The Barley Sheaf Players warmly welcome you to join them for their final production of the 2016-17 regular season, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER. This heartwarming and hilarious tale is a prequel to the story of Peter Pan, and tells the story of how a lonely orphan became The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up. This fun-filled play will take audiences on a magical journey to save a trunk full of a mysterious substance called “starstuff” from pirates! Along the way, we will meet Molly, a young Starcatcher-in-training, and the most fearsome (and flamboyant) pirate on the seas – Black Stache, who will eventually become Captain Hook.
Prequels to well-known stories have become a popular genre on Broadway in recent years, the best-known of which is surely Wicked, which tells the story of what happened before Dorothy came to Oz. Fans of Wicked and other prequels will surely enjoy the cleverly-spun tale of how Peter got to Neverland, met the Lost Boys, and learned to fly, penned by playwright Rick Elice (and based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson).
In contrast to the big-budget scenery and costumes of Wicked, though, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER takes a very different method of telling Peter’s story. The play is told through story-theater style, which means that there are no elaborate sets or props. Instead, the actors use everyday items (and even their own bodies) to create scenery and tell the story of Peter Pan. Through the use of simple objects (and lots of imagination), the cast brings Neverland to life in a way that most people have likely never seen before.
The other unique aspect of Barley Sheaf’s production is that it is performed in the round. In other words, the audience is seated on all four sides of the theater, and the cast performs the show in the center, with the audience all around them. Director Doug Schultz chose to stage PETER AND THE STARCATCHER in the round to highlight the nature of storytelling in the show, and the cast hopes that audiences will enjoy the unique seating arrangement, which immerses them in the story too.
When the show opened on Broadway in April of 2012, it received a rave review from The New York Times. It was nominated for a host of awards, including the Tony Award for Best Play. It is full of laughter and heart, but ultimately, it is so relatable because it is about the joys, heartbreaks, and adventures of childhood that we’ve all experienced. Adults and children alike are sure to be delighted by this show, which allows us all to live Peter’s greatest wish for a few hours – to “just be a boy (or girl) for a while”.
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER runs from June 2nd through June 17th at the Barley Sheaf Players, located at 810 North Whitford Road in Lionville. Show times are 8:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:00pm on Sundays. Tickets can be reserved online at www.barleysheaf.org or by calling the box office at 610-363-7075.
Theater/Organization The Barley Sheaf Players
Theater/Organization Website: http://www.barleysheaf.org/
Theater/Organization Address: 810 N. Whitford Road Lionville, Pennsylvania 19353 (Map It)
Theater/Organization Phone: (610) 363-7075
