Am I theater geek? Not really. I love theater, Broadway, musicals, plays. But am I a fanatic who memorizes every lyric, every show? Not really.
It was maybe easier when we were growing up - there seemed to be only the real classics to listen to over and over and seriously memorize (Here a little dip, there a little tuck...). But now that I'm older, I'm all too aware of the breathtaking shows that premiere every year, some never to become global hits.
I've caught some of those -- Behanding, Fela, Race come to mind. They'll never be the Wicked, Rent, or Les Miz, but they hold a place in my heart. They've shown me a new point of view, told me a new story, gotten me to consider something else. I've laughed, cringed, not understood, gotten excited about the student ID that gets me discounted tickets, waited in line for autographs, almost died when my Broadway and sceen idols are suddenly standing right in front of me, shamelessly ask for autographs and photos.
Over the years I've come to appreciate the smaller shows more and more. I saw Billy Elliot and was a little grossed out by how commerical it was vs the source material. The kind of show that pulls in the crowds, sure, but no longer my cup of tea. American Idiot was a gorgeous spectacle but rebellious teens, sex, drugs and rock and roll... meh. I liked Wicked the book better than the musical, and if those shows will keep my smaller shows on I'm happy they're there.
There's too much to see, so much I've missed. I watch the Tony's every year, cataloguing shows I'd like to see even if, all the way in Manila, I'll probably miss! (Oh, Starcatcher.) But every two years or so I've gotten to go back and get my fill. If my plans work out I'll get another round this year and I. can't. wait.
In the meantime, while I have a little bit of non-work time, I want to go back to the Playbills I've collected, mostly on Broadway and a couple across the pond, to work up my apetite for my theater season 2014.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Noli Me Tangere Manila
Why I enjoyed my theater trip outside RCBC
I can't decide how much I liked this show. On the one hand, production value was excellent. On the other, I only understood like 40% of it. (Yes, I am a terrible Filipino. Yes, I am terrible at Filipino.) Maybe I should have invited a companion who could have acted as a handy reference for words I didn't understand.I have, let's say, personal baggage about Noli Me Tangere. I had to take it up twice, once each in high school and college. I didn't enjoy studying it either time because, well, I didn't really enjoy anything we took up in Filipino class. And having read it 1-2 times, I really don't think it's a good book. I'm not talking context; but as a work of literature I don't know what it wants to say or do. So many characters, so many symbols, so many sub-plots. Too crazy. (Like seasons four and five of Lost?) So me disliking the content to begin with + not being able to understand the whole show makes me feel like I can't really make a judgments or comment about whether or not play's truth was well told.
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
In the Heights Manila: As good as it gets?
I think it was Plato who said that ours is but a world of echoes, that everything in our reality only hints of another dimension where things exist in essence, in their purest form. Based on his belief, are we doomed to live our entire existence without experiencing “the real thing”? When it comes to local theater, I sometimes think this is true.
---
I grew up believing that Philippine theatre was every bit as wonderful as anything that existed outside the country. After all, wasn’t a Filipina headlining Miss Saigon in the West End?
The first real musical I remember seeing was Les Miserables by Repertory Philippines. I was in Grade Three. I still remember Javert’s inverted body on the barricade, the rotating stage, and I remember thinking that I’d much rather be Eponine than Cosette. Even if Cosette had the money and got the guy, Eponine got all the good songs. I distinctly remember my lola shaking Baby Barredo’s hand after the curtain fell and congratulating her on a show that was “as good as Broadway”. My lola had an apartment in New York so I knew she meant business when it came to theater.
When I was in high school one of my best friends came home raving about the latest hit on Broadway, Rent. She lent us her CD’s and got us started on the world of the ten gallon plastic pickle tub. When Rent opened in Music Museum a few months later, I saw it myself and fell in love (with Mark/JM who I’m still sad is gay). We watched it five times and would sing “Out Tonight”, “Light My Candle”, “Will I” and most of the other songs on our lunch breaks. In a school activity we were asked to give ourselves nicknames and naturally mine was Mimi (luckily my teacher was also a Rent-head and unfazed by how my alternate self was an HIV-positive stripper). That Manila production was my original Rent. I enjoyed it so much that even when I found myself in New York I didn’t feel the need to see it on Broadway.
I would consider those two experiences the biggest contributors to making me a bona fide theater lover, though I’ve been lucky to have had many wonderfully more since then.
