The SCC drama department put on a nostalgic and thoughtful performance of Kimberly Belflower’s “Lost Girl,” with the exception of a few shortcomings.

Throughout the production, which was directed by SCC acting professor Bryar Golden, students showcased varying degrees of acting skill and ability to convey emotion.

Underwhelming Set Design Redeemed by Lighting Crew

“Lost Girl” provides a contemporary epilogue to J.M. Barrie’s classic “Peter Pan” as it follows protagonist Wendy Darling (Shiraz Almakt) and her longing for Peter (Eric Braun) years after their adventures in Neverland. The melancholy coming-of-age story delves into the reality of facing the past, accepting the present and moving on toward the future.

The performance opened to a scene in Wendy’s bedroom — the same one where she first met Peter.

Initially, the understated set was seemingly appropriate, suited with only a child’s bed and nursery window. It felt apparent that the blasé scenery would inevitably evolve as the plot progressed, but aside from a few minor prop changes, it remained disappointingly stagnant throughout the entire 90-minute show.

The lighting crew deserved their own round of applause as digital backdrops communicated some of the most tangible feeling throughout the production. Subtle shifts in warmth, coolness and degree of light helped express not only the time of day or night, but the turbulence of Wendy’s emotions.

Costume Design Supported Intention, But Lacked Variety

Each of the actors donned different styles to reflect their character’s personality traits.

Wendy’s oversized shawl perfectly suggested her emotional mourning while her mother’s (Amanda Petrowski) slightly disheveled hairstyle portrayed her desperation to reach through to her daughter. Meanwhile, Peter’s green flannels provided a modernized homage to his character’s iconic original costume.

However, Braun’s costume changes between 13-year-old Peter and grown-up Peter were too subtle, with only a dark jacket marking the difference. The lack of effort put into differentiating the two versions was distracting and easily preventable.

Acting Demonstrates Skill and Adaptability

What lacked in set design and costume choices was made up for in striking and authentic performances.

Braun displayed a fiery performance as the grown-up Peter Pan during an argument scene toward the climax of the play, albeit lacking in chemistry with Almakt.

Almakt delivered an impressive performance as Wendy. She portrayed a true optimistic pessimist who simultaneously despises her own denial: While she bitterly curses Peter for leaving her, she continues to leave her window open every night wishing for his return.

She delivered her monologues in an intentionally artistic and mournful style, adding genuine delivery and emotion that pulled the audience’s heartstrings.

The rocky relationship between Wendy and her mother was profoundly convincing through the duo’s tangible chemistry. Each argument between the pair was an authentic and relatable experience for anyone who has ever known an unstable relationship between parent and child.

The supporting cast and Lost Boys, who accompanied Wendy in her original quest to Neverland, held weak performances in their first couple of scenes — possibly due to nerves — but as the story progressed, the cast was able to find a rhythm and come into their characters in a way that felt truly believable.

All in all, SCC’s take on “Lost Girl” was a touching interpretation of coming to terms with love, loss and all of the bumps in the road in between.