Spanish Peter Pan Musical Flies at Garrick, 28 Mar

A Spanish musical version of JM Barrie classic Peter Pan will have its British premiere at the West End’s Garrick Theatre, flying in for a limited month-long engagement from 28 March to 27 April 2008. Peter Pan El Musical will be performed in Spanish, with English surtitles.

Barrie’s story, about the boy, who lives in Neverland and refuses to grow up, and his friendship with the Darling children, was first produced for the stage in 1904 and appeared as a novel in 1911. The classic English fairy tale with its Lost Boys, petulant fairy Tinkerbell, the Red Indians and the terrifying pirates, including Peter’s nemesis, the evil Captain Hook, are given a Spanish twist in El Musical.

The 25-strong Spanish cast is led by Miguel Angel Gamero (pictured) as Captain Hook and Mr Darling. One of Spain’s leading musical stars, Gamero’s previous credits include Daddy Warbucks in Annie and the Narrator in Blood Brothers.

Peter Pan El Musical contains 14 original songs, with music and lyrics by Cesar Constanti and Pablo Pinilla among others. The book and direction is by Cristina Fargas, with choreography by Lamberto Garcia. It’s presented in London by Spanish producers, Theatre Properties.

Previous musical versions of Peter Pan include the 2002 show by British writing duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, which was revived this past Christmas at Birmingham Rep (See News, 26 Jul 2007). American Leonard Bernstein provided music and lyrics for a Broadway version in 1950. Bernstein’s complete material was brought together with a new book at London’s King’s Head theatre in 2006 (See News, 1 Nov 2006).

Currently at the Garrick Theatre, the all-star revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s 1972 comedy Absurd Person Singular is due to finish its limited three-month season on 22 March (See 1st Night Photos, 12 Dec 2007).

– by Terri Paddock