Last Friday became another theater night, an impromptu plan to see the opening performance of In The Heights in Manila.
---
I grew up believing that Philippine theatre was every bit as wonderful as anything that existed outside the country. After all, wasn’t a Filipina headlining Miss Saigon in the West End?
The first real musical I remember seeing was Les Miserables by Repertory Philippines. I was in Grade Three. I still remember Javert’s inverted body on the barricade, the rotating stage, and I remember thinking that I’d much rather be Eponine than Cosette. Even if Cosette had the money and got the guy, Eponine got all the good songs. I distinctly remember my lola shaking Baby Barredo’s hand after the curtain fell and congratulating her on a show that was “as good as Broadway”. My lola had an apartment in New York so I knew she meant business when it came to theater.
When I was in high school one of my best friends came home raving about the latest hit on Broadway, Rent. She lent us her CD’s and got us started on the world of the ten gallon plastic pickle tub. When Rent opened in Music Museum a few months later, I saw it myself and fell in love (with Mark/JM who I’m still sad is gay). We watched it five times and would sing “Out Tonight”, “Light My Candle”, “Will I” and most of the other songs on our lunch breaks. In a school activity we were asked to give ourselves nicknames and naturally mine was Mimi (luckily my teacher was also a Rent-head and unfazed by how my alternate self was an HIV-positive stripper). That Manila production was my original Rent. I enjoyed it so much that even when I found myself in New York I didn’t feel the need to see it on Broadway.
I would consider those two experiences the biggest contributors to making me a bona fide theater lover, though I’ve been lucky to have had many wonderfully more since then.
Last Friday became another theater night, an impromptu plan to see the opening performance of In The Heights in Manila.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
theater weekend!
Next to Normal on Saturday, 39 Steps on Sunday. Wish all weekends could be like this!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
surprise! a dance number
- Spontaneous movie dance / song-and-dance sequences
- Not counting scenes where the characters are on stage or really supposed to be performing
- Desired effect: That movie life is so magical that people burst into song and start dancing when they're happy, mad or extremely emotional... and the rest of the world also knows the lyrics and dance steps and will sing and dance with you!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
chasing Will Chase
Dear Will Chase,
I was lucky to have been told by the stage door guy at the Imperial that you don't usually do the autograph line and walk away immediately. So I was well positioned to chase you down 44th St. for an autograph and a photo.
I love Rent, see. I first saw it live in a local Manila production maybe a decade ago and fell in love. I regret never watching Rent on Broadway but thank god for this digital age when theater performances can be recorded and immortalized on DVD, then get distributed worldwide via peer-to-peer sharing.
I finally got to see Rent "Live on Broadway" a few months ago. I plugged my USB into the player, sat on the floor in front of my TV and entered Alphabet City on December 24th, 9pm EST. Mark shot without a script! Then there was you, tuning the Fender guitar. And what a Roger. Words I had memorized for years felt like they were being sung for the first time.
I usually like Mark better than Roger, dorky vs brooding you know? But not your Roger. Your performance brought me to tears and made me fall in love with him, that first time and many viewings since.
Which is why I KNEW, being back in New York, that I was not going to miss Billy Elliot if it killed me. The chance to hear you in person! I won't pretend that I was / am disappointed that Tony grossly underutilizes your vocal prowess.
But it was a good show overall and now we've come full circle to post-Billy and me needing to chase Will Chase for a much-awaited encounter.
You turned around when I called, "Will Chase!" and asked for an autograph. As you signed my Playbills I told you I had seen you in Miss Saigon, Manila. Did you reply, Awesome? Then I asked if you would take a picture with me, which I told you I would be taking myself. After the click I was checking the camera and you asked, "Are we pretty?" Will Chase, you are very pretty.
I was so overjoyed by this brief encounter that I almost told the girl in line for the American Idiot lottery, where I headed after Billy, what had just happened.
But then I realized that I had forgotten to tell you something, something more important than having seen you in Miss Saigon. What I should have told you- I realize that I am a few years late with this compliment, but you are my favorite Roger.
Would that have made a difference to you to hear? Maybe not. But I would have liked to tell you that in person. After all, how often do we get to tell people that they are our favorite Phantom, Moritz or Elphaba?
So I am instead expressing this sentiment to the general digital populi. That one day you may hear of this know what I meant to say!
Much love and thanks,
Bea
I was lucky to have been told by the stage door guy at the Imperial that you don't usually do the autograph line and walk away immediately. So I was well positioned to chase you down 44th St. for an autograph and a photo.
