Peter Pan soars anew

It is truly beginning to look a lot like Christmas, more so at the local theater circuit. One reason for this is that Peter Pan, A Musical Adventure is now running at the Meralco Theater. As most of you already know, Peter Pan is based on the over-a-hundred-year-old play written by J. M. Barrie about a boy who refuses to grow up.

And when is the best time to be a child again? On Christmas. In fact, one of my favorite quotes comes from Peter Pan and it always comes to mind whenever Christmas comes around. Backward, backward O time in your flight, make me a child again just for tonight. Those are exactly the sentiments of anybody who has met Peter Pan and enjoyed his adventures with Captain Hook and the pirates and indians and fairies and other kids.

Written by Willis Hall with music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, Peter Pan, A Musical Adventure is the latest take on the Barrie play. Song studded, it is faithful to the original story about Peter, the boy in search of a mother who will tell bedtime stories to his friends, the Lost Boys. While listening to the stories told by Mrs. Darling, Peter meets Wendy and her brothers. He teaches them how to fly and takes them to Neverland where they can be children forever.

What drew me to this version of Peter Pan was the picture of Sam Concepcion in costume. He looked like how I have always imagined Peter should be with that endearing little-boy innocence combined with a naughty sparkle in his eye. The young singer/actor does not disappoint. He does not only look the part, he makes a wonderful Peter Pan. Brilliant casting on the part of Repertory Philippines and Stages Production Specialists that have joined forces to bring Peter Pan to the Philippines.

It is just as well that we have two of the leading theater groups hereabouts working together in Peter Pan. This is a costly, demanding production requiring intricate set designs and costumes, special effects and flying scenes. What is Peter Pan without flying? Peter and the Darling children do get to fly over the streets of London on the Meralco stage. Also Captain Hook gets chased by a crocodile that swallowed an alarm clock and the audience gets to bring Tinker Bell back to life.

Great job for co-directors Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Jaime del Mundo and the cast that includes Michael Williams, appropriately hateful as Captain Hook, the sweet Tippy Dos Santos as Wendy, Robie de Santos as the inept Smee and the comforting Pinky Marquez as Mrs. Darling.

Peter Pan runs at the Meralco Theater on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays up to Oct. 30. Bring the kids. This is an experience they will savor for a lifetime. Nothing beats musical theater for magical memories. It is also so much better than any of those pop concerts by assorted foreign artists and come to think of it, even the movies that are currently showing.

And then brace yourselves for more box-office expenses because coming up are more musicals that children will surely love. Next on tap is the timeless The Sound Of Music at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resort World Manila with Joanna Ampil and Cris Villonco from Oct. 15 to Dec. 11; Stomp! the wonderful noise musical at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines from Oct. 18 to 23; and then to close the 2011 season, Disney’s Little Mermaid starring Rachelle Ann Go and Eric Santos, also at the Meralco from Nov. 18 to Dec. 11.

Not to forget, there is also Disney Live Mickey’s Music Festival at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Presented by Vivre Fort Entertainment, this opened last Oct. 5 and will play up to Oct. 9. Performers, aside from host Mickey Mouse, are Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. Also arriving will be Aladdin, Jasmine and the Genie from Aladdin; the Little Mermaid’s Ariel and Sebastian, the Crab with their underwater gang; as well as the dolls Woody, Buzz and Jessie from Toy Story. This is a greatest hits show with Mickey and his friends in concert and the kiddies can sing along to their favorite Disney themes.