Peter Pan - El Musical

Published Monday 31 March 2008 at 10:30 by Paul Vale

JM Barrie’s timeless tale of the little boy who never grew up is given the musical theatre treatment in Spanish.

A massive success in its native country and sung in the fourth most popular language in the world, the potential for this piece is huge.

All the elements are in place including a fairy tale London and a magical Neverland, heroes and villains, lost boys and Red Indians. Sadly, despite the evident enthusiasm of the cast and crew, this production rarely rises above second-rate pantomime.

The promised surtitles were pedestrian and often out of sync with the cast, leaving the audience to concentrate on the action on stage. Tinkerbell came in the form of a laser show and seemed to frighten the children rather than enchant them.

The oft anticipated flying effects are simple and rendered pointless by remaining un-lit.

Follow spots are off sync, the music rarely rises above electric Euro pop and continual front projection grates on the eye, looking like a desperate afterthought.

Technical problems aside, the performances appear enthusiastic and lively. Miguel Angel Garnero plays a very broad Hook, warbling to an impressive grandiose falsetto. Christina Fargas is a noble, kindly Mrs Darling and Isobel Malavia makes an equally charming Wendy. Miguel Antelo bursts with life as Peter and melts even the hardest critics’ hearts as he appeals, in English, to sing along if you believe in fairies.

Pedro Espadas finalises the pantomime connection, breaking the fourth wall and checking out the audience for potential lost boys.