Interview: Steve Rosen's STARCATCHER Turn

Steve Rosen brings an earthy humor as second banana Smee in the Tony award-winning Peter and the Starcatcher, now in its third year Off Broadway.

The play, a prequel to Peter Pan, includes many of the beloved fairy tale's characters and some new twists. "It's a story about having to grow up and fighting not to," Rosen said. "There's something exciting about getting older, and at the same time it's frightening to be a grownup and having responsibilities."

Rosen, whose rubbery features recall a young Jon Lovitz, has been in the show for less than a month. "This is only my third week into it and I learn new things every performance," he said.

"No matter who we are, we were all children once, and the older we get the more we identify with different things." Rosen said. "Teenage angst, danger and the unknown - we all share these." The most important lesson to be learned from the show is that we're all in this together, he said. "We should all strive to be a better person, to stand up for others and not quit."

Peter and the Starcatcher tells the tale of Lost Boys in the making, a courageous Molly (Nicole Lowrance) and a dastardly pirate Black Stache (Rick Holmes). Throw in some musical mermaids with beards, flashlight beams that foreshadow Tinker Bell native islanders, assorted pirate underlings and - you get the picture.

The mermaid number is especially fun for the cast, Rosen said. "It's a little like SOUTH PACIFIC on acid or mushrooms," he said. "They have some great lyrics that are very clever if you listen closely. And my mermaid tail is covered with rubber baby doll arms and my bra is tipped with two Rubber Duckies. Very smart, creative people put this together."

Rosen's Smee has one driving motivation - to serve his captain. "He's sort of like Edith Bunker with Archie," Rosen explained. "Smee is there to support him emotionally and is available at his every beck and call. He's a really, really good friend."

"What makes this show so unique is the masterful storytelling," said Rosen. "It's written with modern references to poetry, sea terms and great humor. There is a stunning emotional truth that unfolds and takes the audience on its journey."

The set's creative use of stage design was difficult to master at first. "I had to watch the show several times before I went into it and I grew to appreciate each element," Rosen said.

"We're like kids in a garage putting on a show," Rosen said. "The emphasis here is on human beings creating things rather than hydraulic machines making everything move. It's really hard doing such intense physical things day in and day out. And it was a little daunting being the new guy at first," he recalled.

"When I came to the show the cast already had a strong bond. They were like an army unit - they could read each other's thoughts even in the dark!" Rosen said laughing. He learned the intricacies of the choreography - even in the dark - thanks to "fantastic directors and stage manager. They told me what to expect in the show, even which hand to use, and how to get thrown into a wall, for instance," Rosen said.

"Ultimately there is no other show like it," Rosen said. "I've never worked this hard before. And there is no ego on the show either - the principals have all these important scenes and there they are, holding a door for you. It's very much a team effort."

The multilayered fiction is great for all theater fans - not just those weaned on Peter Pan. "It's especially great for kids and for grown-up kids. It's magical."

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is playing Off-Broadway at New World Stages, 340 W 50th St.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos