Open Book kicks off new space and season with real “Star” Power
TRENTON, Mich. – Open Book Theatre Company has christened its new performance space here with a lovely, high-energy, well-conceived production of Peter and The Starcatchers.
A Disney property adapted from a novel written by journalist/humorist Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, it seeks to provide a back-story prequel for Peter Pan. It was a brilliant idea given that the story is public domain and remains one of the most popular children’s tales and plays of all time.
This musical play debuted in 2009 and hit Broadway in 2012. The rights now available, expect it to be performed and staged far and wide. Indeed, Open Book’s fine production is one of two opening in Michigan this weekend.
The beauty of the story is the story-telling within the story. For that reason, and the dozen characters to play with, Peter has all the ingredients to captivate young people, though its appeal is certainly not restricted to the braces and Snapchat set. It is set on the high seas and on the fanciful Mollusk island. An orphan boy, Peter (Alexander Sloan) and his pretty, mysterious new friend, Molly (Taylor Morrow), overcome bands of “Arrrrrggggghhhing” pirates and nasty thieves in their quest to keep a magical secret safe. The villains are infamous “Black Stache” (Jonathan Davis), a character foretelling Captain Hook and Slank (Dan Johnson), as well as the Crocodile, of course.
Molly and Peter sail The Neverland out of the crime-ridden port in Old England across the turbulent sea. Aboard ship, there is a trunk that holds the “greatest treasure on earth,” thought to be gold or jewels, but revealed to us to be “starstuff.” The trunk is moved from place to place through storms and sea battles, and fought over by the greedy pirates.
Director Krista Schafer Ewbank deserves a lot of credit for her casting choices, and management of the open black-box space of the new Open Book. Sloan and Morrow have lovely chemistry combined with just the right youthful energy to galvanize this fun and raucous band of characters for the 2 and half hour run time. Davidson plays a beady-eyed, dastardly “Stache” at all the right volumes. I’d love to see his “Hook.” Johnson as Slank and Hawking Clam practically has clam juice for blood, he wears the characters so well. Jaclynn Cherry is funny and sweet and persistently likable as Ted who can’t stand up at the mere mention of “sticky pudding.”
Nick Szcerba as “Alf,”Kez Settle as “Bumbrake,” Dennis Kleinsmith as Lord Aster,” James Busam in multiple roles of “Grampkin,” “Sanchez,” “Mack” and “Fighting Prawn,” Mindy Padlo as “Prentiss,” Sean Paraventi as “Captain Scott” and Lenora Whitecotton romp, hide, stalk, shake, sing and tumble across the space with such orchestration and purpose. I kept looking for a weak link in the big cast, and could not find one. There is enough acting firepower on the stage to put on two plays, let alone one.
The stagecraft was delightful with the ship being conveyed just with ropes being stretched. The island is conveyed by one of Busam’s character and Johnson’s Slank holding up six-foot closet poles with plastic greenery at the top to convey the trees of the jungle. It all works wonderfully and brings this storybook story to life.
There are songs, but I would not call the play a “musical.” If there is a detraction, it is not with the actors or director at all. It is with the play itself, which seems to cry out to have about 15 to 20 minutes shaved from its length. That may just be the complaint of a cranky old critic and writer. But for patrons with kids to take – and you should take them – the matinee offerings might be a better bet than the evening shows.