Second to the right, and straight on ‘till morning. Welcome to Neverlandwhere one can find fairies, mermaids, pirates, Lost Boys and the boy who never grows up: Peter Pan. Ever sat down, maybe when you were but a child, and imagined yourself flying up, up and away to the Utopia in the skies?
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to announce the coming of Neverland itself to our very own Kuala Lumpur. Yes, Peter Pan the musical will be opening in Kuala Lumpur next month as part of its Pan- Asian tour. Not gripping the edges of your seat just yet? Let me try and turn that around with what I have to tell you.
Fairies, mermaids, pirates, Lost Boys, trackers (Red Indians) and a sprinkling of pixie dust – this musical has it all! Unlike its predecessors, this particular musical has been rewritten to create the definitive version of Peter Pan for a whole new generation, while also staying true to the original concept by the great creator himself, J.M. Barrie. Enlisting the help of music composed by Karl Jenkins, the greatest living classical composer (as voted by the UK’s Classic FM listeners), the production has, needless to say, an outstanding musical score that will leave you in awe. Some tunes may even sound familiar to one’s ears but that only heightens the magical feeling that this musical is aiming for.
As befits such a large scale production, the choreography is simply breathtaking, consisting of classical and modern dance numbers. The mastermind behind the dance is Kitty Cortes, a renowned professional in her field. With intricate steps and fluid movements, the dancing is sure to stun any critic.
The cast of Peter Pan consists of professionals from the UK, US, Australia and even Asia. Peter Pan himself is half Japanese with boyish good looks, a strong voice and enthusiasm that will simply get you on your feet. For the Malaysian tour, the producers of Peter Pan decided to have a few locals join their international cast, hence the addition of 16 new child fairies in the musical. Even Tinkerbell, Peter’s fairy friend, is played by a Malaysian!
To anyone familiar with the original Peter Pan story, the musical is not that different from it. The plot is easy enough to understand (it IS a show for all ages). Peter brings Wendy, Michael and John to his home, Neverland, where they meet all sorts of creatures. After a gruelling fight between the Lost Boys and the pirates, led by the notorious Captain Hook, there is a shocking discovery – Hook has found a way to kill off the fairies! Neverland is in a dangerous state for without belief in the fairies, everything there dies. Peter, Wendy, Michael, John and the Lost Boys (and Girls!) set off to save the fairies, enlisting the help of Tiger Lily, the princess of the trackers. Ah, but what happens next, I cannot tell. You just have to simply watch the musical to find out yourself!
I promise trucks full of fun, excitement and a wonderland of fantasy should you venture into this beautiful new world. You only need to purchase a ticket and once you enter the doors of the Istana Budaya (where the musical will be held), you will be transported into a world unknown to you, the likes of which you have never before seen. Fantastic lighting, rapping pirates, swashbuckling fights and even flying – this is one musical you will regret ever having missed. Kick off with your heels and fly to magical Neverland for this earth-shaking epic that delivers non-stop action. After all, to fly would be an awfully big adventure.
(Peter Pan the musical dates: 9-25 November 2007, Istana Budaya)