I love Rent, see. I first saw it live in a local Manila production maybe a decade ago and fell in love. I regret never watching Rent on Broadway but thank god for this digital age when theater performances can be recorded and immortalized on DVD, then get distributed worldwide via peer-to-peer sharing.
I usually like Mark better than Roger, dorky vs brooding you know? But not your Roger. Your performance brought me to tears and made me fall in love with him, that first time and many viewings since.
Which is why I KNEW, being back in New York, that I was not going to miss Billy Elliot if it killed me. The chance to hear you in person! I won't pretend that I was / am disappointed that Tony grossly underutilizes your vocal prowess.
But it was a good show overall and now we've come full circle to post-Billy and me needing to chase Will Chase for a much-awaited encounter.
You turned around when I called, "Will Chase!" and asked for an autograph. As you signed my Playbills I told you I had seen you in Miss Saigon, Manila. Did you reply, Awesome? Then I asked if you would take a picture with me, which I told you I would be taking myself. After the click I was checking the camera and you asked, "Are we pretty?" Will Chase, you are very pretty.I was so overjoyed by this brief encounter that I almost told the girl in line for the American Idiot lottery, where I headed after Billy, what had just happened.
But then I realized that I had forgotten to tell you something, something more important than having seen you in Miss Saigon. What I should have told you- I realize that I am a few years late with this compliment, but you are my favorite Roger.
Would that have made a difference to you to hear? Maybe not. But I would have liked to tell you that in person. After all, how often do we get to tell people that they are our favorite Phantom, Moritz or Elphaba?
So I am instead expressing this sentiment to the general digital populi. That one day you may hear of this know what I meant to say!
Much love and thanks,
Bea
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Broadway Roundup, Part 1
Would have liked to write one post per show, but I know I'll never end up posting if I wait until I feel like actually doing that. So here is a recap of all the shows I've seen on this trip so far. I used the OBSSB (Official Broadway Scoring System for Blogs) so were complicated calculations for all of these numbers! I want to see a lot more stuff so there will definitely be a Part 2!
PLAYS
Race
http://www.raceonbroadway.com
Alan Shore in the flesh! +40
David Alan Grier +20
Robert something? +20
Kerry Washington +20
The promodizers in Times Square wearing little red sequined dresses +15
Even if they keep talking about it, the little red sequined dress never actually appears in the play! +15
The floor of the set was diagonal, actual upstage and downstage! +40
Great writing... +30
...that has to be delivered perfectly, like the lines have a rhythm +30
A handful of really racist hirits! +20
James Spader signed for autographs and posed for a picture! +40
Total: +290
God of Carnage
http://www.godofcarnage.com/home.php
Lucy Liu +40
Jeff Daniels +40
Janet McTeer +40
Dylan Baker +40
Dylan Baker's cellphone +20
Clafouti +10
Spewing puke +20
Coffee then rum +30
Jeff blows up +30
Janet blows up +30
Lucy blows up and throws tulips around the stage +30
It could be a joke, Two couples discuss a fight between their sons, one who has lost two teeth... +20
Everyone shifts teams at least twice +20
They're in one room the whole play! +10
Our unfortunate animalistic tendencies +20
Total: +410
Red
http://redonbroadway.com/
Alfred Molina +100
Doc Ock in person! +5
Finger rubbing guy in Raiders in person! +15
Can I say Alfred Molina again? +10
Eddie Redmayne +60
Eddie Redmayne who took a photo with me after the show +20
Super harsh American accent for English Molina +5
An awesome show with just two characters +40
An awesome show that happens in just one room +40
Alfred Molina again. +25
Mark Rothko's studio +40
The flecks of red all over the stage floor +10
Pulley system to change paintings +10
Canvas priming, canvas frame-making +10
The running water +10
The painting scene +40
Depiction of Rothko's preferred lighting +10
Record player and music +10
I wish I could remember some lines to quote! Quotable lines +20
Anti-Pollock quips +10
Anti-Cubism quips +10
Anti-pop art quips +10
Not selling out! +20
Fear of being irrelevant +10
Artistic temperament +10
An artist's self-doubt +10
An artist's insane idealism +10
An artist's ego +10
Total: +570
MUSICALS
A Little Night Music
http://www.nightmusiconbroadway.com/
Starpower! Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury in one show +70
Angela Lansbury stole the show with lines about conquests in earlier years with princes, czars, etc! +15
Catherine's stage presence and for tearing up while singing "Send In The Clowns" +10
Finally know where "Send In The Clowns" is from +5
Tickets through student discount, and eventual seating in about the 12th row +20
Good ensemble all around +20
Catherine signs autographs after the show +30
But doesn't pose for pictures -20
Show was sort of boring... -30
Super annoying actress who played young Anne -20
Total: +95
Next to Normal
http://www.nexttonormal.com/home
Wow where to begin?
