No Day but Today...to Watch RENT

As Jonathan Larson described the play in a one-sentence summary, “RENT is about a community celebrating life, in the face of death and AIDS, at the turn of the century." It is about how a group of friends, dealing with drug problems and AIDS affliction, had to cope with the complications that came with the life they have. It is also about loving and fulfilling dreams and seizing the moment amidst chaos.

I’ve watched 9Works Theatrical’s initial staging of RENT last 2009 and I have yet to watch the movie version, but RENT 2011 has something new to offer: new cast members and new surprise moves (pole dancing) that came with better acting and singing performances.

RENT COUPLES: Roger & Mimi (left) Angel and Tom (right)

Gian Magdangal still plays Roger (with alternate Al Gatmaitan), a once successful but now struggling musician who, from the tragic suicide of his last girlfriend, fell in love with fellow AIDS victim Mimi; Fred Lo takes up the role of Mark again, Roger’s housemate and a not-so less fortunate young man who chose to live the Bohemian life to pursue his dreams of becoming a documentary filmmaker and was left by his girlfriend Maureen for a woman; Mimi, the drug dependent club dancer, formerly essayed by General Luna’s vocalist Nicole Asensio and alternate Cara Barredo, is now played by Gian’s real life partner Sheree Bautista (Viva Hot Babes) alternating with Ciara Sotto.

"La Vie Boheme"

Because of stage chemistry and their emotion-filled rendition of “I’ll Cover You,” Job Bautista and OJ Mariano are back again as Angel Dummott Schunard (a young drag queen) and Tom Collins (Angel’s love interest), respectively; performance artist/activist Maureen Johnson is again played by Carla Guevara-Laforteza who alternates with the youngest but equally talented cast member, Mian Dimacali; Jenny Villegas as Joanne Jefferson, a lawyer and Maureen’s lover; and Lorenz Martinez as Benjamin Coffin III, former roommate of Mark and Roger turned building’s landlord, who wants to turn it into a multimedia studio, complete the major characters.

The rest of the ensemble is composed of Peachy Atilano, Harold Cruz, Johann dela Fuente, Pam Imperial, Gary Junsay, Anna Santamaria, Alys Serdenia and Mark Tayag.

The cast gamely poses after their performance at the press preview.

So what did I look forward to on my second time to watch RENT? I was intrigued about the pole-dancing component in the choreography of the song “Out Tonight” and was anticipating to see Ciara Sotto play Mimi but it was Sheree Bautista who was on stage the night I watched. I got to say that she did pretty well, owing to the fact that she only started to learn pole dancing in January and has had only three lessons before opening night. What I didn’t expect was for Job Bautista, as Angel, to do some pole stunts as well, this despite the fact that he can leap and bound tables with grace and balance on high heels. Of course, what is RENT without the inspiring "No Day But Today" and the heart-warming “Seasons of Love?”

Girls just wanna have fun... from watching RENT.

What are you waiting for? Catch RENT at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater at RCBC Plaza, Makati, on the remaining show dates on February 25, 26, 27, and March 4, 5 & 6, 2011. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8:00 p.m., with 3:30 p.m. matinee show on Saturdays and 4:30 p.m. matinee show on Sundays. For more details and ticket information, visit www.9workstheatrical.com.

Thanks to 9Works and JOT for the opportunity. Thanks to sis Marj for lending me the cam for the pics.

Of Mothers and Daughters

I saw the film way back and have yet to read the book so I was excited to watch Repertory Philippines’ staging of Amy Tan’s best-selling novel The Joy Luck Club when I first learned about it early last month in a partnership meeting with Rep. I know that it was an intricate story of four Chinese women who migrated to the United States and their relationship with their four American-born daughters but I wondered how the play would unfold their individual stories complete with flashbacks of their lives in China.

When I arrived at the Greenbelt OnStage theater, I saw a square platform in the center of the stage with several smaller wooden blocks. The platform I recognized as the same one from Equus but the rest of the pieces intrigued me. Soon enough, the platform became a house, then a dinning table then a mah jong table…talk about multitasking. The smaller wooden blocks became chairs that were moved around, depending on the required set and then was later used as the mah jong tiles towards the end. But am already jumping in my story.

When the play started and as the story progressed, I went down memory lane and was refreshed of the tale of these four Chinese women who bonded over playing mah jong thus forming The Joy Luck Club. The portrayals of Rebecca Chuaunsu, Jay Glorioso, Frances Makil Ignacio and Pinky Marquez as the mothers; and Ana Abad Santos, Lily Chu, Jenny Jamora and Cris Villonco as the daughters were equally brilliant and they established the right emotions to depict the complexity of their situations. Each tandem got their spotlight and the flashbacks were smoothly weaved into the storyline, with the mothers portraying their own younger selves. The audience laughed at the light, funny scenes and got teary-eyed at sad and endearing moments.

Each pair of mother and daughter illustrated how we, as children, can sometimes be so engrossed with our own lives that we do not take the time to really know who our mothers were, the women they once were, before we were born. This is the reason why most often than not, mothers and daughters (and sons, too) clash and us children would always think that they just want to push us around and do what they want. This realization got me thinking…even I never took the time to ask my mom how she was when she was little, how she was as a student, and what her hobbies were, among others.

Okay, enough of my musings. Just go and watch The Joy Luck Club, Repertory Philippines’ initial offering for 2011. It doesn’t hurt, too, that it coincides with the Chinese New Year season. Directed by Anton Juan, the show runs from February 4 to 20, 2011 at OnStage, Greenbelt. For ticket inquiries and other information, call Repertory Philippines at 571-6926 and 571-4941 or email info@repertory-philippines.com. Tickets also available at Ticketworld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Photos from Repertory Philippines