Man of La Mancha (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Miguel de Cervantes (Nonie Buencamino) is detained at a deportation facility along with his trusted assistant Sancho Panza (Marvin Ong). Tugging a huge suitcase with them, they can’t help but be noticed and picked on by the other detainees. Before their luggage is ransacked and his manuscript destroyed, he pleads to tell the story through a makeshift play with everyone there as his co-actors. The fellow detainee they call the Governor (Tarek El Tayech) agrees, and so begins the story of Alonso Quijano who believes himself to be the frustrated knight Don Quixote de la Mancha, played by de Cervantes himself. He arrives at an inn believing it to be a castle. The owner rides along noticing his cognitive impairment. There he meets the town whore Aldonza (Katrine Sunga) whom he christens as Dulcinea and treats as if she were a high born noble lady. As the play unfolds, they dread the prospect of another detainee being condemned by the inquisition.

Going Home to Christmas (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Passengers of a Liberty Airlines flight headed to Cebu are stranded at the Ninoy International Airport amidst the Christmas rush, all of them frustrated despite the cheers of the holidays. The airport janitor keeps on improvising the lyrics of Christmas in Our Hearts based on his observations while people-watching. Bickering husband and wife Arnie (Lorenz Martinez) and Josie (Neomi Gonzales) might not make it to their cruise, which they hope would be the answer to their marital woes. Father and son JR (Floyd Tena) and JD (Neo Rivera) run into aunt and niece tandem Em (Mayen Bustamante-Cadd) and Raya (Justine Narciso), with whom they both have romantic histories. Ground attendant Pat (Carla Guevara-Laforteza) is lonesome because her pilot husband Richard (Noel Rayos) is working away from home in Dubai and won’t be home for the holidays. Will the Christmas spirit eventually take over or will all of them succumb to misery at one of the world’s worst airports?

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Do not expect a storyline because there isn’t any. I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is a collection of vignettes poking fun at modern day relationships, leaving no stone unturned in lampooning everything from dating to sex to parenthood all the way to its culminating chapter hilariously named “Funerals Are For Dating” where two newly-widowed senile individuals take another chance at romance despite not remembering whose wake it is they are currently at. This musical is like watching a comedy show skit and since the brand of humor is right up my alley, I actually enjoyed the damn thing all throughout, perhaps thanks to all the sarcasm. Everything from the dialogues to the song lyrics are packed with some crass humor and common observations about relationships that you would not dare say out loud. Perhaps this is also one of the reasons why this musical ends up being funnier than it’s supposed to be.

Father's Day (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Matthew (Andres Borromeo) tries to sneak into his father’s house but is caught in the act. Henry (Miguel Faustmann) is surprised but also intrigued, as it’s been a while since his wife Sue (Liesl Batucan) left him with their three children in tow to live with her new husband, Terry. Father and son have a tense reunion and end up discussing family issues both past and present. In reality, he is on a mission to seek approval from him so he can marry his goth girlfriend Christine (Becca Coates) who may or may not be pregnant. Soon enough, the ex-wife joins the fray as they encourage and discourage their son from what could either be the greatest decision or worst mistake of his life. Unbeknownst to both, the kid has some other hidden motives as to why he has devised the perfect plan for the two of them to meet once again.

Arsenic and Old Lace (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Aunt Martha (Jay Valencia Glorioso) and Aunt Abby (Joy Virata) are two sweet old ladies who spend much of their time maintaining the Brooklyn family home as well as taking care of their nephew Teddy (Jeremy Domingo), who thinks he is Theodore Roosevelt. Beneath the mundane façade, however, is a dark secret that the three of them share, which involves some murder and a little bit of cover-up on the side. When youngest nephew Mortimer (Nelsito Gomez) accidentally discovers what, or rather, who, is under the window seat, he begins to realize that every family has skeletons in the closet after all. It just so happens that his has 12, and they are buried in the cellar. When prodigal nephew Jonathan (Apollo Sheik Abraham) returns after a long absence with his very own excess baggage, this shakes up the family dynamics, leading to a hilarious dark comedy that can only be as enticing as Elderberry wine laced with arsenic.