J. Robert Spencer, who played Dan the Dad +30
Louis Hobson, super gwapo shrink, etc +20
Kyle Dean Massey, who played Gabe +30
Morgan Fahr, who played Natalie (she's the understudy but was awesome!) +35
Adam Chanler-Berat, who played cute, cute, super Jewish Henry, be perfect for me! +35
Alice Ripley oh my god! No wonder she won the Tony +60
Major plot reveal / exposition (no spoilers :) in the middle of the firs act! I did not see that coming +40
Strings and rock! +40
Band in the visible multi-layer wings +20
Three-level set with graffiti eyes, screens, stairs, etc! +30
The set has a pole that the actors swing around! +10
Lights! +20
Diana: And you're not a scary rockstar anymore! +15
Diana: Valium is my favorite color! +15
"Goodbye Henry..." (Hey #1, #2 & #3) +20
"I Am the One" +25
"I'm Alive" +25
"I Am the One" (Reprise) +20
All the other songs +100
Next was awarded the Pulitzer for Drama on the day I watched! +40
Student discount! +20
The first super contemporary musical I've seen / really liked +40
Student ticket price! +20
Anthony Rapp at the show! With picture!!! Maaaark! +30
I didn't get to watch the Gabe who was on Gossip Girl! -15
Super sikip seats... -10
Alice Ripley didn't come out for autographs -15
Total: +700 (Yes, I really liked it)
Fela!
http://www.felaonbroadway.com/
Sahr Ngaujah, who played Fela +80
Sahr Ngaujah, who played Fela and played the trumpet +20
Sahr Ngaujah, who played Fela and played the trumpet, and played the sax! +25
Fela's powder blue long-sleeved button-down shirt, powder blue pants, powder blue shoes! Act I +20
Fela's pink long-sleeved button-down shirt, pink pants, pink blue shoes! Act II +20
Fela's mama +20
All the guy dancers +40
Guy who kept tapping! +20
All the girl dancers +40
Insane Afrobeat band! +40
Drums +30
All of the music! +100
No cast recording... yet -10
Fela: Welcome na da Shrine! +20
The neon pink insert in the Playbill that gave a background of Fela Kuti +20
Student ticket price! +20
Insane dance that didn't look choreographed +30
Costumes +20
Set design that extended all around the theater +40
Moving stairs, falling nets, super 3D stage design +30
Two disco balls! +20
Same theater as Spring! +10
Multimedia! Screens all over +30
Black light! +30
Audience singalong! +30
Audience dance lesson (1, 4, 9) +25
Interactive theater, the lights never went completely dark in Act I +30
Story went time warp but wasn't confusing +20
Deconstructed theater, part story, part concert +60
Everybody say YEAYEA! +40
Total: +920 (Hmm I was very generous with the points! But I really loved this. See why!)
