MANILA -- Local theater production company Trumpets is set to stage its musical comeback with an all-new play about two children's journey to find happiness.
Starting September 26, Trumpets, which staged "First Name," "Joseph the Dreamer," "Little Mermaid," will bring to the Meralco Theater in Pasig City its musical adaptation of the Belgian play by Maurice Maeterlinck, titled "The Bluebird of Happiness."
Directed by Jaime del Mundo, the local production tells the story of Mytyl and Tyltyl, two poor children who go an on adventure in search of the bluebird, a mythical creature said to be the source of happiness.
"They go from place to place looking for happiness in the past, looking for happiness in the present, looking for happiness in the future," del Mundo said in a promotional video for the play released late Tuesday.
Mytyl and Tyltyl's search for the bluebird of happiness takes them to five magical places -- The Land of Memory, where they meet their late grandparents; The Kingdom of the Night, where the two must face their nightmares; The Forest, which is populated with trees with a grudge against humans; The Palace of Plenty, which is abundant with riches and luxury; and The Land of Soon-to-be-Born, where sadness is unknown.
"They go through this adventure, and they meet these interesting fabulous characters," said Trumpets president Audie Gemora, who is also the play's executive producer.
"They go through danger, and in the end -- and this is the beautiful thing about it -- they find out that the happiness they were looking for, the bluebird, was in their home all along," he said.
Explaining Trumpets' decision to tackle the search for happiness for its musical comeback, Gemora said, "Nowadays, people don't know what would make them happy anymore."
"We seek so many things, material things, adventure. We do crazy stuff just to find happiness, and sometimes we forget what the essential is," he said.
With book and lyrics by del Mundo and music by Rony Fortich, "The Bluebird of Happiness" features the musical arrangement by Mon Faustino, stage and costume designs by Mio Infante, lighting by John Battala, vocal direction by Sweet Plantado-Tiongson, and choreography by Nancy Crowe.
The play, whose cast members will be announced at a later date, will run until October 20 at the Meralco Theater.