2015 – 2016 SEASON PETER AND THE STARCATCHER by Rick Elice Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson CONTENTS 2 The 411 Music by Wayne Barker 3 A/S/L Directed by Blake Robison 4 FYI 7 RBTL 8 F2F 9 HTH 10 B4U 11 IRL 12 SWDYT? WELCOME! At The Rep, we know The desire to learn, insatiable when awakened, can that life moves sometimes lie dormant until touched by the right teacher or fast—okay, really the right experience. We at The Rep are grateful to have the fast. But we also opportunity to play a role supporting you as you awaken the know that some desire for learning in your students. things are worth For most of us, the story of Peter Pan starts when Wendy slowing down for. We believe that live theatre is helps Peter find his shadow. We accept that Captain Hook is one of those pit stops worth making and are excited that you a bad guy, the giant crocodile who swallowed a clock (and are going to stop by for a show. To help you get the most bang Hook’s hand) is scary and that there is a faraway magical for your buck, we have put together WU? @ THE REP—an place with lost boys, mermaids and a tiny fairy. But was it IM guide that will give you everything you need to know to always that way? Peter and the Starcatcher explains it all get at the top of your theatergoing game—fast. You’ll find while taking your students on a magical and swashbuckling character descriptions (A/S/L), a plot summary (FYI), theatrical adventure. biographical information (F2F), historical context (B4U), and other bits and pieces (HTH). Most importantly, we’ll It would be a good idea to take a minute to give your have some ideas about what this all means IRL, anyway. students these quick theatre etiquette reminders: • This show has one intermission; there will be time for bathroom breaks before the show and halfway through. • The actors can hear the audience and appreciate the laughter, gasps and quiet attention to action. However, talking, moving around and eating is very distracting to others and can dampen the energy on stage. • Pictures, phone calls and texting are not allowed at any The Teacher’s time during the performance. Lounge Live theatre won’t allow your students to take a passive role—they must work with us to create the experience which In an effort to make our takes the learning deeper. Our unique ability to fuse words educational materials accessible and images onstage allows your students to explore new to students and easy for educators to ideas as well as excites their imaginations. We will do our incorporate into the classroom, our study part so your students will be stirred to understandings and guide is written in a student-oriented format. We hope self-awareness while delving into new and familiar worlds. that you will circulate this guide among your students in You are doing your part by using The Rep to extend your the weeks preceding your visit to The Rep, encouraging intellectual and aesthetic curriculum. Thank you! them to browse it before and after class and as time allows, using it as a launch point for both pre- and post-performance discussions.You may also want to visit our website, www.repstl.org, for additional information including activity suggestions and behind-the-scenes Marsha Coplon, Director of Education information. Any materials, either from this guide or from our website may be reproduced for use in the classroom. As always, we appreciate your making live REP EDUCATION DEPARTMENT theatre a part of your classroom experience and welcome your Director of Education Marsha Coplon feedback and questions. Associate Director of Education Sarah Brandt Education Programs Manager Suki Peters Study Guide Writer Laura Schlereth THE ORPHANS SMEE: Black Stache's faithful first mate who is single-handedly dedicated to his captain’s BOY/PETER: A nameless and friendless every whim. 13-year-old orphan who has been neglected his whole life, and as a result, does not trust MACK: A very bad sailor who wants to be adults; deep down, he longs for a home and anywhere but under the thumb of Bill Slank. family. SANCHEZ: A hardworking Spanish pirate TED: One of the Boy's orphan companions with an identity crisis. who is nicknamed "Tubby Ted" because he’s constantly hungry. THE NATIVES PRENTISS: One of the Boy's orphan companions who pompously declares himself FIGHTING PRAWN: The King of the Mollusk as the leader of the orphans but rarely Islanders was kidnapped and sold into slavery displays any true leadership skills. in England as a boy, but was able to return to his native