What's it all about, Peter Pan?
If you can't get to Broadway to see its finest, come to Reston and ride with the Reston Community Players on their latest production, Peter and the Starcatcher. In 2012 the show won five Tony Awards, including Best Costumes, Lighting, Sound, and Scenic Design, in a story all about "Peter," as in J. K. Barrie's Peter Pan before Peter knew how to fly.
Reston's "Boy Named Peter" (Gary Bernard DiNardo) highlights a roller-coaster adventure before "Boy" teamed up for the Big Time with Barrie's Wendy, Captain Hook, Tinkerbelle, and the Big Bad Chopping Crocodile (in hilarious get-up here) who make appearances in this version with different names.
Peter and the Starcatcher comes from the book by Dave Barry, the humor columnist, and Ridley Pearson which Rick Elice (of Jersey Boys' fame) made into this play.
The story expands the life of Boy/Peter, the character, not the tale, since most of the flash and dash of the original story is omitted here. This yarn delves into the mischievous boy's past and carries the orphan from ship to jungle to mountain top and back to sea again in wonderfully created scenes (by Dan Widerski), including a ship of many different levels.
A young heroine, "Molly" (Raeanna Nicole Larson), assists the Boy in his pursuits, overcoming evil while they run a wild trunk chase in pursuit of the Queen's treasures. Whee!
But, whoa! The show stealer becomes increasingly evident with every appearance onstage of "Black Stache" (Carla Crawley Ito) who produces nonstop audience guffaws and groans with her special lines and puns.
The large cast and action yield comedy and drama alike at the Reston Community Center. The best parts are the cast's harmonies when members move about with glee and shake, shake, shake their tail leaves like real plants to open the second act.
From the ship to a mountain, the audience enjoys lovely, scenic visuals (by Jon Roberts) as backdrops that depict changing locations and help guide guests on the wild trip.
Ken and Patti Crowley created sophisticated lighting which operates in perfect timing and complements the company's advancing stature in the region's theatre world.
Adding pleasure and depth to the production is the live music performed under the direction of Beth Atkins on keyboards, with Patrick Warf, percussionist, and Jessie Roberts, who may be Reston's first onstage sound artist. The musicians even supply the almost forgotten figure of a little tinkle twinkling triangle in a bird cage which signals more magic and a new beginning.
Rounding out the cast are K. Sridhar, Amy Griffin, Joshua Paul McCreary, Wayne Jacques, Jake Lefler, Binta Barry, Richard Durkin, Rob Cuevas, and Joseph Seiger-Cottoms, many in dual roles
The production staff includes Jocelyn Steiner, producer; Jolene Vettese, director; Colleen Stock, stage manager; Ian Claar, fight director; Tiffany Fowler, costumes; Auryana J. Malek, make-up and hair; Mary Jo Ford, properties; Sherry Singer, props running crew; Sandy Dotson, set decoration; and Cathy Rieder, scenic artist.
Language: G
Ages: Everyone is invited, however, for wee ones, the plot is a bit too complex.
Who: Reston Community Players
What: Peter and the Starcatcher
When: 8 p.m., January 26-27 and February 2-3 with a matinee at 2 p.m. January 28 and a "sensory-friendly" matinee at 2 p.m. January 27 (and a special $10 price for all seats. See "Tickets" below.)
Where: Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, VA 20191
Tickets: Buy online, at the box office at the Community Center, or call 703-476-4500 and press 3 for 24-hour ticket orders.
How much: $23, adults; $20, students and seniors; $10, all seats for the Jan. 27 matinee.
Duration: About two hours and fifteen minutes with one intermission.
patricialesli@gmail.com
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