Once upon a time (that s how they always start), Franklin High School presented  Peter and the Starcatcher : a play hotter than Mount Jalape o.

There is no way to properly encapsulate all that Rick Elice s decidedly nonlinear  Peter and the Starcatcher  is in a few measly sentences. For the sake of contextualization, know that the show is a prequel to J.M. Barrie s  Peter and Wendy  and is based on Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson s 2006 novel. The plot centers around Mary Larson (Wendy s mother) and Boy (Peter Pan) as they work to fight pirates, negotiate with mollusks, and find their way  home .

Franklin’s take on this playful romp transcended expectations for a high school production. The complete and total commitment to character made by each actor allowed the audience to suspend their disbelief and wholeheartedly buy into the play s loose structure. The cast s childlike energy seemed inexhaustible and watching their intentionally haphazard frolic gave one the feeling that they were watching children play pretend. Not only did the ensemble fashion an ever-changing  set  out of several lengths of rope, but they did it all without once getting tangled!

From the consumption of pineapple leaves to unfettered physicality, Cali Shelton (Ted) seemed to know no boundaries. Shelton remained  one of the guys  in her mannerisms while taking advantage of her feminine vocal range to create her character s age. Jacob Sanchez (Black Stache) also played with his vocal range to construct a flamboyant younger version of the one-handed pirate that plunders through J.M. Barrie s original tale. Chloe Harvey (Mrs. Bumbrake) elevated her alliteration happy character with crystalline a capella vocals. Opposite Harvey, Sarah Wolf s (Alf) commitment to the creation of a convincingly crass character was clear.

Andrew West (Boy/Peter) admirably tackled the daunting task of creating a character who begins with no sense of self. In the creation of this self, West adroitly navigated through a wide range of situations and emotions, from traumatic flashbacks to gentle moments with a newfound friend. His interactions with the delightfully precocious Emily Signor (Molly Aster) were charmingly innocent and effectively slowed the pacing of the show for a few poignant instances.

Signor s character s spark was furthered by her adherence to a tight accent and playful expression. Signor controlled her character at all times, but this control never detracted from her sprightly moxie.

The professional caliber set s (Gabby Trujillo, Noah Heilveil, and Luis Medina) abstract nature provided a neutral space that was easily transformed from a mermaid s lagoon to the bowels of a pirate s ship with the inventive use of props (Sarah Wolf and Lauren White) and a few strategically placed boxes. Mallory Brown s well executed live action foley added depth to scenes in conjunction with digital sound design (Ethan Snyder).

Peter Pan might have forgotten all that happened on Franklin s stage last night, but this critic certainly won t. Two thumbs up… two thumbs way up!

by Lizzy Dixon of Annapolis