Silent Sky (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Growing up at a farm in Wisconsin, Henrietta Leavitt (Cathy Azanza Dy) makes a bold decision when she accepts a job offer to work at Harvard. Considering herself as an astronomer and having finished her studies at Radcliffe, she gets the surprise of her life when instead of a teaching position, she is relegated by teaching assistant Peter Shaw (Topper Fabregas) to Professor Pickering’s “harem”, the duo of suffragette Annie Cannon (Sheila Francisco) and former housekeeper Williamina Fleming (Naths Everett). Also referred to as “computers”, the trio keeps themselves busy mapping out the stars on their desk based on photographic plates handed out to them by the men, who have exclusive access to the university’s telescope. Left at home, Henry’s sister Margie (Caisa Borromeo) takes care of their ailing father while raising a family of her own, forever asking her sister when she is coming back. As she navigates her way through the male-dominated academe, Leavitt’s inquisitive and curious nature will lead her to a groundbreaking discovery no other man has stumbled upon before.

Agnes of God (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

A novice nun is in trial for manslaughter and a psychiatrist is sent by the court to determine her sanity. Sister Agnes (Becca Coates) wakes up in her room with a newborn baby in the trash bin, strangled by the umbilical cord. Having no recollection of having given birth, she faces one of two possible verdicts: prison, if she is declared as mentally sound; or asylum, if she proves to be mentally disturbed. Dr. Martha Livingstone (Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo) believes that a third option exists: acquittal. If they can prove that the young woman was molested and can find the culprit, that is. Mother Miriam Ruth (Pinky Amador) does not want any more suffering for the young lady and would rather believe in miraculous virgin conception. Science and religion clash to provide a plausible explanation, characterized by constant bickering between the two women. Both claim to want what is best for young Agnes, but does she really want or need their help?

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Vanya (Michael Williams), Sonia (Roselyn Perez), and Masha (Cherie Gil) are siblings with a truckload of unresolved issues. Brother Vanya and adopted sister Sonia have watched their lives pass them by, taking care of their ill parents and putting up with the heartache of witnessing them slowly fade into death. Now well past their prime, they spend every single day wondering what to do with their lives, interrupted from time to time by their eagerness to stalk a blue bird landing on their pond. Their only company is the housekeeper who comes once a week. Aside from cleaning the house, she is also an abundant source of unsolicited prophecies warning them about everything, from Sonia breaking the morning coffee cup to Masha selling the house. When movie star sister Masha comes back home with her lover Spike (Joaquin Valdes), an aspiring actor whose biggest achievement in life is almost being cast in Entourage 2, feathers are ruffled as the three are left with no choice but to come to terms with their grudges against one another, culminating in a costume party that will change their lives for good.

Wait Until Dark (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Susy Henderson (Liesl Batucan) is one resourceful woman. In spite of an accident which leaves her blind, she is able to get by even when husband Sam (Arnel Carrion) is not around, relying on her other senses to figure out what to do best in certain circumstances. Even so, she still counts on the help of Gloria (Dani Gana), the girl from upstairs who helps her with random errands such as buying groceries. While they do not always get along, the two form a good team against a trio of con-men searching for heroin hidden in a doll, which is supposedly in Susy’s place. Mike (Joel Trinidad) and Croker (Robbie Guevara) break into the house when Susy comes back unexpectedly. A complex game of pretend then follows as the two guys are joined by Roat (Jamie Wilson), the owner of the said doll who would do whatever it takes to retrieve it, by hook or by crook. How is a blind woman to survive such an ordeal with three men ganging up on her?

Leading Ladies (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Leo Clark (James Stacey) and Jack Gable (Topper Fabregas) are two Shakespearean actors who just could not seem to get their big break. Penniless and without any fresh ideas, they hop on a train to nowhere trying to figure out what to do next, which they are able to do when Leo reads about an old woman named Florence (Juno Henares) looking for her sister’s two children, Max and Steve, who moved to England as kids, and whom she plans to include in her inheritance worth around three million dollars. The idea is to pretend to be the two long lost nephews until they find out that the two are actually nieces whose real names are Maxine and Stephanie. Out of desperation, they still go ahead with the plan, in drag, obviously. Will their disguise be enough to fool theater-loving cousin Meg (Cris Villonco) and fiancé Duncan (Jamie Wilson), who is also after the family money?

