ABOUT THE Peter and the Starcatcher PLAY GUIDE
This play guide is a resource designed to enhance your theatre experience. Its goal is twofold: to nurture the teaching and learning of theatre arts, and to encourage essential questions that lead to an enduring understanding of the play’s meaning and relevance. Inside you will find information about the plot and characters within the play, as well as articles that contextualize the play and its production at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Oral discussion and writing prompts encourage your students to reflect upon their impressions, analyze key ideas, and relate them to their personal experiences and the world around them. These prompts can easily be adapted to fit most writing objectives. We encourage you to adapt and extend the material in any way that best fits the needs of your community of learners. We hope this material, combined with our pre-show workshops, will give you the tools to make your time at Actors Theatre a valuable learning experience.
Peter and the Starcatcher student matinees and this play guide address specific EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
Common Core State Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.1
Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.5
Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.6
Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.7
Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.2
Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
National Core Arts Standards
TH.Re7.1 Perceive and analyze artistic work.
TH.Re8.1 Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
TH.Re9.1 Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
TH.Cn10.1 Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
TH.Cn11.1 Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural and historical context to deepen understanding.
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding our play guides, please contact Jane B. Jones, Education Director, at 502.584.1265 x3045.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Peter and the Starcatcher Synopsis, Characters and Setting
Following the Path of Peter
Writing Portfolio
Bridgework
Discussion Questions
Actors Theatre Education
Education Director
Jane B. Jones
Education Manager
Betsy Anne Huggins
Education Associate
Lexy Leuszler
Resident Teaching Artists
Justin Dobring
Liz Fentress
Asha French
Keith McGill
Letitia Usher
Karin Partin Wells
Education/Teaching Artist Interns
Jes Childress
Jenn Oswald
Play Guide By
Betsy Anne Huggins
Jane B. Jones
Huy Vo
Graphic Design
Amie Villiger
LOGOS:
Yum! Family Series
Kentucky Arts Council
Fund for the Arts
Peter and the Starcatcher Plot Summary
Have you ever wondered how Peter Pan got his name? Or how he met Tinkerbell? In this swashbuckling grown-up prequel to Peter Pan, a dozen brilliant actors playing pirates, mermaids—and of course, our favorite Lost Boys—set out for an adventure filled with ingenious stagecraft and the limitless possibilities of theatrical storytelling.
The play opens on the dock of Portsmouth, where two ships are about to set sail: the Wasp and the Neverland, both headed for the kingdom of Rundoon. Aboard the Wasp is Lord Aster, father of Molly Aster, who has been tasked by the Queen of England to deliver a trunk of precious cargo to Rundoon. An identical trunk is bound for the Neverland along with three orphans, a nameless Boy and his friends Prentiss and Ted. Bill Slank, the evil captain of the Neverland, switches the two trunks before setting sail on the Neverland with Lord Aster’s daughter Molly and her nanny Mrs. Bumbrake in tow. Once at sea the Wasp is taken over by the most feared pirate of the seven seas, Black Stache! The adventure continues in this rollicking tale of friendship, daring and the search for the leader in all of us.
Setting:
The play is set in 1885 during the reign of Queen Victoria, ruler of the British Empire. The journey spans across the high seas, several ships with pirates and seafarers, an orphanage for lost boys, and a tropical island and its inhabitants.
Characters:
THE ORPHANS
Boy (Peter): The hero Peter Pan who earns his name during the course of the play. He is nameless, homeless, and friendless. He is a survivor. All he wants is a home and a family.
Prentiss: Peter’s friend from the orphanage. He longs to be a leader, but doesn’t have the skills to back it up.
Ted: Another of Peter’s friends from the orphanage, Ted is obsessed with food; he is often called “Tubby” by Prentiss.
THE BRITISH SUBJECTS:
Lord Leonard Aster: Molly’s father, and a loyal subject to the Queen of England. He is a Starcatcher— a protector of powerful starstuff.
Molly Aster: Lord Aster’s daughter and a true leader. She is an apprentice starcatcher.
Mrs. Bumbrake: Molly’s nanny.
