The Bridges of Madison County the musical Manila: A Review

Note: Just for the record, this is an unsolicited review. The local production has no influence on the author of the blog. My tickets were purchased.

I first heard about the musical when one of the actors, Mig Ayesa, was interviewed in a segment on local television. I've seen the movie but that was long ago and I haven't read the book yet. When I found out that Joanna Ampil is playing Francesca, I figured this may be good since she was also in Miss Saigon and I've watched her recently in an original Pinoy musical Chuva Choo Choo.

The story is about a love story between a housewife and a photographer of a known publication on assignment in Madison County, Iowa. Because of her personal issues and drawn affection between two wandering souls that resulted in an affair.

If you are not familiar with the book and the movie, don't worry. There are no spoilers in this review. The set appears simple before the act started. It appears like artworks of different sizes that looks like a puzzle showing landscape of Iowa. What makes the background unique is part of the artworks are also part of the props. One frame is part of Francesca's kitchen. One frame is where the bed was kept.

For the other props like chairs and ladders, they were being put to place by the cast especially the ensemble that only sits in the background when they don't have a part. The ladders were also used as arches or doors depending on the scene. Blocking of the props is also hard because the ensemble doubles as props custodians for the scenes.

The songs captures the Iowa setting of country music and slow rock. But there are some song that combines local Iowa tunes to opera that is why the role of Francesca and Robert Kincaid is so unique among the cast.

Mig Ayesa and Joanna Ampil created their own version that will not remind you of Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood. They gave a different attack on their roles since it is a musical. I realized why they are fit for the roles because their voices fit the songs and they also have specific physical appearances needed.

Unlike any musical, it didn't have much dance choreography which is good. Otherwise, you won't be concentrating on the songs which is essential for the story. It also has some dialogues that were not sung which is also necessary. It's been a while since I had a new Broadway song favorite and Before and After/One Second and A Million Miles became my new favorite because it captures the point of the relationship between Robert and Francesca.

What I like about this story is how liberating it was for the characters even though it may appear taboo since Francesca is married and Robert is a total stranger. It is still taboo even in the modern age but if you can see Francesca's situation, it is like she is in a prison in her own life and Robert was the only liberation she needed. This is something universal since not all marriages lasts forever.

Relationships really don't last forever. It is also part of the cycle. Even to marriages. Most couples are still together because of obligation to family and most because of financial need. But the love and affection is already gone. Which is why there are advantages of divorce law.

I was able to watch this production because a family friend was able to purchase seats but was unable to watch because of changes of work schedule. The seats I got were really expensive and I cannot even afford the lowest rates. Productions like these is for specific audiences who can afford. But if you can afford it, this is the best production you shouldn't miss.

For more reviews about musical productions, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook. Thanks to Picket Fences Creatives for the tickets.

Paglayang Minamahal: A Review of a modern sarsuela

What is a sarsuela? Long before the kalyeseryes and reality shows, this is one of our very own entertainment. If Shakespeare is now a specific theater genre, the Philippines has the sarsuela. Although it is not originally ours since we got it from Spain, we adapted it in our culture and written many sarsuela pieces.

What makes sarsuela different from any staged performance? It is a lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken or sung scenes. But there are also different variations from different Spanish colonies.

From what I watched, a sarsuela is always sung and it is always stuck in one period of time. Pinaglayang Minahal is not an old sarsuela piece but a winning work of George de Jesus III for the centennial celebration of the Philippine revolution.

The story is set during the revolutionary campaigns of the Katipunan and in a household of a Philippine upper class family, there is a secret love between an Illustrado and a commoner. It may appear like a material from today's modern tele-novela which the modern audience can appreciate. I was also oriented that this sarsuela material is a shortened version of the original material which can run for 4 hours. This was only 90 minutes since the purpose was a technical theater thesis. There are also symbolic interpretations of some parts like the oversize Moriones-type head of the Spaniard civil guards.

This production is part of a thesis for Technical Theater course of College of Saint Benilde. This was the last batch presentation of the course by Batch 112 and they will be graded according to their technical aspect of this production. Although the purpose of the production is purely academic, the students are already given professional exposure because there are professional theater actors and a professional theater publicist working in this production for proper exposure. You can say that this student batch was given an immersing experience how to work in the real theater production.

I never got to see other batch presentations but I can see a fully-polished production that can be done in a professional theater. Whatever is the verdict of the panel for this presentation, I am sure it is for their improvement because they could do more than what they did.

I was glad that I was able to watch this since it is my first time to see a thesis work in a theater course. For more theatrical reviews, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Majastic Concert At The Arena

I will list reasons why you should see the biggest concert of Maja Salvador.

#This is her first concert in a bigger area like The Arena. Her last concert was held at the Music Museum.

#She will be performing with six of the hottest men in the industry.

#Maja requested for Piolo Pascual because he is considered a prince in the industry. It's her first big concert.

#The concert was originally planned for October but moved to November when Piolo was still out of the country.

#Besides the guys, she is also having Kakai as the only female guest not because she is doing great in the show Your Face Sounds Familiar but she is really a good performer.

#There will be lots of surprises in store.

#The throne in the poster was custom made for the shoot. Kinda similar to the Iron Throne.

#This is probably the best concert to end this year.

Catch her Majastic at the SM Mall Of Asia Arena on November 13. The show starts at 8PM. Her guests are Paulo Avelino, Enrique Gil, JC De Vera, Enchong Dee, Piolo Pascual and much more. For more concert events, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook. Tickets available via SMTickets.

