A Not So Typical Day: The Medium MNL

Living in Manila sometimes make me sad with its limited choices on things to do. With barely any park to consider, we usually spend our days strolling around the mall or catching the latest movie. Hence, I always get excited when something new comes along. And when an acquaintance offered me some tickets to watch The Medium, an opera written by Gian Carlo  Menotti, I quickly said yes. 

I read a bit about The Medium before heading to the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall and was intrigued when it was described as an eerie tale of a woman who pretends to be a medium of the dead and eventually experienced something paranormal herself. As dark and rather horror themes are rarely used in plays, more so for opera, I was looking forward to the show.

MUST WATCH: Beauty and the Beast: The Original Broadway Musical Spectacular

Tale as old as time. True as it can be. Barely even friends, when somebody bends, unexpectedly… Yes, we’ll get to hear that song again LIVE next year here in Manila.

As a Disney kid, my heart skipped a beat when I saw the announcement that the Beauty and the Beast production included Manila as one of its stops. I-just-have-to-watch-this! I missed Phantom of the Opera before so there is NO WAY I will miss this one.

I am excited to see how they will recreate the whole cast, from Chip, Mrs. Potts, Lumière (and Fifi), Cogsworth, and of course the Beast. I bet the scene where Belle enters the ballroom wearing her yellow gown will be magical.

Prices though are quite steep.

Price Zone 1       PHP8,337.12

Price Zone 2       PHP7,228.32

Price Zone 3       PHP6,114.24

Price Zone 4       PHP5,005.44

Price Zone 5       PHP4,445.76

Price Zone 6       PHP3,336.96

Price Zone 7       PHP2,222.88

But I’m sure that this is WORTH EVERY PENNY. As a production that has been around for 20 years, I’m 100% sure that this is one play you should not miss.

So book now and see you next year! :)

Beauty and the Beast: The Original Broadway Musical Spectacular will be staged at the CCP Main Theater from January 8-25, 2015. For tickets, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

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It has been a while since I last watched a play. Thus when my friend invited me to watch RENT, I immediately said yes. What made it even more attractive was that tickets were on 50% discount. J

The venue (Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza) of the play was a bit small and I like it that way since it made it more intimate to some extent. Getting good seats (row C) also helped.

At first I was clueless to what the play was about since I did not bother checking the synopsis or whatnot. All I know was that Rent is a well-loved play and that I have no plans of missing it. AND I WAS SO SURPRISED. I would have never thought that the play is not suitable for children. I guess I was so used to watching fairy tale themed plays. 

The first thing I noticed on stage was the POLE. I was wondering if it was part of the structure or if it was meant to be a dance pole. It was the latter. There were amazing performances from the Job Bautista who performed as Angel and Ciara Sotto as Mimi Marquez. It was also their performances (You Okay Honey? and Light my candle) that made me realize that this play is not child appropriate.

There were some scenes that I find hard to watch everyone since there were so many things happening. But I guess that makes it even more interesting and dynamic. I love the busy before Christmas market scene. For some reason, it convinced me that it was really snowing.

The performance of Carla Guevara-Laforteza (who played as Maureen) was really good and entertaining especially when she did Over the Moon and asked everyone to say moo~ with her “Moooooo. Moon. Get it?” It was really hilarious.

But the best part for me was when Angel died. As he was climbing the stairs following the light while his friends Mark, Roger, Mimi, and most especially Tom Collins were saying their last words for their dear friend, I had goosebumps. It was a very touching scene and I felt the sadness of the characters. It would have been nice though if they managed to make sure that the upper stage do not creak since Angel was supposed to be a soul seeking for the light.

Overall, the cast was really good. I overheard that some were theater newbies but I did not notice that at all. Good job the cast, Robbie Guevarra (stage director), Jojo Malferrari (musical director for band), Only Torres (musical director for vocals), Charles Stephen Thompson, Francis Matheu and Mara Andres (choreographers), Martin Esteva (lighting designer), Chuck Ledesma (sound designer), and Bek Soriano (costume stylist) for staging this great performance.

I will definitely look forward for the next play of 9 Works Theatrical. J