Captain Robert Falcon Scott: Captain of the Wasp.
Grempkin: The mean schoolmaster of St. Norbert’s Orphanage for Lost Boys, where Boy, Prentiss, and Ted lived as orphans.
THE SEAFARERS
Bill Slank: The Neverland’s vicious captain.
Alf: An old sailor, and love interest of Mrs. Bumbrake.
Mack: A very bad sailor who wants to be anywhere but under the thumb of Bill Slank.
Black Stache: The world’s most feared pirate. He and his crew take over the Wasp. Black Stache is searching for a hero worthy of his villainy.
Smee: First mate to Black Stache. Single-mindedly dedicated to his captain’s every whim.
Sánchez: A hardworking Spanish pirate.
THE NATIVES
Fighting Prawn: King of Mollusk Island. He has vowed to kill any English man that visits his kingdom.
Hawking Clam: Son of Fighting Prawn and Sweet’n’Sour Shrimp.
Teacher: Formerly a salmon, now a wise mermaid that Boy meets on Mollusk Island.
Following the Path of Peter [IMAGES: J.M. Barrie-- Caption: The author in 1910.]
The iconic character Peter Pan has been delighting audiences both young and old since 1911. The character is everywhere in our media, from books and movies to television shows and plays based on this beloved figure. But where did Peter come from, and what are the next adventures for the boy who won’t grow up?
J.M. Barrie, a Scottish author and playwright, created the mythic character Peter Pan in stories he told to entertain the children of a close friend Mr. Llewelyn Davis. The five Llewelyn Davis brothers inspired the fantastic world of Neverland and are the namesake of many of the characters that inhabit the world. Peter was introduced to the world in Barrie’s 1902 novel The Little White Bird in chapters entitled “Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.” Barrie elaborated on the story of Peter Pan in the 1904 play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up. All the iconic characters of the Peter Pan stories are introduced: Wendy Darling and her brothers, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell, the Lost Boys, and more make their first appearance in this popular stage play. These stories about a magical boy who could fly were instant hits in England and in the United States. Barrie capitalized on the plays’ success by publishing the story in a book, Peter and Wendy, in 1911. Though Barrie continued to write successful novels and plays, such as The Twelve Pound Look, he will forever be remembered as the man who brought Neverland to the world. In 1929, Barrie gave the copyrights of all Peter Pan works to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, England. The hospital continues to receive funding from the legacy of Peter Pan to this day.
[IMAGE: Barrie and Michael—Caption: J.M. Barrie dressed as Captain Hook wrestling with Peter Pan, played by one of the Llewelyn Davis brothers.]
Over the years, the Peter Pan story has been told in films, television shows, musicals, and books. Some recreate the original story of the beloved boy hero and some are inspired by the characters and themes of the original. Some imagine the future of the boy who can’t grow up, and some present a fictionalized version of the history of Barrie and his famous tales.
[IMAGES: Peter in Disney—Caption: Peter Pan in the 1953 Disney animated classic]
[IMAGES: Robin Williams—Caption: Robin Williams as an adult Peter in the 1991 film Hook.]
[IMAGE: Cathy Rigby--- Caption: Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan on Broadway. On stage, there has been a long tradition of women playing the boy hero.]
In 2004, Peter and the Starcatchers, the first book in a series of five written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, takes on the story of the boy before he becomes Peter Pan. These stories were adapted for the stage by Broadway veteran Rick Elice, known for his book (the parts of a musical that are spoken, not sung) for the Tony Award winning hit Jersey Boys, a juke-box musical about the 50s rock band, “The Four Seasons.” His script for Peter and the Starcatcher premiered in 2009 at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California and transferred to New York in 2011. It received its Broadway premiere in 2012. Peter and the Starcatcher is now being performed across the country and is even being adapted into a movie.
[IMAGE: Starcatchers—Caption: The book that inspired the play, Peter and the Starcatchers.]
Glossary
Natical Terminology
[IMAGE: Frigate with annotations, Hold with Annotations]
Frigate: a warship built for speed and maneuverability, like the Wasp.