Next Fall (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Just like any other couple, Adam’s (Bart Guingona) and Luke’s (David Bianco) relationship is not without its quirks. Luke is a devout Christian. A very devout Christian. He believes that when Judgment Day comes all those who accept Christ in their hearts would vanish in a wink of an eye to go to heaven, while those who do not will be given time to change their minds. Adam finds this religion thing to be one of the obstacles keeping them from having a perfect relationship, and mocks his partner about it. However, it is perhaps, the former’s reluctance to admit their relationship to his folks that truly puts their relationship to the test. One day Luke gets hit by a cab, and an awkward meeting among the important people in his life takes place in the waiting room of the hospital where he is confined in.

The Wikipedia page says that it is a drama, which it actually is, although it would better fit the description of a dramedy. For people with short attention span, anything seen onstage without an attention-grabbing song and dance number would most likely be dismissed as a snore fest. This one veers away from that notion thanks to many funny bits in the script replete with sarcasm, which mostly comes from the Adam character. Although forming part of the love team, the character of Luke seems more like a supporting role. Or perhaps it is due to the characterization, of Adam getting the more feisty personality. Nevertheless there is good rapport between the two and the intimate scenes do not feel uncomfortable at all. In the end you just toss the it is a gay love story summary out the window and conclude that it is simply a love story. Period.

Peter Pan (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

In a quest to reclaim his captured shadow, Peter Pan (Sam Concepcion) and Tinkerbell sneak into a room in a house in Bloomsbury and accidentally wake up the already sleeping Wendy (Tippy dos Santos), whose curiosity of the boy leads her, along with her two brothers, flying all the way to Neverland where they are awaited by the lost boys, Tiger Lily, and the cruel but hilarious Captain Hook.

This is one grand production and the first mention should definitely go to the use of harnesses to make the characters “fly”. It definitely adds something extra to the play and it is challenging to do because it is live. In books you just use your imagination. In films they can do CGI. Here, the harness is seen through the spotlights and one can easily observe how thin they are and how they seem to be attached only to the actors’ backs. It is thrilling in a way that you are half-expecting those threads to snap and see the flying characters land on one of the actors onstage. Kidding aside, when the darkness obscures the said harness, the view is plain awesome and it really gives one the illusion that the characters are really defying gravity.

Little Women (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Bickering sisters, womanhood, elaborate ball gowns. Not really my cup of tea. At least it is a musical, which makes it more interesting. And even if none of the things mentioned would be of interest to you, there are other subplots within the play that feature universal themes such as Jo’s ambition, for example.

The only vague recollection I have of Little Women is that cartoon series where the woman is named Jo and his husband is named Fritz. They run some sort of orphanage together. If I am not mistaken the title of that series was also Little Women. However, after seeing this play it seems like this is the prequel to that story. No, I have not read the novel yet.

It is a bit boring but maybe this depends on the person watching it. If you love costume dramas tackling the restricted and very traditional role of women in society during the 19th century then you might enjoy this. However, there are some people who just do not get it. I do not get it. Sorry to fans. But I cannot even distinguish such novels from one another. Their structures seem to be almost the same, very much like modern chick lit. Perhaps reading some of them would shed more light and elicit appreciation.

Equus (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Seventeen year old boy blinds six horses, sings commercial jingles, and shrieks in a high pitched voice. Equus is not a glitzy song and dance production on stage. In fact it is a play with a lot of talk, mostly very long monologues from the psychiatrist, combined with spontaneous chatter from a deranged teenager. This, along with a glimpse on the darker side of the human psyche, makes this play as gripping and disturbing as it is.

The nudity involved does not come as a surprise, and is not at all staged in an indecent manner. It must be pretty hard for the stage actors involved to strip down onstage as part of a live performance. For that, kudos to Marco Mañalac and Pheona Baranda for mustering the courage to do such a stunt. The professionalism displayed very much deserved the applause.

