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Thursday, April 22, 2004
The value of front acts: a varied menu of style, vocal qualities, repertoire and showmanship
By Roger Serna
Sounds & images
Body and Sole proprietor Johnie Lim loves to refer to Cebuano character actress Chanda Romero, the massage parlor and spa’s celebrity endorser, as the outfit’s “lucky charm.” Since its inception 11 months back (the outfit is set to celebrate its first anniversary mid of May this year), franchise branches have sprouted in different parts of the city as well as in neighboring cities of Lapu-Lapu and Dumaguete.
Lately, another one was formally inaugurated in Masbate and still another one located at the Gaisano Fiesta Mall in Tabunok, Talisay city, will have its doors formally opened this Saturday.
As this columnist had mentioned some issues back, Chanda will be in a US tour for the stage adaptation of The Vagina Monologues (together with fellow award-winning character actresses Gina Alajar and Amy Austria).
With this development, Johnie was in a sort of a dilemma as to who will be its celebrity guest in the Tabunok branch blessing. One alternative is 2004 Bb. Pilipinas-World Karla Bautista, a Cebuana herself, but her appearance will depend on many factors with her schedule on top of the list.
As to who will finally do the ribbon-cutting together with other special guests, the question will be finally known on the opening day itself. Keep posted.
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A front act is indeed an integral part of a main star’s show. If a main act is blessed with a performer who has a good voice, excellent showmanship, a strong following and everything, one might think that he or she doesn’t anymore need front acts in a show.
That is not the case, however. In many solo concerts, front acts or guests always play important roles. For one, they add glitter to the show. Another, they whet up the appetite of the audience, not to mention that of affording the main artists the opportunity to change costumes or to take a breather.
In the case of the well-attended Easter Sunday concert of fast-rising Cebuano diva Sheryn Regis in Madridejos in the island of Bantayan, the list of artists who did the front act was composed of promising Cebuano performers as well.
Consider this line-up: Zennith Rivera (the other half of the Cebuano duo that grabbed the grand prize in the Taiwan international songfest late last year together with Rochelle Vega), Dexter Santos (a fave focalist of some local bands), Shana Siap (a former GMA 7 Rainbow Princess title-holder some years back who has metamorphosed into an effective stage actress and singer), Janice Honorides (female vocalist of a popular Cebu group that specializes in oldies but goldies songs), April Pincess Mansueto (another fave vocalist of local bands whose appearance in Kadaugan sa Mactan musicale two years ago as Bulakna was a delight) and her sister Anne Marsha (whom April fondly calls as her first music teacher), and upcoming performer Lorenzo Angelo Evangelio in his debut performance.
The front acts did give the audience a varied menu of style, vocal qualities, repertoire and showmanship. They also provided contrasts and complements to the quality of the performance of the main act.
For those who really had to sacrifice a few pesos intended for more vital expenditures just to watch an activity that somehow drives away monotony from a routine rural existence, the performance by the front acts more than compensated the ticket price as a spectator seated nearby excitedly exclaimed.
Performance-wise, there was nothing negative that could possibly be thrown at the front acts from the audience. However, utmost care had to be exercised in the choice of songs for some, though beautiful, upbeat and currently top the hits chart, may not quite be the ones that the audience can easily relate to and appreciate.
All in all, the performance of the aforementioned artists did contribute a lot to the success in the show. Take a bow, folks!
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A radio commercial of a detergent powder that boasts of its aloe vera content is often mistaken, not as one it is intended for, but that of a telecommunications company. In addition, this columnist doesn’t find any sense at all in the dialogue.
While it may be true that it has a memory recall (because of its mediocrity?), the commercial never fails to turn me off every time it comes on air. Whew!
(April 22, 2004 issue)
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