'Side Show' Manila staging bares the heartbreak and humanity behind the spectacle

In its Manila staging of "Side Show," The Sandbox Collective transforms the black box of the Power Mac Center Spotlight into a vibrant, aching portrait of sisterhood, survival, and the desire to be seen and loved beyond the surface.

Directed by Toff de Venecia, "Side Show" tells the true story of Daisy and Violet Hilton—conjoined twins who were thrust into the public eye as vaudeville performers in the 1930's. Their lives, marked by exploitation and longing, are brought to life with empathy and power by Molly Langley (as Violet) and Krystal Kane (as Daisy), alternating with Marynor Madamesila and Tanya Manalang-Atadero.

At first glance, the world of "Side Show" is a circus, literally. The opening number immerses the audience in a carnivalesque spectacle, with dazzling costumes, bold props, and an ensemble of "freaks" who declare, “Come look at the freaks!”

Beyond the glitter, lies a powerful, deeply human story.

Langley and Kane are a revelation as the Hilton sisters. Without relying on any prosthetics or gimmicks to show their conjoinment — just holding hands, walking and acting in tandem — they fully inhabit the twin dynamic. Kane infuses Daisy with comedic charm and fiery ambition, while Langley gives Violet quiet strength and vulnerability. Their chemistry is uncanny; they don’t just look like sisters, they feel like one soul split in two.

The emotional climax arrives with the haunting ballad “Who Will Love Me As I Am?” which stopped the show in its tracks. Their rendition radiated both strength and sorrow, questioning society’s narrow definitions of love and normalcy. “Who will proudly stand beside me?” they sing, and for a moment, the audience holds its breath.

The supporting cast does more than simply orbit the leads. They shine. CJ Navato as Terry Connor and Vien King as Buddy Foster (alternating with Reb Atadero and Tim Pavino, respectively) offer layered portrayals of the twins’ would-be saviors and complicated love interests. Their hesitations and inner conflicts add tension to the already fragile hopes of Daisy and Violet.

Marvin Ong’s portrayal of Jake, the twins’ loyal friend and silent admirer, is one of the show’s quiet highlights. His solo “You Should Be Loved” is stirring—an understated yet emotionally resonant plea that subtly underlines the show’s central question: What does it mean to love, wholly and without condition?

Of course, Jon Santos is magnetic as the exploitative Boss. Commanding and chilling, he draws both fear and fascination as the man who first caged the twins in a life of performance and control. His presence looms even after he exits the stage.

But "Side Show" is more than its stars. The ensemble is a standout in its own right, with each performer carving out distinct characters within the carnival. Their powerhouse vocals and intense choreography inject the show with both spectacle and soul. Each ensemble member fully embodies their “freak” identity, reminding us that the world is full of people just trying to belong.

What makes "Side Show" especially powerful is that it doesn’t just exploit the idea of difference. It questions it. The show doesn’t dwell on disability, instead it zooms in on the Hilton twins’ interior lives: their dreams, their heartbreaks, and their hunger for autonomy.

This production asks its audience to look beyond the "sideshow" and recognize the humanity within. The result is a haunting, hopeful, and heartbreakingly honest portrayal of lives lived on the margins.

In a landscape often filled with big-name musicals and familiar tales, "Side Show" is a rare gem—a show that doesn’t just entertain, but moves. It challenges the audience to see beauty in the different, dignity in the overlooked, and strength in the strange.

For Manila theatergoers seeking something both unique and emotionally resonant, Side Show is an unmissable experience.

Until August 17 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Circuit, Makati.

— LA, GMA Integrated News