![]() In such soul-testing moments, the themes of friendship, love, compassion and truth run as the undercurrents of the plot. At one point, Shasta cries out in despair and asks why all these misfortunes are happening to him. In their journey, Shasta and his friends are caught in an impending war, end up on a harrowing ride through a desert guarded by an evil spirit, and spend a terrifying night in a cave crawling with jackals and other beasts. His companions in this quest are his friend Aravis (Cara Barredo), who herself is running from enforced marriage, and their talking horses Bree (Joel Trinidad) and Hwin (Jill Peña). Familiar characters like King Edmund (George Schulze), Queen Susan (Justine Peña) and Tumnus (Nic Campos) keep that connection alive, but the focus of the story is now on a commoner, the orphan boy Shasta (Reb Atadero) who runs from an unhappy home to try to find a happier life and his destiny. “The Horse and His Boy” is a sequel of sorts, or perhaps a parallel plot, to the post-“Lion” Narnia universe. That prevailing sense of wonder is the key to any fantasy story, and Del Mundo’s able direction keeps it alive by going to the heart of the story beyond the traditional use of magic as a device to keep the audience hooked. ![]() The sharp, witty dialogue lets younger viewers-to whom this show is obviously pitched-know what is going on, but strikes a balance by letting a sense of mystery linger in the plotline, like a friendly mist about to unveil some kind of wonder as dawn breaks. Inocian wisely gives the audience just enough information to enjoy the ride without burdening them with a tedious back story. Even those who have not entered the world of Narnia, where this story takes place, can easily find their moorings and latch on to the unfolding tale. What ultimately ties all these into a winning whole is the compelling script by Luna Griño-Inocian, based on the book by C.S. And despite the production not having “a cast of thousands,” the ensemble’s enthusiastic performance projects a sprawling sense of scale. ![]() The imaginative shadow play, advanced form of puppetry and kaleidoscope of colors that create a whole new universe different from ours are jaw-dropping. ![]()
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