WHS stars in ‘Peter and the Starcatcher’

By Lisa Moore
Hometown Weekly Correspondent

Each spring, the WHS Drama Society performs a more intimate production in the little theater affectionately known as the black box. This limited-seating space immerses the audience in the theater experience, as the action of the actors and movements of scenery and props seem all the more overwhelming in the unique, small venue.

This year’s production of "Peter and the Starcatcher" was performed using a process known as “story theater” or “poor theater” where the actors in the show play everything and everyone. In addition, during the scenes, the actors narrated actions and memories so as to communicate with the audience and have them become participants in the imaginative process. This unique form of theater set the perfect stage for the story of "Peter and the Starcatcher,” a play which puts a new spin on the iconic characters from “Peter Pan.”

With a sparse set, the incredibly imaginative use of people and props transformed each scene, vividly depicting the story of a how a boy named Peter Pan and the magical place of Neverland came to be. The tale begins with three orphan boys being sold off into slavery and ending up on a ship called the Neverland, where a young “Starcatcher” in training, Molly Aster, travels with her nanny en route to meet her father. Hidden on the ship is a box of precious cargo known as “star stuff,” little bits of stars that have fallen to earth and have the ability to “change things in different ways.” Over the course of this play, the audience is introduced to the iconic characters from the story of Peter Pan before he became Pan and before there was a Neverland.

Senior Emma Downey played the “Boy” who would become Peter Pan, a poor orphan, without even a name, let down by every adult in his life and sold into slavery, who just wishes to be a boy for a while. In the story, we see the Boy and his two fellow orphan captives, Prentiss and Ted (played by seniors Will Fulginiti and Cam Ayer), receive food and help from a young passenger Molly Aster, a Starcatcher in training played by senior Emma Frank. Surprised by her kindness, the boys help Molly keep a chest of star stuff out of the hands of the evil pirate, Black Stache (played by senior Jack Grossi).

As the play moves on, the trunk of star stuff gets thrown overboard, and the Boy floats on the trunk, bringing it to a nearby island to keep it safe from Black Stache until Molly and her father can retrieve it. When the trunk falls into the water, the star stuff is dissolved, transforming the boy into Peter Pan, the island into Neverland, and the inhabitants of the island’s grotto into mermaids. Jack Grossi gave a hilarious portrayal of the pirate Black Stache, who struggles to find the treasured trunk and by story’s end loses his hand, a precursor to becoming Captain Hook.

The comedic timing of all of the talented young actors had audiences laughing throughout the over two-hour performance.

Saturday evening’s final show was a spectacular and emotional performance for the entire cast and crew. As it was the final show at WHS for many of the senior cast and crew members, emotions ran high, bringing a reality to the raw emotions expressed by the characters.

In addition, "Peter and the Starcatcher" was also the last WHS production for veteran director Mr. Stephen Wrobleski, affectionately known as Wro, who after this his 16th year at WHS will be leaving the faculty at year’s end to pursue an administrative position at Dover Sherborn Middle School. In his “Letter form the Director” in the show program and in his opening remarks at Saturday’s evening performance, Wro shared his love and appreciation for his time at WHS, all the time he got to work with creative students, faculty and parent volunteers from POPS, and the impact it has had on him professionally and personally.

“The hardest part of this whole decision was the prospect of leaving my students, who make each day an absolute joy to come to work. Work… I don’t feel as though I’ve worked in the past sixteen years.” As Wro and the graduating seniors move on to the next adventure in their lives, they may leave behind their own Neverland, but they will all carry with them the memories, knowledge, and experiences they built in their time at WHS.

The last WHS Drama Society production will be the play “Metamorphoses,” directed by Brian McManimon in the little theater on May 31 and June 2. Seating is limited. To purchase tickets online, visit www.wellesleyps.org/performingarts.