Finding Your Home

Peter and the Starcatcher – Citadel Theatre

Seventeen actors pour down the aisles and flood a stage filled with rough wooden scaffolding, draped by sheeting, and backed by Eric Luchen’s array of chotchke-choked shelving. Amidst the chaos and cacophony, each actor takes his or her turn narrating what will ultimately become a unique, story theatre prequel to Sir James M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy. Employing rapid-fire dialogue, an abbreviated prologue sets the tone for the next two-and-a-half hours. The actors shift between telling the tale and portraying a myriad of  characters in this creative, sometimes funny production by Rick Elice, adapted from the children’s novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. 

This singular comedy kicks off Citadel’s 17th season. It’s  helmed by guest director, Jeremy Aluma. As the founder of an international clowning troupe, one would expect this play to be the perfect match for Mr. Aluma’s skills. However, despite what might’ve seemed ideal on paper, is less than desirable in practice. The dialogue sometimes overlaps too much, making it impossible to understand what any single actor is saying or appreciate some Elice’s clever writing. An actor’s volume is, sometimes, either too quiet or, more often, almost deafening. Most of the time the focus is too scattered for the audience to fully comprehend exactly what’s happening. It’s too bad because most of the acting in this production is flawless and effervescent. The pacing of this production, while swift and sparkling, simply results in too much confusion.

If theatergoers can look beyond the bedlam, the sheer inventiveness of Rick Elice’s play constantly surprises. With a tip of his hat to the English Music Hall and children’s Panto productions, the play is filled with richly poetic language, malapropisms and puns. And, although not technically a musical, the play features several delightful songs and choreographed numbers (thanks to talented musical director and accompanist, Jon Schneidman, and gifted, ubiquitous choreographer, Breon Arzell). The show’s musical highlight opens Act II. It’s called “Starstuff Made a Mermaid Outta Me,” and is  performed by the entire cast, bedecked in Madeleine Byrne’s imaginative mermaid/showgirl costumes. This entire production is really a testament to talent and resourcefulness. 

Fans of musicals like “Wicked,” which provides a backstory for characters found in “The Wizard of Oz,” will especially enjoy this play. Besides telling an endearing, original story, theatergoers will learn how a character called Boy gained his new name of Peter Pan. They’ll discover all kinds of things from the James M. Barrie classic: who Wendy is, how the mermaids and Tinkerbell came to be, who were the Lost Boys, how Hook really lost his hand and earned his new moniker, whence came Mister Grin, the ticking crocodile, how Peter decided to call his island Neverland and how and why Peter learned to fly.

The cast, many of whom are making their Citadel debut, is energetic, enthralling and multitalented. Jayson Lee, a recent DePaul graduate, is a charming Peter. His innocence and honesty in the role, highlighted by a winning, pixie-like smile, is all Pan. Mariah Copeland plays Molly Aster. She was a standout in Filament Theatre’s “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” and, although a recent theatre graduate a Northwestern, has already appeared in several other notable Chicago productions. Ms. Copeland is an actress to watch, playing her role eloquently with authority and confidence. She easily takes on a leadership role as she educates, rescues and falls in love with her lost boys. 

 Christian Edwin Cook, another talented Chicago actor, makes a handsome, commanding and beautifully grounded Lord Aster. Cook’s rich, velvety voice caresses every word the gentleman speaks. Portraying the flashy role of Black Stache, Adrian Danzig, was the Producing Artistic Director of the Chicago-based touring troupe, 500 Clowns. He’s performed all around the country, and is over-the-top clever in this production’s standout role. Dave Honigman, who plays Alf, was a professional clown with the Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey Circus. He’s been seen around Chicago at the Red Theater, the Neo-Futurists and Second City, and is a strong, impressive actor. His flexibility and wicked humor, along with his strong vocals, provide much humor in this show. Rebecca Fletcher as Mrs. Bumbrake, Molly’s feisty nanny, was seen in Victory Gardens’ acclaimed production of “Indecent.” She’s a proper Englishwoman, sporting lady-like decorum and just a touch of sassy, good fun.

Sweeping the 2012 Tony Awards with five wins, this is a story about finding your home. It’s told in a story theatre production that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s loud, sometimes chaotic and often a bit hard to follow. But it’s a production in which, if a theatergoer drops all preconceived notions, allows the grownup to treat his inner child with a tale of whimsy and wonder. While older children and teenage audiences will probably find it enjoyable, this is clearly a production aimed at adults. Although it contains no nudity or foul language, much of the British humor will be better appreciated by more mature and experienced audiences, especially those who enjoy the offbeat comedy of Monty Python and Benny Hill. 

Supposing that wooden scaffolding, planks and ropes can turn into a pair of British sailing ships, imagining that a couple of green umbrellas can become the toothy grin of a giant crocodile and believing that a character is able to fly, with the help of his friends, is what makes this play so special. It’s the audience’s collective imagination, working in tandem with the onstage artists, and not provided by some high-tech special effects, that make this magical production soar to the sky.

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented September 18-September 29 by Citadel Theatre, 300 South Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 847-735-8554 x1, or by going to www.citadeltheatre.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.