PLAYS
Racehttp://www.raceonbroadway.com
Alan Shore in the flesh! +40
David Alan Grier +20
Robert something? +20
Kerry Washington +20
The promodizers in Times Square wearing little red sequined dresses +15
Even if they keep talking about it, the little red sequined dress never actually appears in the play! +15
The floor of the set was diagonal, actual upstage and downstage! +40
Great writing... +30
...that has to be delivered perfectly, like the lines have a rhythm +30
A handful of really racist hirits! +20
James Spader signed for autographs and posed for a picture! +40
Total: +290
http://www.godofcarnage.com/home.php
Lucy Liu +40
Jeff Daniels +40
Janet McTeer +40
Dylan Baker +40
Dylan Baker's cellphone +20
Clafouti +10
Spewing puke +20
Coffee then rum +30
Jeff blows up +30
Janet blows up +30
Lucy blows up and throws tulips around the stage +30
It could be a joke, Two couples discuss a fight between their sons, one who has lost two teeth... +20
Everyone shifts teams at least twice +20
They're in one room the whole play! +10
Our unfortunate animalistic tendencies +20
Total: +410
http://redonbroadway.com/
Alfred Molina +100
Doc Ock in person! +5
Finger rubbing guy in Raiders in person! +15
Can I say Alfred Molina again? +10
Eddie Redmayne +60
Eddie Redmayne who took a photo with me after the show +20
Super harsh American accent for English Molina +5
An awesome show with just two characters +40
An awesome show that happens in just one room +40
Alfred Molina again. +25
Mark Rothko's studio +40
The flecks of red all over the stage floor +10
Pulley system to change paintings +10
Canvas priming, canvas frame-making +10
The running water +10
The painting scene +40
Depiction of Rothko's preferred lighting +10
Record player and music +10
I wish I could remember some lines to quote! Quotable lines +20
Anti-Pollock quips +10
Anti-Cubism quips +10
Anti-pop art quips +10
Not selling out! +20
Fear of being irrelevant +10
Artistic temperament +10
An artist's self-doubt +10
An artist's insane idealism +10
An artist's ego +10
Total: +570
MUSICALS
http://www.nightmusiconbroadway.com/
Starpower! Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury in one show +70
Angela Lansbury stole the show with lines about conquests in earlier years with princes, czars, etc! +15
Catherine's stage presence and for tearing up while singing "Send In The Clowns" +10
Finally know where "Send In The Clowns" is from +5
Tickets through student discount, and eventual seating in about the 12th row +20
Good ensemble all around +20
Catherine signs autographs after the show +30
But doesn't pose for pictures -20
Show was sort of boring... -30
Super annoying actress who played young Anne -20
Total: +95
http://www.nexttonormal.com/home
Wow where to begin?
J. Robert Spencer, who played Dan the Dad +30
Louis Hobson, super gwapo shrink, etc +20
Kyle Dean Massey, who played Gabe +30
Morgan Fahr, who played Natalie (she's the understudy but was awesome!) +35
Adam Chanler-Berat, who played cute, cute, super Jewish Henry, be perfect for me! +35
Alice Ripley oh my god! No wonder she won the Tony +60
Major plot reveal / exposition (no spoilers :) in the middle of the firs act! I did not see that coming +40
Strings and rock! +40
Band in the visible multi-layer wings +20
Three-level set with graffiti eyes, screens, stairs, etc! +30
The set has a pole that the actors swing around! +10
Lights! +20
Diana: And you're not a scary rockstar anymore! +15
Diana: Valium is my favorite color! +15
"Goodbye Henry..." (Hey #1, #2 & #3) +20
"I Am the One" +25
"I'm Alive" +25
"I Am the One" (Reprise) +20
All the other songs +100
Next was awarded the Pulitzer for Drama on the day I watched! +40
Student discount! +20
The first super contemporary musical I've seen / really liked +40
Student ticket price! +20
Anthony Rapp at the show! With picture!!! Maaaark! +30
I didn't get to watch the Gabe who was on Gossip Girl! -15
Super sikip seats... -10
Alice Ripley didn't come out for autographs -15
Total: +700 (Yes, I really liked it)
http://www.felaonbroadway.com/
Sahr Ngaujah, who played Fela +80
Sahr Ngaujah, who played Fela and played the trumpet +20
Sahr Ngaujah, who played Fela and played the trumpet, and played the sax! +25
Fela's powder blue long-sleeved button-down shirt, powder blue pants, powder blue shoes! Act I +20
Fela's pink long-sleeved button-down shirt, pink pants, pink blue shoes! Act II +20
Fela's mama +20
All the guy dancers +40
Guy who kept tapping! +20
All the girl dancers +40
Insane Afrobeat band! +40
Drums +30
All of the music! +100
No cast recording... yet -10
Fela: Welcome na da Shrine! +20
The neon pink insert in the Playbill that gave a background of Fela Kuti +20
Student ticket price! +20
Insane dance that didn't look choreographed +30
Costumes +20
Set design that extended all around the theater +40
Moving stairs, falling nets, super 3D stage design +30
Two disco balls! +20
Same theater as Spring! +10
Multimedia! Screens all over +30
Black light! +30
Audience singalong! +30
Audience dance lesson (1, 4, 9) +25
Interactive theater, the lights never went completely dark in Act I +30
Story went time warp but wasn't confusing +20
Deconstructed theater, part story, part concert +60
Everybody say YEAYEA! +40
Total: +920 (Hmm I was very generous with the points! But I really loved this. See why!)
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