Merchant Ship: a ship that transports cargo or people, like the Neverland.
Port and Starboard: nautical terms for the left and right side of the ship, respectively.
Bow: the front of the ship; also called the prow.
Stern: the rear of the ship.
Mast: the pole that holds the sail on a ship.
Jib: a small, triangular front sail on a ship.
Canvas: fabric used to create the sail of a ship.
Deck: the floor of the ship.
Poop Deck: the small deck at the rear of the ship, named for the French word for stern, la poupe.
Galley: the kitchen on board a ship.
Bilge: the lowest compartment of the ship below the waterline.
Captain’s quarters: a cabin on a ship reserved for the Captain’s use.
Cargo: goods being carried by a ship, like the trunks in the play.
Dock: the place where boats can load and unload passengers and cargo.
Gangway: the ramp connecting a ship to the dock for loading and unloading of passengers or cargo.
Jolly Roger: flag flown on a pirate ship. [IMAGE: Jolly Roger]
Change of course: changing direction on a ship.
Hard about: turning a boat sharply to one side.
Knot: a nautical measurement of speed. One knot is roughly 1.5 miles per hour.
Whitecaps: the white or frothy tops of an ocean surface wave; whitecaps can be a sign of strong winds or rough seas.
Gale: a very strong wind, measuring at least 34 knots (39 miles per hour).
Overboard: over the side of the ship, especially into the water.
Raft: a floating platform made from buoyant materials, like logs.
The British Realm
Her Majesty, Queen Victoria: England’s longest reigning monarch, she ruled the British empire from 1837-1901. The time of her reign is referred to as the Victorian era. [IMAGE: Queen V]
Peer of the Realm: a member of the highest social class in a kingdom. Lord Aster has just been named a Peer of the Realm by Queen Victoria at the beginning of the play. He uses a peer title, “Lord.”
British Empire: all territories ruled by the United Kingdom. In 1885, this included Canada, Ireland, Australia, India, and areas of Africa, Indonesia, and South America.
Union Jack: the national flag of the United Kingdom. [IMAGE: Union Jack]
Writing Portfolio:
Narrative: CCRA.W.3
Peter and the Starcatcher is a prequel; it tells the story of Peter Pan before the well-known adventures of Peter in Neverland begin. As the backstory of Peter Pan is revealed in this play; you discover how he is able to stay a boy forever, how he learned how to fly, how he got to Neverland, and even how he got his name. Write a prequel for your favorite character. Think about all their characteristics, what you know about their history and where their story is heading, and write a short story explaining how they came to be.
Argumentative: CCRA.W.1
The story of Peter Pan and his band of friends in Neverland has been told in many forms over the years, from Broadway plays to animated classics. The tale has recently become very popular again. In 2014, NBC produced a live action version of the classic musical for TV, and this fall another movie, Pan, will be released. Why do you think the story of Peter Pan remains so timeless and popular? Use evidence and examples to support your position.
Informative: CCRA.W.2
Write a review of the performance of Peter and the Starcatcher that you saw at Actors Theatre of Louisville. What parts of the play (the actors’ performances, the set, props, costumes, lighting and sound design, etc.) were your favorites and why? How effective were these elements in telling the story? Back up your claims with evidence and details from your experience of watching the performance. Then make a copy and send it to the education department at
Actors Theatre of Louisville
c/o Jane B. Jones
316 West Main Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
We will share your thoughts with the creative team.
Bridgework
At Your Desk
1. In Peter and the Starcatcher, the boys and Molly fight over who gets to be the leader. Prentiss thinks he should be the leader because he is a boy; Molly thinks she should be the leader because she’s the oldest. What are the qualities of an effective leader? Use images from newspapers, magazines, and the internet to create a chimera, a creature composed of various parts from different people or things. Clip images that reflect qualities of a good leader, and glue them to a large piece of paper. You can write why you chose that image next to the chimera you create. Does your new leader have the courage of a family member? The vision of a historical figure? The strength of a favorite athlete? Reflect on your chimera; what does leadership mean to you?