Lynette ChenReview: Peter Pan: The Never Ending Story Musical
Music swells. Projected images of pristine currents gurgle and gush down the perimeters of the stage, framed by ethereal greenery. Atop 1 of the tower-like platforms on the set stands a sprightly youth, who trills the opening lines of “Forever Young”. Then, the petite blond maiden at his side joins him in song, her melodic vocals in perfect harmony with her partner’s.
Suddenly, from stage left appears a dancing, humanoid parrot dangling from a harness. Feathers float pitifully to the ground. There’s pin-drop silence for a moment, then come the roaring guffaws.
Welcome to Peter Pan, The Never Ending Story, or rather circus. Billed as a “theatrical adventure”, the production combines the tale of the boy who never grew up with high-octane action, acrobatic stunts, thrilling swordplay and familiar chart-topping hits.
Most of the audience entered the theater expecting the classic J.M. Barrie tale with gymnastics and musical razzmatazz. Instead, what we got was a warped, almost unrecognizable incarnation cramped with superfluous gimmicks, in hopes of the audience forgetting its lack of narrative.
To their credit, Peter Pan does make some sort of feint to storytelling, in the form of its erratic narrator, Tinkerbell. Voiced by X-Factor runner-up Stacey Solomon, our only speaking character fluctuates disconcertingly between the roles of observer and jealous fairy.
It doesn’t help that the rest of the cast share between them about 5 lines of dialogue, all of which are spoken by Wendy (Lily Jane Young), and pantomimed for the rest of the show.
It’s a sacrilege waste of talents by any count, particularly Young, who is exceptionally convincing in her role of pre-pubescent Wendy. And as much as we adore her silvery voice, especially when in tandem with real-life fiancé Sandor Sturbel (Peter Pan), the songs make little sense in the grander narrative.
The costumes, effects and stunts are admittedly impressive with 3D flying techniques that had actors zipping from the tower-like platforms lining the back of the stage, to right above the front rows. The amazing acrobatics and choreography punctuated with sudden bursts of pyrotechnics stun us all but unfortunately they tend to distract the audience from the cast show.
The set itself is truly inspired, built in the shape of book spines and doubling up as platforms, screens and even exits for the actors.
If we were to judge based on ambition, this production receives a glowing review from us, thanks to the musical elements and high-wire action. However, it’s ludicrously evident that the show has everything else but a decent story and direction to pull everything together. With acrobats, monkeys, bungee, and even operatic outbursts, all this circus act is missing is a ringmaster.
Rating: 2/5
Information:
Venue: Resorts World Theater, Resorts World Sentosa
Date: Nov 27, 2014 to Jan 20, 2015
Timings: Mon, Tue, Thurs & Fri: 8pm; Sat & Sun: 3pm & 8pm
Tickets: $58 to $168 from Sistic