island as an adult. HAWKING CLAM: Fighting Prawn's son. THE BRITISH SUBJECTS TEACHER: A former fish who has recently MOLLY ASTER: A highly intelligent 13-year- become a very knowledgeable mermaid. old apprentice Starcatcher and natural leader who is desperate to prove herself to her father. LORD LEONARD ASTER: Molly's father is a Starcatcher on a secret mission for Queen Victoria; very loving and protective of his daughter and very devoted to his job. MRS. BUMBRAKE: Molly's faithful nanny who is a prim and proper Englishwoman. CAPTAIN ROBERT FALCON SCOTT: The Captain of the Wasp is an old friend of Lord Aster's; loosely based on the real-life British hero Robert Falcon Scott, who froze to death on an expedition to the South Pole. GREMPKIN: The cruel schoolmaster of St. Norbert’s Orphanage for Lost Boys. THE SEAFARERS BILL SLANK: The nasty, greedy and ruthless captain of the Neverland. BLACK STACHE: A conniving and theatrical pirate captain who is looking for a hero to make him a great villain. Costume renderings by Costume Designer David Kay Mickelsen 3 SPOILER ALERT! THE DOCKS OF PORTSMOUTH AFTER A BRIEF FLIRTATION with are very busy today. Two trunks Mrs. Bumbrake, Alf leaves to feed “the that are being delivered are pigs.” A lover of animals, Molly follows identical except for their Alf only to discover that the “the pigs” contents—one is holding are really the three orphan boys that a precious cargo of the Grempkin sold to Slank. Hiding until Queen’s while the other is Alf leaves, Molly confronts the boys. a decoy that holds only Two of them introduce themselves sand. The former is to as Prentiss, the self-identified go on the “fastest ship group leader, and Ted, the lover afloat,” the Wasp, under of food. However, the third one the protection of Lord doesn’t have a name and is Leonard Aster, while the referred to simply as “Boy.” Seeing latter is meant to go their terrible conditions, Molly on the slower ship, the leads them to find better food Neverland, whose captain elsewhere on the ship. is the cranky and cruel MEANWHILE, ON THE WASP, Bill Slank. Both ships Lord Aster learns that the are bound for the remote ship’s crewmembers are actually kingdom of Rundoon, but undercover pirates. One of pirates, the Neverland is taking the Smee, demands the key to the trunk, longer, safer route. When no but Lord Aster refuses. All of a sudden, one is looking, Slank swaps the pirates begin to tremble in fear, trunks so that the valuable one and Smee introduces Black Stache, their goes on his ship instead. Slank formidable captain. Black Stache theatrically also buys three orphan boy slaves in describes himself as a “bloodthirsty outlaw,” crates from Grempkin, schoolmaster of and by threatening to kill Molly, tricks Aster St. Norbert’s Orphanage for Lost Boys. into revealing he has the key in his pocket. BEFORE THEY DEPART, Lord Aster pays As Stache grabs it and celebrates with the Slank to keep a watchful eye on his 13-year- other pirates, Lord Aster’s amulet begins to old daughter Molly who, accompanied by glow. her nanny Mrs. Bumbrake, will be traveling ON THE NEVERLAND, Molly’s amulet on the safer Neverland. Although Molly begins to glow as well, and she realizes her begs her father to take her with him so she father is in trouble. The orphan boys also can help with his mission, he tells her it’s notice, and Molly confesses her father is too dangerous. However, speaking to her in on a secret mission for the Queen. Soon “Dodo language,” he confides that he's on a after, they all spot a flying cat, and Molly secret mission. He then hands her an amulet immediately becomes alarmed because the to wear and use to call him if she runs into only thing that could make a cat fly is any trouble. Lord Aster departs on the Wasp “starstuff,” the very thing that’s supposed while Molly and Mrs. Bumbrake are escorted to be in the trunk on the Wasp. She realizes by the kind seafarer Alf to their cabin on the the Queen’s treasure is on the wrong ship. Neverland. To distract the boys from asking more questions, she offers to tell them a bedtime The cast of Fly. Photo by Sandy Underwood. story—something the boys have never heard of makeshift lifesaver. Peter rides the trunk of. Offended by Molly’s reaction to this sad to the nearest island, and Molly swims after news, the Boy blurts out that he can’t wait him just as a hurricane causes the Neverland for a time when boys will be free, life will to break into two pieces, stranding everyone be beautiful, and everything won’t feel on the same island.