. But I felt for this reason acting with my scene partners was easier than for some.”
Not only have the cast’s acting choices helped build the story, but the cast dynamics also help in developing relationships with other characters and acting in ways that clearly convey themes.
“This cast has been super supportive,” said Bridgette Laws, who plays Smee. “I’ve relied on many of my cast members at points while running lines and blocking scenes, and everyone is focused, and it creates this sort of a tight-knit community. The rehearsal process has gone smoothly, and we actors have created such an entertaining and funny play because of this.”
Trust in each cast member and focus in rehearsals can really make or break how well a show can go. The show also has some sincere themes and vibes.
“The show is super imaginative and magical,” Crowe said.
And this “imaginative” vibe is at the forefront of the show.
“Growing up is focused on a lot throughout the show, mainly looking away from childhood innocence,” Mycroft said.
The backdrops, props and costumes, as well as the great efforts of the production team and crew, accompany the actors to create such an imaginative and magical story and are the last pieces needed for this story to be told so well. One that both old and young will understand and enjoy.
Tickets are available at https://www.vancoevents.com/us/events/landing/68372.
