DO YOU believe in fairies? Or in pirates and mermaids and a boy who refuses to grow up? Or are they just the stuff of fairy tales? Whatever you think, Scottish novelist and playwright JM Barrie took these ingredients and weaved them into a magical story that has thrilled generations of children.

That story is of course, Peter Pan and a new musical version, Peter Pan El Musical from Theatre Properties, one of Spain’s leading musical theatre production companies, has come to the West End’s Garrick Theatre. And although it’s sung and spoken in Spanish (with English sur-titles), it remains true to the original.

Thus we see Peter (Miguel Antelo) befriend the Darling children – Wendy (Isabel Malavia), Michael and John – and fly with them to Neverland, his island home, so that Wendy can be ‘mother’ to the Lost Boys. But trouble awaits – in the form of the dastardly Captain Hook (Miguel Angel Gamero) who, as his name suggests, has a hook instead of a hand. For Hook has a score to settle with Peter….

It’s important to remember that this is a Spanish production and perhaps not quite what we’re accustomed to in the West End. The cast, for example, portray their characters with the kind of exuberance that is common to all our southern European neighbours (and I speak as someone who knows Italians well). Yet with Peter in particular, this works very much to his advantage.

And the scene in which he entreats the audience to save the life of the fairy Tinkerbell is strangely moving. More importantly, his interaction with the audience has none of the farcical elements of pantomime.

However, on the negative side, the sur-titles are a necessary distraction for those not fluent in Spanish. Not only are they not always in sync’ with the actors but judging by the reaction of Spanish audience members (and there were a considerable number) I felt that something was lost in translation. And English children, younger ones especially, will find it hard to keep up – a pity.

Sets, though far from lavish, nonetheless serve their purpose well – if occasionally a little shakily – the lighting similarly so. That said, I would have liked the scene in which Peter teaches the children to fly to be brighter although I have a sneaky suspicion that the semi-darkness was a clever ploy to hide the aerial wires.

This is, of course, a musical and the songs are a mixture of Eurovision-style pop ballads and disco numbers, delivered without exception in fine voice, if sometimes a little too vociferously. And the dance routines (performed by the Lost Boys, Red Indians and Mermaids) are, I suspect, just a trifle long for younger audience members. They will, however, love the ‘battle’ scenes – little boys especially.

As I’ve already said, Peter Pan El Musical is different – neither as polished nor as lavish as other West End productions. Yet what it lacks in finesse, the cast more than makes up for with enthusiasm. As for fairies, pirates and mermaids, and the boy who refuses to grow up, there’s still a sprinkling of magic to make a trip to the Garrick worthwhile.

Peter Pan El Musical – adapted from JM Barrie by Cristina Fargas.

Director: Cristina Fargas.
Choreographer: Lamberto Garcia.

Cast: Miguel Angel Gamero, Cristina Fargas, Miguel Antelo, Isabel Malavia, Rafel Brunet, Isabel Alfonso, Pedro Espadas, Fernando Samper, Inma Fernandez, Israel Quintana, Gorane Markinez, Silvia Villau, Andrea Rodriguez, Marta Velasco, Alejandro Boned, Antonio Garde, Maxi Silvera, Chelo Ramirez, Ana Torres, Alberto Arcos, Pascual Orti, Roberto Carlos, Andrea Ramirez and Jordi Vall.

Booking until April 27, 2008.

Garrick Theatre, Charing Cross Road, WC2H, 0HH.

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