Charlotte Levy
Arts Editor
Mira Costa Drama and Tech, with the help of director Jonathan Westerberg and assistant director Maddie Hutchinson, beautifully executed their fall play, “Peter and the Starcatcher” in the small theater from Nov. 3-11.
Although “Peter and the Starcatcher” is not as well-known as Drama and Tech’s musical last spring, “Mamma Mia!,” the story was whimsical and entertained audiences the entire show. The play follows the iconic character, Peter Pan, and his origin story as he teams up with his love interest, Molly, to protect the world from a dangerous band of pirates.
GLIMMER OF HOPE: Senior Jackson Yollin (bottom left), who played Peter, recalls his mother’s singing to get him through a dark and hopeless moment. This scene highlighted the vocal talents of the actors, even though the show isn’t a musical. Photo by Charlotte Levy/ La Vista
The show was very well-cast and truly displayed the immense talent among Costa actors. It was clear that the entire cast poured its hearts into these roles, even members of the ensemble. Dynamic duo seniors Jackson Yollin and Ava Ford worked in har- mony, complementing each other well as the titular characters, Peter and Molly the starcatcher.
Audiences were impressed with the British accents and dialects of the actors. The various accents displayed the actors’ understanding of their characters; For example, junior Aaron Henschel had a more posh British accent, while junior Jonah Mirkovich’s scrappier accent reflected his character as a pirate. The costumes also helped distinguish between the British characters and the unruly pirates, with simple pieces that suited each character.
The Drama Department took a minimalistic approach to the set, using wooden planks to create the look of a pirate ship, a creative way to make the most out of their limited inventory and budget while allowing the acting to shine. Wooden boxes doubled as beds for the sailors and as ship decks for battle scenes between the British and the pirates.
THE STARCATCHER: Molly the starcatcher, played by se- nior Ava Ford, sings as she navigates life on the pirate ship. Molly’s light-colored dress helps her stand out from the other characters’ worn clothes, reflecting her unique star-catching ability. Photo by Charlotte Levy/La Vista
Sound effects were cleverly used to add depth and emotions to scenes. Fast-paced tunes accompanied the scene where Lord Aster says goodbye to his daughter, Molly, and creaking noises were frequently used to produce the effect of opening cabinets and doors. Although the play wasn’t a musical, certain scenes featured singing, displaying the cast’s impressive voices, notably that of senior Kathryn Glavin who played Ms.Bumbrake.
Comic relief throughout the show was played by Mirkovich, as Alf, with witty one-liners and a ridiculous personality. Henschel did a phenomenal job at executing an ongoing joke in which he and his “daughter” used a completely fictional dodo language to communicate privately. These moments of humor allowed for the show to stay entertaining and keep audiences engaged.
Choosing a play that is not well-known by audiences is a risky move, as it removes any of the excitement that can mask a poorly executed performance. However, this decision paid off, as Drama and Tech lived up to the high expectations set by last year’s fall play and spring musical.
The story was emotional and had audiences rooting for Peter and Molly, as the theme of friendship and community touched everyone’s hearts. Adults and students came together to appreciate and support young actors, and were pleasantly surprised with the on-stage and behind-the-scenes talent. “Peter and the Starcatcher” blew the audiences away with impressive acting, stunning costumes, crafty sets, and incredible directing.
Performances of “Peter and the Starcatcher” were available in the small theater on Nov. 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
SAILING THE SEVEN SEAS: The British (left) and pirate (right) ships rival each other in an intense ocean battle scene. Drama/ Tech was able to avoid a flashy and costlyset by using wooden plank boxes to cleverly mimic the deck of a pirate ship. Photo by Charlotte Levy/ La Vista
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