Romeo & Bernadette (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

True to what the souvenir program says, this musical is zany and the acting all campy. The musical numbers are lively, albeit not so memorable, but well sung by the whole cast. When there is an instance when the play becomes a bit boring, the characters with their colorful personalities step in to save the show.

Cris Villonco really looks like her grandmother Armida when she bares her upper front teeth while singing. It is evident that she has prepared well for the role. One can draw a clear line between her Juliet and Bernadette roles.

PJ Valerio plays dumb quite well. Okay maybe not dumb, but the comedy of errors works well for him. The audience obviously likes it. Red Concepcion and Liesl Batucan provide strong performances in their supporting roles while the other extras in the cast also have their own moments. Kudos specifically goes to Rem Zamora, who has all the fun playing different roles, most of which are in drag.

Duets (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Duets is a play which consists of four vignettes with fast costume and set changes weaved in between. Two actors play four very different roles: two oldies on a blind date, a flamboyant gay birthday celebrant and his personal assistant who wishes he were not gay, a couple soon-to-be-divorced partying in Boracay, and a supportive brother helping his sister prepare on her wedding day as a third-time bride.

Once again, Miguel Faustmann astounds the audience with his marvelous display of versatility as a theater actor. This theater piece is really a good vehicle for actors of his caliber to showcase their flexibility, what with the fast character changes, another actor would probably not be as convincing. Each one of the four characters he plays leaves a lasting impression, but the most memorable one would be the gay role in the second vignette.

Jack and the Beanstalk (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

It would be best to judge this production through a kiddie point of view. If you end up watching this just try to see it with all the childlike innocence you could muster, then probably you might enjoy it. The point is, this is really meant for kids. The stage is full of colorful backdrops and stage props that could be considered as eyesores for adults, but necessary to command the attention of children.

They tweak the storyline a little by introducing the giant as some freako scientist, and his assistants as aliens/robots. It is a new twist that I guess the kids welcome because most of them seem to enjoy it. Also, the giant is not that bad and he does not die. Instead, an evil baron is introduced as the villain. I cannot clearly remember if the version of the story that I know features a baron, but I am quite sure that the giant there is a moron who dies in the end. That does not happen here.

The Fantasticks (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

I like the flow of the story. The first act is like the fairy tale and the second act serves as its deconstruction. The pianist and the keyboardist are awesome. The minimal musical accompaniment they provide jives well with the also minimalist set.

Luisa (Julia Abueva): It is weird but she resembles the Gonzales twins. Her voice is stunning and after reading her bio on the souvenir program I found out why. I do not know how old she really is but she effectively captures the naivety of a sixteen-year-old girl. She is the only girl in the group but she manages to stand out because of her stage presence. I think this girl would end up in Broadway one day. She is so damn good.

Matt (PJ Valerio): His performance on the second act is better than the first. It could have been flawless if not for that one big technical glitch, his mic went dead in the middle of a song! The show must go on but try as he might his voice got drowned by that of El Gallo's. Singing alone, he is good. I think the highlight of his performance is the opening ensemble song of Act 2. The problem is when he is singing a duet with Abueva, the girl's voice somehow steals his thunder. I am not saying that his voice is not good but maybe he could just polish it a little and work on sustaining the long notes. But I just love their They Were You duet. He fits the role well because he really looks like a teenager. The guyliner and the makeup bothers me though. He looks emo specially when on the spotlight.

I Love You Because (Repertory Philippines)

♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Like they say on the website it is a modern re-telling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I do not know Jane Austen so I have no idea how loyal this adaptation is to the book. As a musical it was good but there were some dull moments, and there was no song that really made an impression.

The comedy in this musical comes from the dialogue, both the witty and the funny. The punch lines were delivered on time and the delivery itself was commendable.

It is a musical and though the musical performances lacked recall I would say that the actors did a great job. The cast can sing and they did so well enough. There was one scene when Diana was explaining her theory about relationships and numbers. She was not singing, just talking fast but every syllable was in unison with the musical accompaniment. It was awesome for the ears. And she was doing all that while acting and moving around. Kudos to the actress.