SUPERB! World-class! Impressive! Fantastic!
These were the admiring words uttered by the theatergoers who trooped to the Holy Angel University Theater in Angeles City last Friday for the matinee presentation of the Pampango-produced stage musical “I Love (expressed in the symbol of a heart) Pope Francis – The Musicale” - in English.
Even the members of the Capampangan in Media, Inc. (CAMI), who were invited to the show by the production’s creator and director, Andy Alviz, were awed by what they described as a top-notch musical on the life of Pope Francis that has the potentials of becoming a blockbuster not only in the Philippines but overseas, as well, not only because of its global appeal but how it was carried out by the mostly amateur (volunteer) thespians of Pampanga.
Even the crowd that attended its maiden staging on November 29 at the same venue was wowed by the theme, and the 24 original songs of the musical, as well as the flawless performance of the cast, a mixture of mature and young actors, with two actors barely in their teens, despite minor technical glitches such as the awful sound system.
The production touched on the life of the Pope, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, from his young days in Argentina, where he even worked as a bouncer before entering the priesthood, to the time when he became known as a bishop of the street for identifying with the poor to his rise to the papacy, and the Filipinos’ “joyful” anticipation for his visit to the county (named San Felipe in the play) in January next year.
It was this essence – the character of the Pope, the circumstances of his rise to the Vatican hierarchy and the “surprising” manner by which he’s carrying out his job as a leader of the more than a billion Catholics in the world, and the people’s positive reaction to all he what he says and does - that this stage production captured vividly, which explains the audience’s ecstatic reaction to the musical.
In fact, this excited air of anticipation, even before the doors to the theater were opened to let the crowd in, was clearly felt among the prospective Pampango audience, many of whom may have been told of the “happy experience” by those that watched the musical’s maiden staging on November 29.
That “happy experience” felt by those who have viewed the musical may be attributed to the seamless progression of the play scene after scene, marked by the interplay of humor, wit and kindness.
It was obvious, especially during the early scenes of the musical’s first part, those in the audience were so enthralled by what they’re viewing they were, initially, at a lost on how to react: whether to applause or not at the end of each scene, laugh loudly at the witty repartee, or even respond to the call for public participation in one part of the play.
But it did not take long for the crowd to catch on and let their hair down, so to speak, in expressing their feelings throughout the play that, not surprisingly, they gave the musical and the actors a rousing standing ovation.
They, too, obviously had the “happy experience” felt by those who watched the musical earlier.
More than this, last Friday’s crowd apparently felt proud that an all-Filipino group, made up mostly of amateur thespians consisting of students, a priest, lay leaders and society matrons, could produce such a musical that could equal those that have been churned out on Broadway in the US or even London and other theater capitals in the world.
“It definitely is an experience to watch this musical on Pope Francis, and everyone in this country, must see it, and will definitely fall in love with it” one media observer quipped.
Of course, this is not surprising considering that the men and women behind it is led by Alviz, who honed his craft in theater production during his long stint as resident choreographer of the popular Miss Saigon, a musical dominated by Filipino talents, like Lea Salonga.
Alviz had earlier told CAMI members that he collaborated the musical with writer-lyricist Randy del Rosario under the aegis of Teatru Kapampangan.
The duo was also behind the highly-acclaimed musicals, like Ima, Beauty Parlor, Perry the Musical, Ciniong and Tulaok: A Lenten Musical, produced for the Pampango cultural group ArtiSta.
Last Friday night was the gala presentation of “I Love Pope Francis”. This will be followed by another run on January 10, 2015, also at the HAU Theater.
Alviz said plans are now being worked out for the musical’s presentation at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) next year, in cooperation with Rotary International.
Bookings are also now being arranged for the musical’s run next year in Cebu, Iloilo and other key cities in the country and, hopefully, in London and finally, Rome, Alviz said.
Part of the proceeds of the musical’s presentation will go to Teatru Kapampangan’s beneficiary – the AeTahanan, a dormitory in Sta. Rita that houses Aetas taking up college. (Ernesto Y. Tolentino)