First, let me say there’s still time to catch the last day of this musical, Next To Normal, winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize and winner of 3 Tony Awards. It runs from March 11 to 27, 2011 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium (RCBC Plaza in Makati City). To check if tickets are still available, call the producers, Atlantis Productions, at 892-7078 or 840-1187.
Ang tunay na lalaki ‘di nanonood ng stage plays. Real men abhor musicals (except when their dates or significant others want to watch a musical). I don’t believe that and I really don’t care, but for whatever reason I haven’t seen any big stage play. We wanted to watch Cats when it was here. Too little time because of work and too many people wanting to watch it made it impossible for us to buy any ticket. I long wondered how would it feel to watch Lea Salonga in the Miss Saigon musical.
The Philippines has its fair share of plays and musicals. The usual venues are the CCP Complex (Pasay City), Meralco Theater (Pasig City), Aliw Theater (CCP Complex, Pasay City). Then there’s the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, at the spectacular RCBC Plaza, at the intersection of Ayala and Gil Puyat (formerly Buendia) Avenues. It’s not difficult to get there. Just follow Ayala Avenue until the other end from EDSA, turn right in Buendia, then enter the parking bay.
“Next to Normal is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other.” We’ve learned about that only after the show. Before that, we know absolutely nothing about the play. Two tickets found their way to the office, with a note from a friend. The P1,500 per ticket payment was to be handed at the venue. Not wanting to waste the expenditure, we decided to brave Makati traffic on a Friday evening.
We arrived early for the 8:00 p.m. show. We still had time to grab a bite at the food court, 3rd floor of the RCBC Plaza, and coffee at Starbucks, where we saw Mark Bautista enjoying his latte. We lingered near the auditorium entrance because eating and drinking inside the theater is prohibited. Nyoy Volante arrived, followed by Karylle. Beside us was a lady in red, who turned out to be Rachel Alejandro. She sat in front of us, together with Louie Ocampo. Our interest in them ended when the show started at 8:15, a little Filipino time.
The show opened with the main character, Diana played by the brilliant Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. She’s beautiful, yes, but what’s more beautiful is how she injects emotions into the songs. The control she has with her singing, as easy I guess with the ease we raise our hands.
We were holding our breath as she expresses the emotions in her lines, inhaling deeply whenever she inhales, breaking our vicarious rhythm only when swallowing to furiously prevent tears streaking down the cheek. She’s the best among the cast, which includes the rocker Jett Pangan who plays Dan, the dad opposite Diana.
(Rest of the cast: Felix Rivera, Bea Garcia, Jake Macapagal and Markki Stroem.)
Jett Pangan will always be etched in my head as the front man of The Dawn, rock greats of the late 80s. It took me a while to get accustomed to him singing in a musical. I mean, how can I shout, “Yeaahhhh, rock onnnn!!”
He didn’t express his emotions as well as Diana, but he’s good — the portion in the entire musical that my wife really wept, was the scene of Jett Pangan near the end. Dude, you made my wife cry. Cool!