Bonding over Barbie
What little girl didn’t grow up with Barbie? As a child I would literally dream about having a Barbie with bendable legs, which finally came true one happy Christmas.
It’s the same for my daughter, Isobel. At six she’s busy creating imaginary worlds and very real clothes for her dolls, and she has enough Barbies to make quite a barkada.
Barbie’s grown up along with us, too. I remember when the most high-tech accessory Barbie had was the camper van. Today she stars in full-length features, lives in diamond castles, and occupies a hallowed place in women’s lives that Ken can only hope to share.
So this Christmas the main bonding activity between Isobel and I will be watching “Barbie and the Diamond Castle” at our nearest Robinsons Mall, which is Galleria. Every year Robinsons has a special family-oriented Christmas theme, and this year it’s Barbie. The “Barbie and the Diamond Castle Live Show” is scheduled to tour Robinsons Malls exclusively this November and December.
“Known for its prestigious brand reputation and international appeal, Barbie is not a surprising choice for it has been delighting girls and ladies alike for generations,” says Eunice Gonzales, marketing communication director of Robinsons Malls. “Barbie and the Diamond Castle was our ultimate choice. From the endearing story line to the fabulous costume, our Christmas offering will surely be a delight to all.”
A foreign troupe of actors will bring eight characters from the story to life, incarnating this magical tale about friendship and music. Isobel is quick to inform me that the characters are Barbie as Liana, Teresa as Alexa, the twins Ian and Jeremy, Lydia the evil muse, Slyder the Dragon, Melody and Troll, the bridge keeper.
The story will unfold in a 30-minute musical live show on an interactive stage, with singing and dancing. For the first time, the Barbie cast will do a medley of three Christmas songs along with their regular repertoire. This is also the first time that a live Barbie show will incorporate a 12-foot-long puppet dragon and a small troll puppet the size of a five-year-old boy. Interesting factoid for moms: the extravagant dresses for Barbie and Teresa cost US$5,000, but you and your little girl can watch the show for free.
Characters will be played by an Australian and Filipino cast under AKS Events, which flew in the production especially for Robinsons Malls. The Philippines will be their first stop on Asian tour; their next stint’s in Jakarta in December.
The schedule of “Barbie and the Diamond Castle” shows is as follows: Nov. 22 (11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.) at Robinsons Metro East; Nov. 23 (2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) at Robinsons Place Lipa; Nov. 28 (3 p.m. and 5 p.m.) at Robinsons Place Imus; Nov. 30 (2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) at Robinsons Place Sta. Rosa; Dec. 5 (3 p.m. and 5 p.m.) at Robinsons Place Manila; Dec. 6 (2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) at Robinsons Place Angeles; Dec. 7 (2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) at Robinsons Place Dasmarinas; Dec. 12 (2 p.m. and 5 p.m.) at Robinsons Galleria; Dec. 13 (2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga; and Dec. 14 (2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) at Robinsons Nova Market.
To complete the experience, don’t miss a chance to meet and greet the cast and characters on Nov. 29 (4 p.m.) at Robinsons Place Otis; Dec. 1 (2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) at Robinsons Place Cebu; Dec. 19 (2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) at Forum Robinsons; Dec. 20 (2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) at Robinsons Place Iloilo and Dec. 21 (2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) at Robinsons Place Bacolod.
