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Theater review: ‘Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady’ is a bonanza of beauty


Dalanghita Productions’ “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” is definitely one of the most important original Filipino musicals, if not a landmark local theater performance.

If only in terms of assembling a large group of Filipino performers, at ease in both Filipino and English, who can also convincingly act, sing, and dance all at the same time, “Leading Lady” sets a new standard. And the creative and production teams are composed of masters-to-be, some of whom may be future national artists.

After watching the musical four times to catch all the leads and their alternates—and this reporter intends to watch it again on closing night—it is safe to declare that “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” is a bonanza of beauty in combined acting, singing, and dancing.

Without disclosing too much of the plot, “Leading Lady” revolves around the not-so-pretty but hefty Mely (Bituin Escalante, with Frenchie Dy as alternate) and her bid to find gainful employment to support her irresponsible but striking sister Viva (Kim Molina, with Natasha Cabrera as alternate) and her mother (May Bayot). A past romantic rift had ruptured the relations between the sisters.

Eventually, the persevering Mely finds a job as a maid in the household of superhero team Fuwerza Filipinas—even superheroes deal with mundane problems such as looking for a maid. Superheroes need “help” too, in this story.

The superhero team of Fuwerza Filipinas. Photos by Erickson dela Cruz
 
Fans might be reminded of the X-Men when they see the Fuwerza Filipinas team. They are led by Madre de Dios (Menchu Lauchengco, with Astarte Abraham as alternate) and one of the new recruits is the handsome Leading Man (Markki Stroem, with Hans Eckstein as alternate).

Adding a twist to the seething conflict between Mely and Viva is the warfare between Fuwerza Filipinas and the supervillain group of Kayumanggilas led by Senyor Blangko (Nar Cabico, with Domi Espejo as alternate).

The cast

As Mely, Escalante shows studied control: she comes across as exhausted yet angry, resigned to her fate but with an appropriate amount of defiance when a scene needs it. Several song numbers take the audience to the Escalante that once sizzled in “The Dreamgirls.”

Dy has a different approach. Her Mely is an embodiment of vulnerability and confusion, lost in the daily drama of drudgery and desolation. But there is muscle too in her kind of attack.

Frenchie Dy as Mely and Markki Stroem as Leading Man
 
Gorgeous Molina and Cabrera as Viva, Mely’s sister, both match and complement Escalante and Dy’s supremacy of vocal cord and authoritative acting.

Eye-candy Stroem shows a charming, young but brittle character prone to self-doubt despite his superpower. However, he must learn to lose himself in his characterization.

Eckstein, on the other hand, exudes maturity and a sense of mission, even when he is in a mess. He delights the audience with his wide vocal range and the breadth of his acting skills.

In her short role, Bayot as Mely and Viva's mother affirms that she has the voice and acting skills to stand out in this collection of great theater performers.

Lauchengco, in her maiden appearance in an original Filipino production as Madre de Dios, conquers a new stage. As expected of Lauchengco, she delivers splendidly in her acting and singing, and in the production numbers.

Now, theater directors must challenge themselves and entrust the great Lauchengo with Filipino lines in future productions.

Abraham, Lauchengco's alternate, proves that she can deliver too and not be overshadowed by Lauchengco’s impeccable performance.

Menchu Lauchengco as Madre de Dios
 
The Fuwerza Filipinas members—Giannina Ocampo as Nena Babushka, Caisa Borromeo as Windang Woman, Jef Flores as Bazooka Man, and Chesko Rodriguez as Popoy Pusakal—individually and collectively, mixed acting, music, and movement triumphantly.

Cabico brings the house down in the comical role of Senyor Blangko, but alternate Espejo does not trail far behind. Both set the stage ablaze with their verbose and ungrammatical English lines. It must have been excruciating to memorize them.

Now to the group of actors comprising the Kayumanggilas—Vince Lim and Mikoy Morales (alternating as Henyotic), Elliot Eustacio and JC Santos (alternating as Jeryc Sans Rival), Red Nuestro as Marakas Marko, and Red Concepcion as Itak-atak—and the ensemble, composed of Joshua Cabiladas, Alejandro Santos, Rhenwyn Gabalonzo, Brian Sy, Gab Pangilinan, Raflesia Bravo, and Kakki Teodoro. Their acting and movements are pearls and diamonds strewn all over a production overstuffed with talent.

Needs a trim

But before “Leading Lady” is elevated to the roster of exalted treasures of Philippine theater, director Chris Martinez must trim unessential scenes to help the audience focus on the indispensable and to hasten the pace of story-telling.

The Kayumanggilas
 
“Leading Lady” runs for more than three hours. All the four shows this reporter watched, by the end of the first act the audience seemed uneasy, wondering where the story was headed.

There were too many scenes, and some production numbers were too long and did not contribute to the narrative's tension and conflict.

The episodic treatment given by Martinez to Carlo Vergara and Perterean Briñas' witty script taxes the audience’s attention and patience.

On the plus side, Tuxqs Rutaquio’s production design is clever. The stage is almost bare, but in the center is a revolving platform that adds a cinematic effect to certain scenes. The audience also sees scenes happening behind a screen while a character occupies the platform on center stage.

Musical director Vincent de Jesus' music and lyrics paint the poetry of passion and the prose of persistence, carve the pangs of unreciprocated pining, engrave the dangers of desire for power, and sanctify ordinary lives.

Jethro Joaquin's sound design romances De Jesus' music, while John Batalla's lighting adds enchantment and Nancy Martinez Crowe's choreography makes “Leading Lady” a visual fiesta of movement and merry-making. — BM, GMA News

“Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” runs until June 7 at the PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila.

Shows start promptly at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays start at 3 p.m. For inquiries, contact 0998-531-1389 or email dalanghitaproductions@gmail.com. For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999.

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