It was a sunny Sunday and what I
thought would be a lazy day turned into a surprisingly active and beautifully
haunting at the same time. Got the
invite mid-morning, show is mid-afternoon and in between would be my travel
time and other menial task that needs to be done before lunch time. So I arrived ahead of the advised time to be
there and took the moment to have a cup of coffee from your friendly 24//7 –in
nearly every corner convenience store.
Show time.
The show started with what you
would consider a gulpe-de-gulat
scene, something that would catch the attention of attendees and keep them
glued to find out what it is all about. From
there, the story unfolded and characters pivotal and riveting were then
presented to all - to know, understand and appreciate.
The musical started to be simply
charming then it shifted from being your usual drama to something with a depth
that touches all who have been there in the past. It was like a bell tolling that only you can
hear yet in the aftermath of it, all has something to share and relate despite
the difference in how we all heard the bell of memory. That was Passion
talking, whispering to us, blowing in the wind; reminding us of how we were
when driven by a force so strong that you simply have to do what it ask of you.
“Will you stop this obsession?” – Giorgio; Passion
Scene after scene the story was
told. Songs sung and instruments played.
In the end it is the spoken lines matched with a lingering tune that
remains in us, haunting us of the past that is part of who we are. You are who you are. Your past, present and
future rolled together creating an ever evolving you. What does it take to show the present you?
Is it creation? Is it the breaking of the old mold? Such was the flight
of Giorgio – a man used to what he thinks is norm until he is offered with
something beyond, yet within his core of being.
“They hear drums, we hear music.”
- Fosca; Passion
When you are running out of time,
what do you do? Do simply rush into
things? Do you savor each moment and
simply let things slide? Do you take a
leap of faith and believe in what you think is true based on initial
judgment? When finding a similar soul
sleeping in another’s body, how would you react? Do you let them be or wake them to reality? Would you be happy with what you now have or
yearn for what is there shown in your reach?
Are you willing to be a fool as seen by others? Will you do all for someone? All this questions are raised and answered by
Lady Fosca – a woman who has more to give till the end of time.
“Will you wait for
me?” – Clara;Passion
Will you be like a thief in the
night, using the darkness as a shroud to hide your being? Are you the type to bid time? Do you have a soul that learned how to act
carefree yet is bounded by fate? When do
you know it is over? A person that is
smiling outside yet crying inside at the same time is a person who will be
jaded in time (my opinion), unless
something worth holding on is freely and truly given. Snatching a moment in time can be a treasure
or simply a fleeting memory in life.
Will you be a dame acting like a damsel or a damsel being a dame? Whatever it may be, Clara is there in you
somehow, some way.
Passion is not just a
love story of three (3) individuals but a mirror showing us, reminding us of
how it is when truly driven to do things.
To catch a moment and make it a lifetime. To have a taste of the best despite odds
presented. To know the value of what you
have to what is offered. To simply have
what you desire – fleeting or for a lifetime it matters not as long as it is
yours and only yours. Who broke the
mold? Who stayed bounded? Who yearned freedom? Fosca – Giorgio – Clara will answer those
questions and show to you the difference between passion and desire. This is a musical of Memory. Why? For it will
take us back in time when we were young, driven and still searching for what we
thought we want in life. Actually, age
matters not in this case. It is the
yearning that we see that echoes in our own yearning.
Despite the small technical
issues that I noted (the lights suddenly
coming into play in some scenes without a gradual blend. There is what we call fading in right?) and
some lines slightly delivered unclearly by some characters (Thank God it was not a fault made by any of the leads!) the
musical is a success in its staging.
Robbie Guevarra was sure in his directions that it was a clear
no-nonsense type of staging. Even the
pacing set was true to his intent of delivering simply what is needed to be
made. The actors were made responsible
for their props (actors carrying their
own cups and saucers on and off stage) that kept things smooth in the eyes
of the viewer and even smoother backstage.
The costumes were note worthy indeed for it also helped in the delivery
of characters (the colors of Fosca
dresses were so her – brown, gray, black, deep green, red. The styling of Clara’s dresses was thought
well and executed to near resemblance of that period- nakakaloka lang ang
costume changes ni Clara). Set was
made simple yet effective in helping visualize a scene. I love the wheels! J
Did I like the actors? At the end yes, from the moment they stepped
on stage neither a yes nor a no. I
didn’t like the opening delivery of Giorgio but Vien King got me when his own
brand of passion showed. His fire is
like a scent of a flower that slowly gets into your system. Next thing you knew, you are already fixed on
him. She who portrayed Clara is like a
bird chirping on a sunny day whenever she sings. Clear high notes and elegance,
born and delivered a lady character of the city on stage. I would like to commend Shiela Valderama on
her interpretation of Fosca! Fosca is a
character physically weak yet driven within.
The posture she maintained the moment she stepped on stage for all to
see is not one advisable to one who needs to sing yet Shiela sung all her songs
clearly and beautifully. Brava! Bravo!
### ### ###
End of show was the moment to
hear all reactions of people coming out of the theater and have photo
opportunity with people in the industry.
People were smiling and talking about Fosca and Giorgio. Amid it all, I find myself humming a bar or
so of melody from the musical that Stephen Sondheim has created. That is why I call it hauntingly beautiful –
it gets us in moment unclear yet clear at the same time.
“Love is . . .”
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