ED SHEERAN ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF HIS DEBUT CONCERT FILM

Press release

Set for release on November 13^th via Asylum Records, ‘x’ Wembley Edition is the repackaged album from Ed Sheeran.

This album repack product comes just in time for the festive season with both a CD and DVD portion. The CD portion not only features all the hits taken from Ed’s multi award-winning, second studio album ‘x’, but also boasts an amazing five new tracks, including ‘Lay It All On Me’, which sees Ed lend his vocals over Rudimental’ s timelessly produced number. ‘English Rose’, ‘Touch and Go’, ‘New York’and ‘Make It Rain’, the additional new tracks on this album, were once again (like ‘x’) recorded across the globe from LA, to New York and back to London, with Ed sticking with the formula that made his second studio album the biggest-selling LP of 2014.

He calls on assistance from producer Rick Rubin (Eminem, Jay-Z, & Red Hot Chilli Peppers) on ‘Touch and Go’ and links up with Emile Haynie (Bruno Mars, Eminem, Lana Del Ray) on ‘New York’.

The DVD portion titled ‘Jumpers For Goalposts Live at Wembley Stadium’ features the breathtaking footage taken this summer as Ed made history, becoming the first solo artist to sell-out three consecutive nights at Wembley Stadium, playing to over 240,000 people! It features electrifying performances of all of the hits: ‘The A Team’, ‘Don’t’, ‘Sing’, ‘Thinking Out Loud’ and we even get a glimpse ofSir Elton John as the two undertake a one-off duet. Aside from the live performances, Jumpers For Goalposts Live at Wembley Stadium gives viewers an insight into life on the road with Ed, giving an honest and intimate window into the journey he’s taken thus far.

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.

SAM SMITH TO SING TITLE SONG TO “SPECTRE”

Press release

CULVER CITY, Calif., September 8, 2015 – Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment today confirmed that Sam Smith has recorded “Writing’s On The Wall,” the theme song to SPECTRE, the 24th James Bond adventure.  SPECTRE will be released in the UK on October 26 and in the US (and the Philippines) on November 6.  The song, released by Capitol Records, will debut and be available to purchase and stream on September 25.

Multi-platinum selling artist Sam Smith has co-written the title song, “Writing’s On The Wall,” with fellow GRAMMY® Award winner Jimmy Napes.  It is the first James Bond theme song recorded by a British male solo artist since 1965.  Smith’s debut album In The Lonely Hour launched at No. 1 in the UK and bowed in at No. 2 in the US, and has since earned five No.1 UK singles, four GRAMMY® Awards, three Brit Awards, six MOBO Awards, Q and AMA Awards.

Commenting on the announcement, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the producers of SPECTRE, said, “Sam and Jimmy have written the most inspirational song for Spectre and with Sam’s extraordinary vocal performance, ‘Writing’s On The Wall’ will surely be considered one of the greatest Bond songs of all time.”

Smith said: “This is one of the highlights of my career. I am honoured to finally announce that I will be singing the next Bond theme song. I am so excited to be a part of this iconic British legacy and join an incredible line up of some of my biggest musical inspirations.  I hope you all enjoy the song as much as I enjoyed making it.”

The 23 previous James Bond theme songs make up some of the most memorable movie music of all time.  The previous Bond theme song, “Skyfall,” was performed by Adele, and was honored with the Academy Award® and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, the Brit Award for British Single of the Year, and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. 

"We Are Your Friends" OST

Press release

It may be very easy to associate Zac Efron with music that sets up a romantic mood, what with his breakout movie, High School Musical.  But now, the 27-year-old heartthrob is about to raise heartbeats to a new level as he spins EDM (electronic dance music) in his latest film, “We Are Your Friends”. 

Efron plays Cole Carter, a struggling DJ who spends his nights working on a track that could get the world pumped up and may lead him to an illustrious career.  In the movie trailer, Carter calls it the DJ’s job “to get the crowd out of their heads and into their bodies”.  He further reveals, “I like to start them off at 125 beats per minute...and start bringing them up, song by song.”   This is how he catches the attention of a charismatic but damaged older DJ named James (Wes Bentley of “The Hunger Games”) who takes him under his wing.  But it turns out that love for music is not the only thing they have in common as Cole falls in love with James’ girlfriend Sophie (Emily Ratajkowski of “Gone Girl”).  Now, Cole must choose between love, loyalty, and the future he’s always longed for.

To make sure that Efron is convincing as a DJ, the actor was mentored by no less than DJ Alesso, who started to gain popularity in 2012, prompting pop icon Madonna to call him “the next big thing in dance music”.  In 2014, DJ Alesso ranked 15th on DJ Magazine’s list of Top 100 DJs. Hard work is an important aspect of this film, and Efron did just that in his lessons with Alesso.  The latter revealed in an interview that Efron trained with him *twice or thrice a week for three months before filming began.  Sometimes, the actor would even visit Alesso’s gigs to see what it’s like in the booth.  There were even times when Alesso would allow Efron to hit the turntable, to the amazement of the people in the club.

“We Are Your Friends” marks Max Joseph’s (MTV’s “Catfish: The TV Show”) feature film directorial debut.  To capture the EDM craze at its purest, Joseph and everyone involved in the film actually threw a block party music festival in Downtown L.A. called “Summerfest”.  *“We invited everyone to come for free, and all they had to do was RSVP.  They came and we had a blast.”  

We Are Your Friends: Music From The Original Motion Picture is out now via MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines).