Chuva Choo Choo: D' Mr. Kupido musical review

Mr. Vehnee Saturno is been in the industry of writing songs in a span of 35 years including the present but what if these songs tells a story. This is where Chuva Choo D' Mr. Kupido musical comes in.

If you don't know Vehnee Saturno, you will admit that you are familiar with the songs he wrote for many singers and sang it. Most of his songs are also the usual Karaoke selections. It is also Vehnee Saturno's dream to create a musical but never got to start until theater group Stages  offered to do one. It is also fitting since most musical materials are usually from either West End or Broadway but only few musical productions are originally and can be appreciated by Pinoys.

Chuva Choo Choo's story is set in Pangasinan where two sisters who witnessed a murder and fled to Manila to hide and found refuge in a gay bar called Mr. Kupido. Although it shares similarities with Victor Victoria, it is still different.

I never thought that I'd see the day that songs interpreted by different recording artist would tell a story. It makes you say, "I know that song. He wrote that too?"  The stage set up is not only colorful, it is also flexible. It can be switch to three places without any effort in the props. The production also has audience interaction in some scenes.

Since this is the first production held at Power Mac Center Spotlight, I compare it to CCP's Tanghalang Huseng Batute but it is not as cramp. Just like the Batute, it is also a non-traditional theatrical facility. You can adjust the stage depending on the production. I look forward what else they can do with the Power Mac Center Spotlight.

If you miss the initial run of Chuva Choo Choo, watch out for its full run in January. It is a must-watch. You may never know what surprises awaits in each performance. For more theatrical productions, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Chuva Choo Choo: D' Mr. Kupido musicale excerpt video

Mr. Vehnee Saturno's music has influenced us Pinoys for many decades now regardless of social class, gender, etc., and worked with many recording artists up until now.  I had an opportunity to talk to him on one occasion during a presscon of one recording artist that he worked with more than a year ago.

Imagine if all those songs from those years are compiled to tell a story in a musical. This is what Stages Production Specialist Inc. is going to stage next month for 4 performance and then in January next year.

The plot of the musical was conceptualized two years ago. The story started with sisters Dina and Darla who witnessed a murder and went to Manila to hide and found refuge in a gay bar called Mr. Kupido where they pretend to be gay impersonators.

The musical is originally Pinoy so the target audience are local. There are only few musicals that we can be proud of and this is one production to add on that list. Vehnee Saturno always ponder about doing a musical but he didn't get a chance to start until Stages provided the right material and choice of songs to be included in the musical.

Here is one of the featured songs as interpreted by Joanna Ampil during the media launch. For more musical productions, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.