Going Out
Posted on 08:30 PM, May 07, 2015
By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
Yaya’s the deal
Theater
Kung Paano ako Naging Leading Lady the Musical
Presented by Dalanghita Production
May 7 to June 7
The PETA Theater Center,
No.5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City
NO, it’s not about her meal.
Dalanghita Production’s Kung Paano ako Naging Leading Lady the Musical, an original Filipino production -- which hits the stage on May 7 at the PETA Theater -- aims to make one thankful for yaya’s (house helper) service.
The musical is based on one-act play and graphic novel of the same title by Carlo Vergara -- the man behind the wildly popular gay-superhero-zombie-alien comic musical Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal.
The production has enlisted a star-studded cast including English theater stalwarts Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Bituin Escalante, Frenchie Dy, Red Concepcion, and Markki Stroem,.
“I just had to be part of this landmark production,” said Mr. Conception at a press launch on April 13. “The whole rivalry of factions [is not true]. I think people have been crossing over. In theater speak we call it ‘West End’ and ‘West Out.’ (laughs) But honestly, we can do crossovers, and the wall has been crumbling down,” he said of the supposed rivalry between theater companies. For this production, he is among the “ Kayumanggilas,” a group of Filipino villains.
While the spotlight is on the seasoned actors, the play’s creative team is just as stellar. Mr. Vergara is joined by Vincent de Jesus, who composed the original music and lyrics. The musical’s director is Chris Martinez -- the man behind memorable movies like Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, Kimmy Dora, and I Do Bidoo Bidoo, among others.
“Apart from the superior level of talent that we have, I think the fact that it’s a superhero musical loaded with comedy, romance, and drama makes it an oddball in itself. I mean, who does that? The last time we had something like this was Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal, and that opened nine years ago,” said Mr. Vergara.
FILIPINO FLAVOR
Kung Paano ako Naging Leading Lady the Musical is very Filipino in taste and humor. “It’s Pinoy flavor at its best,” Ms. Lauchengco-Yulo told Business World. It’s also her first original Filipino production. She plays plays Madre de Dios, the leader of the superheroes. “All my life I’ve been doing foreign plays but it doesn’t make me less of a Pinay. Since I am not speaking in Tagalog (in the play), it’s not difficult, but I am out of my comfort zone. When people tell you ‘Oh, you’re doing The King and I orSweeney Todd,’ you already have an idea, you know the music. But here, you learn everything as it goes,” she said.
Set in an alternate reality, the common folk go about their everyday lives, their existence occasionally disrupted by Fuwerza Filipinas, a corporate-sponsored band of six superhumans led by Madre de Dios. The sosyal super heroes are English-speaking Filipinos who have one problem -- not the evil powers in the world but their dire need of a maid. They used to have an army of housekeepers but a security breach resulted in them having to clean up after themselves.
NOT A SOCIAL COMMENTARY
“It’s about finding your place and advancing yourself in the society whether you follow or break the rules,” said Mr. Vergara. He added that it’s a story of what ifs: What if a superhero falls in love with a maid? What if a maid becomes a superhero? While Mr. Vergara said that the audience can appreciate the superhero theme, the singing, and the romance, there’s also the ideas of a social class.
“Whether we admit it or not, we still have little forms of discrimination like when you speak English you’re sosyal or when you’re attractive, you get ahead. There goes the psychology of the Filipinos, but as the story goes by, I promise the conflict will be resolved,” he said.
The musical is a mirror of today’s society. “It’s not so much a commentary of what should be but what is. I purposely did that. It’s an exaggerated reflection because when you watch the musical you’ll see that the heroes aren’t as perfect as they seem. When you see their imperfections, you won’t see them as big as they are. There’s a part of them that’s even despicable,” Mr. Vergara said.
For details and tickets call 0998-531-1389 or e-maildalanghitaproductions@gmail.com. Tickets are also available at TicketWorld (www.ticketworld.com.ph, 891-9999).
The musical is based on one-act play and graphic novel of the same title by Carlo Vergara -- the man behind the wildly popular gay-superhero-zombie-alien comic musical Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal.
The production has enlisted a star-studded cast including English theater stalwarts Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Bituin Escalante, Frenchie Dy, Red Concepcion, and Markki Stroem,.
“I just had to be part of this landmark production,” said Mr. Conception at a press launch on April 13. “The whole rivalry of factions [is not true]. I think people have been crossing over. In theater speak we call it ‘West End’ and ‘West Out.’ (laughs) But honestly, we can do crossovers, and the wall has been crumbling down,” he said of the supposed rivalry between theater companies. For this production, he is among the “ Kayumanggilas,” a group of Filipino villains.
While the spotlight is on the seasoned actors, the play’s creative team is just as stellar. Mr. Vergara is joined by Vincent de Jesus, who composed the original music and lyrics. The musical’s director is Chris Martinez -- the man behind memorable movies like Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, Kimmy Dora, and I Do Bidoo Bidoo, among others.
“Apart from the superior level of talent that we have, I think the fact that it’s a superhero musical loaded with comedy, romance, and drama makes it an oddball in itself. I mean, who does that? The last time we had something like this was Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal, and that opened nine years ago,” said Mr. Vergara.
FILIPINO FLAVOR
Kung Paano ako Naging Leading Lady the Musical is very Filipino in taste and humor. “It’s Pinoy flavor at its best,” Ms. Lauchengco-Yulo told Business World. It’s also her first original Filipino production. She plays plays Madre de Dios, the leader of the superheroes. “All my life I’ve been doing foreign plays but it doesn’t make me less of a Pinay. Since I am not speaking in Tagalog (in the play), it’s not difficult, but I am out of my comfort zone. When people tell you ‘Oh, you’re doing The King and I orSweeney Todd,’ you already have an idea, you know the music. But here, you learn everything as it goes,” she said.
Set in an alternate reality, the common folk go about their everyday lives, their existence occasionally disrupted by Fuwerza Filipinas, a corporate-sponsored band of six superhumans led by Madre de Dios. The sosyal super heroes are English-speaking Filipinos who have one problem -- not the evil powers in the world but their dire need of a maid. They used to have an army of housekeepers but a security breach resulted in them having to clean up after themselves.
NOT A SOCIAL COMMENTARY
“It’s about finding your place and advancing yourself in the society whether you follow or break the rules,” said Mr. Vergara. He added that it’s a story of what ifs: What if a superhero falls in love with a maid? What if a maid becomes a superhero? While Mr. Vergara said that the audience can appreciate the superhero theme, the singing, and the romance, there’s also the ideas of a social class.
“Whether we admit it or not, we still have little forms of discrimination like when you speak English you’re sosyal or when you’re attractive, you get ahead. There goes the psychology of the Filipinos, but as the story goes by, I promise the conflict will be resolved,” he said.
The musical is a mirror of today’s society. “It’s not so much a commentary of what should be but what is. I purposely did that. It’s an exaggerated reflection because when you watch the musical you’ll see that the heroes aren’t as perfect as they seem. When you see their imperfections, you won’t see them as big as they are. There’s a part of them that’s even despicable,” Mr. Vergara said.
For details and tickets call 0998-531-1389 or e-maildalanghitaproductions@gmail.com. Tickets are also available at TicketWorld (www.ticketworld.com.ph, 891-9999).
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