Hillbarn stages Peter Pan prequel

That concept starts with actors’ antics in the lobby. It continues in the theater as they play on the stage and run into the audience. This beginning sets the tone as 13 actors energetically portray an array of characters.

The action is set in 1885, when two ships leave London headed for Rundoon. Both have an identical chest. The one on the Wasp is guarded by Lord Aster (Scott Solomon). Pirates, led by Black Stache (Will Springhorn Jr.) and his sidekick, Smee (Demers), take over the Wasp.

Lord Aster entrusts the other one to his 13-year-old daughter, Molly (Adrienne Kaori Walters), on the Neverland.

Also on the Neverland are three mistreated orphans, including Boy (Sean Okuniewicz), who takes the name Peter after many harrowing adventures.

Although the show is filled with clever staging and humorous dialogue, some of the humor is lost because several actors overact and/or shout, making them hard to understand. Director Lo should have told them to pull back.

Other actors do just that. Hence, there’s Demers as Smee. He has acute comic timing. One of his more humorous lines comes after he’s called a ruffian. He replies something like, “I’m not a ruffian. I’ve never been to Ruffia.”

Also noteworthy in the cast are Okuniewicz as Boy, Walters as Molly and Solomon as Lord Aster.

Musical director Amanda Ku on piano and Lane Sanders on percussion, provide accompaniment (music by Wayne Barker). The choreography is by Lee Ann Payne. The often zany costumes are by Y. Sharon Peng.

Despite the production’s shortcomings, notably the shouting and overacting, most in the opening night audience seemed to enjoy it.

Running about two and a half hours with one intermission, “Peter and the Starcatcher” will continue through Feb. 4 at Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. For tickets and information call (650) 349-6411 or visit hillbarntheatre.org.