With catchy tunes, adorable First Stage Kids and hilarious jokes laced throughout the show, we couldn't peel our eyes away during this new Wild Rice production. Read our HoneyKids review below!
A leader in the Singapore theatre scene, production company Wild Rice has produced numerous musicals, plays and pantomimes since 2000. The company has been a strong advocate for the local arts scene, and celebrates diversity by weaving in the Singaporean culture and colloquialisms at the forefront of its shows, like the reimagined stories of Cinderel-lah!, Oi! Sleeping Beauty! and many other acclaimed performances that are suitable for the whole family. And that’s exactly what it’s done with its final act of 2019: Peter Pan. No longer are Peter Pan and the three Darling children in Kensington Gardens – they’ve relocated to the Singapore ‘hood of Serangoon Gardens instead!
Curious to find out more about this whimsical tale of adventure? Here’s our review of this timeless classic that’s been reimagined for Singaporean audiences to charm the kiddos (and kids at heart)! Just remember: follow the second star to the right… and straight on till morning!
Stellar cast and swing ensemble
If you’ve seen Wild Rice’s past productions, you’ll certainly recognise the names of several seasoned actors in the playbill. Led by Pam Oei and Siti Khalijah Zainal in the roles of Peter Pan and Captain Hook, and Andrew Marko and Dwayne Lau as Ting Tong Bell and Simi (you’ll have to watch to find out who this is!), the adult cast brings a youthful vigour to this much-loved classic tale. There were some pretty outstanding performances from the young thespians who were captivating and enchanting in their roles as the lost boys of Neverland – bravo!
Think your little one might be interested to join in the fun like the kids on stage? Be sure to keep an eye out for auditions and workshops throughout the year from First Stage, Wild Rice’s in-house program for young ‘uns. Psst, you might also want to sign them up for the accompanying Fairy Dust and Wonderful Thoughts workshop held before or after the show! This immersive drama workshop for five to eight-year-olds will be conducted by experienced teaching artists and will feature interactive drama exercises and role-playing (don’t worry, there are no spoilers for the show). Interested? Email [email protected] to sign the kiddos up!
Beautifully composed lyrics and music
Songs can either make or break a musical. Well, you won’t be disappointed as the musical numbers in Peter Pan in Serangoon Gardens are beautifully written, smart and catchy. Composed by Julian Wong and written by Julian Wong, parents and kids would surely chuckle and find its lyrics amusing as the cast sing about having to wake up for school at 6am, digging into durian chendol and a mum letting his son watch Game of Thrones (that’s never going to happen, sorry kiddos!).
The best part? The musical’s soundtrack is available on Spotify so you can reminisce and enjoy its songs repeatedly this holiday season when you get tired of Christmas music. Fun fact: it’s an accomplishment no local theatre production company has achieved until now – amazing!
Memorable and comedic roles
We all know the story of this much-loved book, but you’ll be surprised to find your favourite characters with Singaporean-inspired names like Ting Tong Bell, Towkay, Atas and more. There are bits and bobs of hilarity sprinkled in throughout the performances, so be sure to pay attention to every bit of dialogue – you might just miss out on some jokes! Our favourite? Actor Andrew Marko in his role as the lovable fairy who speaks in Pig Latin throughout the show. Atwhay ayay erformancepay!
Singaporean colloquialisms
Looking for a musical with some local flavour? The dialogue of Peter Pan in Serangoon Gardens is laced with Singaporean slang throughout the performance, like how revenge is best served shiok! We won’t spoil it for you – but we’re sure you’ll be rolling in laughter throughout the performance.
A new home theatre
Lastly, if you’ve been to Wild Rice’s past productions, you might’ve realised that they’ve moved from their previous locations at Victoria Theatre and the Drama Centre to a dazzling new home at Funan. Fans of the theatre might find its layout familiar: not only is the new 358-seat auditorium is modelled after the iconic Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre in the UK’s Stratford-Upon-Avon, but it is Singapore’s first thrust stage in the country, too! This allows audiences to interact with performers in an intimate setting, unlike a traditional proscenium stage like those in the Esplanade or Marina Bay Sands.
And at Peter Pan in Serangoon Gardens, you’ll get the chance to see how interactive it truly can be. Tip: it’s always better to pay for better seats in the stalls!
We think it’s the perfect show to bring the kiddos to this festive season – think of all the joy you’ll find when you leave the world behind and bid your cares goodbye, even just for an hour or two! Ready for an adventure? All you need is faith, trust, and a little pixie dust. Peter Pan in Serangoon Gardens will run till 28 December 2019, so grab your tickets now!