"Alex Timbers and Roger Rees' spirited production of Rick Elice's play is that rare kind of theatrical event that can appeal equally to kids — who will be captivated by the sentimental, action-packed plot — and adults — who will admire its imaginative theatricality."
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
"In the earlier workshop and Off Broadway presentations of Peter and the Starcatcher, Christian Borle originated the role of Black Stache, the nefarious pirate who would go on to lose a hand and acquire greater infamy as Captain Hook. At that time he was an established New York stage actor whose national profile had not yet been boosted by a lead role on NBC’s Smash. While the television series commitment initially indicated he would be unavailable to reprise his part in the play’s Broadway transfer, the producers must be relieved that the scheduling worked out, because Borle’s deliciously hammy, scenery-chewing turn is one of few elements to survive the move undamaged."
"Peter and the Starcatcher is a tiny show, but spectacle, wit, and joy spill out of it like treasure from a magic pocket. A cast of twelve, a couple of trunks, and a versatile length of rope yield more storytelling than most oversized spectaculars can manage. There’s a naval battle, an island full of savages, and a mermaid chorus, all packed onto a stage that feels no bigger than a conch shell. It’s a measure of the production’s low-tech delights that when Molly, the cast’s sole female, ingests a dose of “starstuff,” crosses her legs and levitates, Jeannie-style, it looks like a miraculous effect, even though we can clearly see the plank, the pivot, and the hand on the seesaw’s other end."
"The energetic physicality of the entire company informs their colorful characterizations. A greasepaint mustache festooning his sneering lip, a gleaming Christian Borle (on hiatus from TV’s “Smash”) wickedly smiles and drolly rolls his eyes as a swaggering pirate king. Borle’s hilarious business when his character accidentally cuts off his hand is likely to hook him a Tony nomination. Adam Chanler-Berat transforms nicely from a woebegone urchin into Peter Pan. Arnie Burton invests Molly’s doughty nurse with coquettish airs.
An ever-girlish Celia Keenan-Bolger remains utterly winning as the smart starcatcher Molly, who easily holds her fearless own amid this otherwise all-male crew. Watching little pinafore-clad Molly cope so capably with all of the silly men swarming around her may well inspire every young girl who sees her do it."
"The crackerjack ensemble packs three grand prizes. Adam Chanler-Berat is brooding and endearing as the legendary lost boy. Christian Borle, now of “Smash,” proves sublimely slapsticky as a prissy, malaprop-dropping pirate.
Best of the bunch: Celia Keenan-Bolger, whose high-spirited and big-hearted turn as the can-do aristocrat Molly is irresistible.
At its heart, “Peter and the Starcatcher” is a valentine for the power of storytelling to transform. Tales told within it ease lost boys’ woes and literally save their skin.
Peter Pan will never grow up. But his origin story has matured nicely."
"There’s a lot of frantic business about two warring ships, switched trunks, an island inhabited by a tribe called the Mollusks — frankly, it’s hard to follow. The show feels as if it’s frantically running inside a hamster wheel, and the only breather comes at the end, when Peter and Molly exchange a sad goodbye.
They may be the heroes of the title, but the true treasure of “Peter and the Starcatcher” is its villain.
Borle chomps what little scenery there is with contagious delight. Swishing and jumping about, winking at himself and the audience, his vaudevillian pirate is a shameless masterpiece. Is it so wrong to pine for the bad guy?"
Even though this work isn't given the Disney logo, it is, inherently, a Disney production (Disney commissioned the work, adapted from a Disney book, and Disney is a leading producer). So would this make STARCATCHER the first "Disney" production to ever receive a rave from Brantley?
"...For instance, that tall blond guy who’s been blending into in the background during the first several scenes..."
In what world is Christian Borle tall? And blond? Really, Ben, wish fulfillment much?
Nonetheless, I'm glad the show is getting some well-deserved kudos.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
I found the first act to be frankly exhausting -- lots of running and jumping and overcute stuff with rope and model boats (see? we're making a doorway with a piece of ROPE! And now that same piece of rope is THE OCEAN!) and a lot of SHOUTING. The second act is a lot better, and I did enjoy the business with the crocodile, but the crocodile didn't really seem to go anywhere, it just gets forgotten about for some reason.
I got sick of the contemporary inside jokes, like the one about Ayn Rand, and when they actually resorted to quoting "you like me, you really like me" I felt like some kind of line had really been crossed.
I did enjoy Borle's performance a good deal, he's a splendid comedian no question about that. I just wish he, and the show, had lightened up a little bit. Or a lot. There's a real frantic air to the show, a mad need to impress and dazzle that kept me at more of a distance than I think was desirable.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
Who cares about all these other people? What does Roma Torrey think????????
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Sorry, but in what world is he getting an Emmy? He's definitely one of the more enjoyable things about SMASH but that isn't saying much. I highly doubt he'll even be nominated. There are far too many better TV shows with actors delivering far better performances. That may be a result of the material Borle has been given, but that's life.
A Tony is also far from guaranteed.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
I think you are underestimating the academy. Who else is doing better work on that show? And last week's amazing episode where he got to "strut his stuff" in a towel was just the sort of performance the academy LOVES! I don't know about a Tony, but I put money on an Emmy! !!