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Mario Bautista, has been with the entertainment industry for more than 4 decades. He writes regular columns for People's Journal and Malaya.

Sep 30, 2011

Theatre Review: Peter Pan

HE REPERTORY-Stages co-production of “Peter Pan” is now showing at Meralco Theatre. We were at its press preview and Sam Concepcion really flies high, literally and figuratively, in the title role of the boy who refuses to grow up. Based on the 1902 novel of JM Barrie, this new British musical with music by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe is different from the popular 1954 Broadway version by Mark Charlap, Jule Styne and Carol Leigh that originally starred Mary Martin in the title role and was also staged here years ago with Rachel Alejandro as Peter Pan.

Director Menchu Yulo and Jaime del Mundo manage to create a delightful fantasy world of pirates, Lost Boys, Indians, flying children with a crocodile, a mermaid and pixie dust through colorful costumes and good set design. Sam shines in songs like “The Cleverness of Me” and “There’s Always Tomorrow”. He’s ably supported by Michael Williams as Captain Hook in such wacky numbers as “When I Kill Peter Pan” and “A Pirate with a Conscience”, Pinky Marquez looking radiant singing “Just Beyond the Stars”, Tippy Dos Santos as Wendy (she’s perfect for musical theatre), and Joy Virata as the narrator who aptly opens the show with “There’s Something in the Air Tonight” with enough sense of foreboding.

There’s a twist in Joy’s role in the ending, which is totally different from the first version where Peter encounters Wendy’s daughter, Jane, who he then takes to Neverland like her mom before her. Though the songs here are good, they’re nowhere as catchy and memorable as “I’m Flying”, “I Won’t Grow Up” and Tiger Lily’s “Indians” in the original. Still and all, this new version is an enchanting theatre experience for the whole family. For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999. It runs until October 30.

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