"Peter and the Starcatcher," show #943

Page-to-Stage is such a fun, accessible way to experience theatre. When the right book finds its way to the right playwright, and a strong concept is applied in the adaptation process, there’s a sure-fire audience-pleaser in store. Such is the case for Rick Elice’s adaptation of Peter and the Starcatcher, a play with music, thanks to Wayne Barker’s wonderful swashbuckling, romantically inclined score. Director Ethan Magill helms a sweet, steady production which honors pacing and storytelling devices to drive this youthful production to a flourish at the end. At the core of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s novel--which gives prequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan--is whimsy, assumed nostalgia, and a central figure who knew how good he had it in real-time as a boy, a treasured perspective often lost on our youth. Magill’s macro-vision gives pointed direction to the very Peter Pan we know and love, which pays off in droves with heart at the production's core.

(Jairo Nunez (Boy/Peter) and Nina Munoz (Molly); Photo credit: Jorge Orozco)

Led by a stellar pair in Jairo Nunez's Boy/Peter and Nina Munoz’s Molly, these two young performers give fully realized, energetic performances. Nunez’s earnestness and physicality make for an active, compelling Boy in complement to Munoz’s stellar-voiced, confident, and charismatic ingenue. Both share a chemistry true to the nuanced novelty of youngsters finding love for the first time, and is paced well throughout their myriad scene work. Jaime Ayala is a fun Black Stache, nailing the majority of the comedy with puns and one-liners that the opening night audience I was part of was anticipating. Adrianna Cervantes’s supporting performance as Smee is a standout in complement to setting up many of Stache’s punchlines while standing on her own a humorous sidekick.

(Adrianna Cervantes (Smee) and Jaime Ayala (Black Stache); Photo credit: Jorge Orozco)

Mackenah Molina does well as Prentiss and Teacher, in great pairing with James Baker’s Ted. The two lost boys support Nunez’s Boy extremely well, but stand on their own with placing their individual wants in a B-plot trajectory that serves as welcomed comedic relief within the main story. Jorge Romero is excellent in delivering the double-duty track as Bill Slank/Fighting Prawn, with Prawn being an Act Two standout performance. Jazmin Valdez and Noah Miranda make the most of their Alf-Bumbrake connection, adding a dose of hilarious alliterative allure and boorish behavior to the mix.

(Jazmin Valdez (Alf);  Photo credit: Jorge Orozco)

Christina McCollam-Martinez’s set design is fluidly effective, giving way for the backyard pool party aesthetic to give whimsy and fun in service to the storytelling. John Osborne’s lighting design is superb in establishing the mood, energy, and locale for the company scenes and songs as well as the intimate monologues and two-person moments. Camille Gaston’s fun props design utilizes items such as ropes, floaties, lounge chairs, and trunks to make a whole new location or action-driven scene appear with ease.

Madera Theatre Project’s Peter and the Starcatcher is a family-fun adventure you’ll want to embark on, so secure your seats now and head out to sea to enjoy this production!