Review: PETER AND THE STARCATCHER at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Peter and the Starcatcher, presented by the Theater League of Kansas City, opened on Tuesday night at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Mo. The production not only provides limited sets, costuming, special effects, but also limited appeal.

Based on the 2006 novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the Rick Elice adaption for theater is the backstory of Peter Pan. Peter and the Starcatcher includes original movement by Steven Hoggett and original direction by Roger Rees and Alex Timbers. The show opened on Broadway in April of 2012 and ran to January 20, 2013. It received Tony Awards for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play, Best Sound Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Scenic Design.

The production now playing at the Kauffman looks and sounds more like something one would expect to see in the Pirates Cove at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. This production is far below the standards Kansas City has come to expect from the Theater League. Intermission brought the biggest exodus from a theater that I have witnessed. The escalator to the parking garage was crowded and a steady stream of cars could be seen leaving the underground parking.

Peter and the Starcatcher features Bryan Welnicki as the Boy, Joe Beuerlein as Black Stache, Aisling Halpin as Molly, Andy Ingalls as Lord Aster, and Mickey Rafalski as Captain Scott. The actors bring a lot of energy to the stage, but unfortunately, it quickly turns into a yelling match. Designed to leave a lot of the story to the audience's imagination it fails to hold the attention of the unfortunates sitting in the seats.

Peter and the Starcatcher continues at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts through April 5. Purchase tickets at the Kansas City Theater League website. Photo by Scott Suchman courtesy of the Kansas City Theater League.