live. laugh. love.

This is so late, mostly because I only found the time today to actually sit down and write it. Thank God for days off! I couldn't let this experiece pass without commemorating it somehow, and this is my meagre contribution to all the praise and raving that blueREP's bare is no doubt receiving from all over.

If you're really sensitive about it, I guess there are spoilers in this review. Nothing that isn't in the musical's Wikipedia page, but I mention some small things that are specific to this particular production. All pictures are taken by Jorja Hung, from this gallery.


***


I only really got into musical theatre a couple of years ago, and only started being aware of/watching local productions in 2008. bare marks the first that I've seen live after having already seen a video bootleg and listened to the studio recording more times than I can count. I was hesitant because I knew I'd have certain expectations because of my previous exposure to the material, and it will almost definitely get in the way of my appreciation for this production. I was wrong. Cliche as it sounds, all the fears and expectations went away just as the cast started singing the opening number.




The ensemble kicked so much ass from "Epiphany" on. Their harmonies were so beautiful, and it was so nice to hear them hitting those chords so consistently. I loved "Auditions", and "No Voice" was like an orgasm for the ears. They all kicked ass in their little roles - Mael's and my personal favorite was The Dork, closely followed by Lucas. The horror on his face after "A Glooming Peace" will stick with me forever. Just... so well done. I also loved Sister Chantelle and her angels! I'd been wondering who was going to play the sassy and belting black woman (I didn't look at the cast list past Oli del Rosario - sorry, biased!), and it was a hilarious surprise to see that it was a man! Hee. Orange Sanchez was everything I ever wanted with his fierce voice, his sass, and his obvious sympathy for Peter ("God Don't Make No Trash" was so nice, to see Peter getting heartfelt advice from a person he respects). Again, spot-on perfect.

Speaking of the adults: RJ Camangon as Father had a solid voice, and reminded me so much of Pisay's Father Mon. Heh. I felt so much for him when he was trying to console Peter in "Absolution". Jenny Jamora as Claire was so perfect. From Peter's first phone call to her, to "See Me" and the heartbreaking "Warning" (where I started to shake and cry) - she was a great mix of supportive, hesitant, scared, and in the end redeemed. The two of them added so many layers to the whole story, made it so much more than this group of rebellious kids, made it all the more real and devastating.




The first thing I noticed about Bym Buhain (Matt) was he was incredibly cute. Heh. That's definitely a plus when you're watching a 2+ hour show. :P In all seriousness though, I never had too much sympathy for Matt until I saw this interpretation. I guess a part of me has always been frustrated at his hero-worship of Ivy, but how Bym played it showed that he doesn't just want Ivy for her looks or her body, or what she could give him. He may just be the only person who really sees her, and could maybe even love her for it. I could not get mad at him for outing Jason, because I cannot believe that he would do that just for spite. I loved his little moment with Jason before the play began, and was so heartbroken for him in "One Voice". Just... so, so, wonderfully played. I think it would be easy to make Matt a one-dimensional puppy dog asshole, but it didn't turn out that way. "Are You There?" has never been so emotional for me. Cassie Manalastas as Nadia was born for that role. What a glorious voice, and had a subtle mix of insecurity, cynicism, strength and love for her brother. I'd never been so happy to listen to "A Quiet Night At Home", and cried so hard at her part in "One Voice". So tragic and heartbreaking.




Speaking of Ivy - when I first saw that one of my CSA Grade School batchmates was one of two girls cast in the role, I always intented to see her in it. The stars aligned, and my friends and I were able to see the show on a night that she was Ivy. AND OH, MY GOD. Oli del Rosario. She was an absolute goddess, hands-down the most perfect person on that stage. Her Ivy was leagues above and beyond what I thought could be done with the role. She was such a hilarious bitch, so full of energy, so confident yet vulnerable, and in the end heartbroken and confused... all the emotions were right there in her eyes, her face, and in her voice. I felt so much for her during "Touch My Soul", and Oli standing there belting the shit out of "All Grown Up" was the most goosebump-y, kickass thing I have seen/heard IN YEARS. Mael and I were nudging each other and freaking out in our seats. Oh, my God talaga. OLIIIIIIII. Ang galing galing mo. As in. Idol kita!!! You are going to be a huge star one day, and I will always be proud to say that I've known you since we were kids. I'm hoping I can clear my schedule enough to go and see the show again, just for you.




And we get to the two main leads: Peter and Jason. Oh, these two. Amos Francia (Jason) is so incredibly good-looking and he knows it. Haha. :P It worked so well for his character, and though I personally thought that he was a little too much one-note asshole through the first act (almost made it seem like he was just messing around with Peter), he completely redeemed himself at the end of "Touch My Soul". It was all there in his face when he was telling Ivy that he had felt that way before -- you could see that it was all about Peter. I never saw that realization from John Hill, and of course never got that out of the recording, so it just floored me. Suddenly Jason's turn-around in Act 2 made so much more sense. Amos played it so subtly but so powerfully, and I was moved beyond words. I really wish that they had the confessional booth for him to use in "Cross", just because I selfishly wanted to see how he would play the physical part of Jason's anguish. But despite just kneeling on a tiny pew, he poured his heart and soul into it, and I cried and cried and cried and cried. Oh, man. Jason has always been such a tragic character to me, and listening to Amos (with his beautiful, beautiful voice) lay all his cards on the table in "Bare" just broke my heart. He made me believe that he actually, genuinely loves Peter, that he just wants them to be together. That's why all of this is just SO SAD. Nobody gets anything they want, and every character, down to the last school kid, is devastated and broken by the end.




When I read reviews of other productions of bare in the States, many of them find Peter (as a character) too whiny and too demanding to be sympathetic. That's innate in the material and I think that's one thing that could definitely be fine-tuned/re-written, but Bibo Reyes's Peter did not have that problem. At all. He was so much the center of the show, carried it very capably on his shoulders, and I could not believe it when I read that (1) he was just a freshman, and (2) that he had never been in any theatre production ever. His voice was to die for, and his range of emotion was so spot-on throughout the whole story. He was so raw and honest about his love for Jason, about his wanting to be honest with himself and the world, about his need to be accepted by his mother. He had such vulnerability and strength at the same time. He was amazing throughout the entire show, but he especially shone near the end. Mael and I are completely in love with his "Absolution". GUHHHH. It was just the most perfect portrayal -- again, everything I never thought I would get out of anyone performing that song. