Musings on Whatever: Musical and Theater Overload

The orchestra swelled inside the Soundheim Theatre. I was pumped with excitement for my first West End show – Les Miserables: The Staged Concert. Being in the UK and in London felt like being in theater heaven. I sure did not miss the chance of catching all the shows I can depending on time and my limited budget. One can avail of affordable tickets thanks, in part, to government subsidy.

Early on, I developed a fondness to theater and musicals. It was mostly because of my involvement to a local theatre group in my hometown allowing me to perform Broadway or West End songs. The classic ones – Les Mis, Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked, as expected were amazing. The incredible singing and acting made the story alive, complimented further by the extravagant set and costume. In the same way, Lion King was a feast for both the eyes and the ears. Something that, for me, was not quite achieved by Cinderella and Moulin Rouge. The set and costume were their strengths. However, the story of Cinderella was not reimagined enough and Moulin Rouge’s updated playlist did not give “a little bit funny, feeling inside,” I got from the original film.

Turning films into musicals can be tricky but Back to the Future pulled through managing to replicate the movie with the use of visual effects. Saturday Night Fever and Dirty Dancing were all about the dance and nostalgia. For Dirty Dancing, it seemed like we were just waiting for the much anticipated final dance. The theatre roared once “Now I’ve… had the time of my life…” came on.

I suppose some plays capitalize on the entertainment value and we go see them just to have fun. Like Mamma Mia which brought about the rise of the jukebox musical. The story can be secondary. The Choir of Man, in particular, did not have a protagonist or a villain. It was simply men in a pub giving their unique renditions of pop songs like Adele’s “Hello” and Sia’s “Chandelier.” I might be biased for being a 90s kid who is familiar with Britney and boy band songs but I think these were perfect for & Juliet, a Romeo and Juliet play with a twist. I also did see a modern take of this Shakespearean tragedy. Watched it standing up, like how they used to, at the Shakespeare’s Globe.

Historical musicals like Jersey Boys (The Four Seasons), Get Up, Stand Up (Bob Marley), and Hamilton (Alexander Hamilton) are in abundance. Mary Poppins, Matilda, and Frozen will magically charm kids and kids at heart. Dear Evan Hansen and Heathers, I think, will appeal more to teens. They’re all very different. Especially The Book of Mormon, which some may find offensive. I thought it was irreverently hilarious.

I might be partial to those with the right combination of story, music, acting, and stage presentation like Come from Away but I have to say I enjoyed every show I went to. There is something about live performances that elevate entertainment as all your senses are engaged. And with things slowly going back to normal, I for one, am looking forward to seeing more musicals and theater shows in the future.

Art, culture and all that jazz

Yesterday was a very cultured day for me.

I got to attend Pierre de Vallombreuse’s talk on his photo exhibition, The Valley, that features Palawan’s indigenous group, Tau’t Batu, in black and white prints. Pierre shared his personal story of how his feet led him to Palawan 18 times, totaling to almost four years.

Developing a close relationship with the Tau’t Batu, Pierre was able to capture special moments, some unexpected, that tell the story of this group of people that is able to maintain its unique cultural identity while integrating to modern society.

I asked Pierre for a tip for someone like me who is not a photographer but would want to create stories through pictures. His simple answer, to the amusement of everyone, take a photography class. Okay, let me add that to the growing list of things I want to learn.

One line that I really liked from his talk was when he said, “Each picture is not a statement, it’s a question mark.” Indeed, as I left the National Museum I asked myself, “How can cultural identity thrive in this modern world?” I also belong to an indigenous group but I can barely see any trace of Cordilleran in me.

Ichiro Kataoka, a benshi. (Photo from Japan Foundation)

From the photo exhibit, I traveled through Manila traffic (of course!) and headed to Shangri-La Plaza for the screening of the Japanese film, “Dragnet Girl” which is part of the 11^th International Silent Film Festival. The film is a love story of a gangster couple but what made it even more interesting is the live musical score by the Celso Espejo Rondalla and the presence of Ichiro Kataoka, a benshi or a silent film narrator.

The black and white film with English subtitles, the string accompaniment, and the animated voice of the benshi were a treat to all senses making this a one of a kind experience.

It’s amazing how there are numerous opportunities where one can appreciate art in all forms here in Manila. And a lot of these events are for free!

Speaking of art forms, let me add dance to my “to-learn list” as I’m a frustrated dancer. Last Sunday, I watched “KoryoLab 2017,” a showcase of the works of six dance choreographers. Two of the pieces had the issue of EJK as its theme and I found the performances powerful and emotional. Like Pierre’s photos being not statements but questions, the dance performances were certainly more than statements but evoked questions on relationships, life, and social issues.

“Postcard” choreographed by Russ Ligtas. (Photo by Marveen Lozano)

From photos, to films, to dance, to this piece of writing. We all love telling stories. And we share them the best way we can.

 

 

 

Stage

The audience roars, and cheers, and applauds,

And even gives a standing ovation

I bask in that sweet glory of success

For I gave life to a character,

Bared my heart and soul,

Performed my best despite imperfection

I shudder at acrid moments

Of voice cracking,

And forgotten lines,

And messed up blocking

But the show must go on as they always do

The tension and drama behind the scenes

The divas being divas

The rehearsal blues

You practice, and practice, and practice some more

All spicing up the total experience

Music swelling

Spotlight dimming

Curtains closing

Head to the exit

Bittersweet goodbye