Peter and the Starcatcher: Having the ability to define our home however we like

Peter and the Starcatcher is a whimsical play by Rick Elice, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, with music by Wayne Barker. The Community Players’ adaptation, directed and choreographed by L.A. Busteed, offers a nice blend of whimsy and suspended belief.

Our tale begins with a traveling troupe of actors putting on an imaginative narrative of a young orphan and his mates, shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. According to The Community Players, “They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the boys are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training who realizes the trunk’s precious cargo is ‘starstuff,’ a celestial substance so powerful it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates, led by the fearsome Black Stache—a villain determined to claim the trunk and its treasure for his own, The Boy and his friends must take the leap of faith required to save the trunk, and the world!”

The Boy is portrayed by David J. Richards. He truly enjoyed working with this cast and crew, and wants them to know, “You guys are the faith that gives him wings.”

Clearly, the director shares that sentiment. “How do you define what home means to you?” asks Busteed. “For some, a sense of home is found through an object, like a necklace handed down through generations. For others, it’s a person–a spouse or a friend they have known for decades. For even more, it’s a song, a sound, or a smell. Throughout the last five years, our sense of Home has been abruptly challenged. Like a tower, we’ve seen the society around us collapse throughout the pandemic, and watched our homes change in both a figurative and literal sense. Many of us have lost our loved ones to COVID or other illnesses. We’ve had to move houses or move jobs, and our children have had to change schools. We lived in isolation away from the people and hobbies that brought us a sense of safety and shelter. Peter and the Starcatcher reminds us all that we have the ability to create our own heart to return to when times get rough. This cast and crew have painstakingly built a safe place for each other both on stage and behind the scenes— and we are now welcoming you into our home to experience that magic.” 

Busteed’s message is simple and loving. She drives the point home, where we can always go. “Please remember, no matter what happens—whether it be through the fear of a shipwreck, the comfort found within friendship, or the joy of eating pineapple for the first time, we all have the ability to define our home in whatever way we like. I am happy to say, welcome home!”

Molly is portrayed by young veteran actor Angelina Manfredi. Keep an eye on this one, as she surely has a bright future in theatre. She adeptly plays a child on the ship who is ready to fearlessly take on the task at hand.

The crew worked hard at getting it just right, creating a homey feel on the ship of… foolhardies?! Lending their masterful talents are Music Director Lauren Katherine Pothier, Set Design by Andrew Lugo and Michael Mercado, Jr., and Lighting Design by Aidan Horrigan.

There is one 15-minute intermission during which refreshments will be available in the cafeteria. All donations will benefit The Community Players’ Special Projects Fund, which offers scholarships to theatre students, including Angelina Manfredi!

The Community Players presents Peter & the Starcatcher through February 25. For more information, visit www.thecommunityplayers.net or call (401) 726-6860.