Peter and the Starcatcher
Australian premieres of Broadway or West End musicals are often carbon copies of the original seasons, with local Directors forced to follow instructions scene by scene from the northern hemisphere. So, what is most refreshing about this production is that the Brisbane based Dead Puppet Society was able to take a fresh look at the work which won Tony Awards when it premiered in 2012.
The puppets are vivid, cheeky and beautifully choreographed. The eye candy included a stunning yellow bird, a graceful sting ray, darting schools of fish, an hilarious long tailed mermaid and a dragon sized crocodile which would make any Chinese New Year parade weep with envy.
Just as Wicked is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, so too Peter and the Starcatcher is a prequel to Peter Pan. We discover how Peter got his name, what inspired him to fly, how the crocodile swallowed the clock and in a highlight of the musical, what exactly did happen to Captain’s Hook hand.
The original novel goes for more than 500 pages and it has been boiled down by Rick Elice into a swashbuckling adventure primarily about two chests going out on two boats – one filled with the treasure of star making stuff and the other with sand.
There are baddies chasing the treasure and in the mix is an orphan Peter, a few of his Lost Boys and the beguiling Molly, a teenager who told the audience she was wearing a training bra.
The first act is a little on the long side, however two eleven-year-olds I spoke to during the intermission were thoroughly enjoying the production and had the gist of the adventure which includes 100 characters, 90 puppets and 60 costume changes.
Some grown-ups sitting near me (who I presume were given free tickets to opening night) did not return for the second act.
This was their loss as the second act was terrific. The friendship of Peter (Otis Dhanji) and Molly (Oliver Deeble) developed sweetly into the holding hands stage.
Hugh Parker (Captain Scott) and Peter Hellier (Smee) warmed up to dish up jokes that deliciously sailed over the heads of the little ones.
Ryan González and Paul Capsis play a variety of quirky roles and were especially funny as Fighting Prawn and Hawking Clam.
The production is whipped together with an eclectic variety of musical styles and the sumptuous lighting reaches a crescendo in the final scene.
A show which tickles your funny bone and your imagination.
David Spicer
Photographer: Daniel Boud
Capitol Theatre until February 9.
QPAC - March 14 - 30.
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