BWW Reviews: PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Enchants the Majestic

If you know what lies at the second star to the right and straight on 'til morning, it would behoove you to catch Peter and the Starcatcher at the Majestic Theatre this week.

Billed as "a grown-ups' prequel to Peter Pan," Peter and the Starcatcher is a quick, imaginative, funny play that follows the adventures of Molly Aster (Megan Stern) and the hijinks she encounters on a trip across the sea.

Let me touch on those adjectives again - quick, imaginative, and funny. Peter and the Starcatcher requires you to pay close attention to the dialogue; if you don't, you'll miss the quick witted repartee between characters and the well-placed references to modern-day amenities. The set is sparse, making more use of the cast and a piece of rope than complex scenery. You need to use a bit of your childhood imagination to transform the setting into what it's intended to portray - but even without that bit of imagination, the creativity that went into the staging of this production is impressive. The show's sense of humor is a character itself. Whether the comedic timing and improvisation of Black Stache (John Sanders) and Smee (Luke Smith) or the references written by Rick Elice, you will be laughing heartily much of the night.

Of course, the story would not be complete without its Peter Pan (Joey deBettencourt), the orphan who hates grown-ups and longs to just be a boy for a while. It is through his adventures with Molly that a nameless Boy finds himself, his family, his home, and the tale of Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook, The Lost Boys, and Neverland that we all know and love.

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is playing at the Majestic Theatre through October 27, 2013. Tickets are available at the box office and Ticketmaster.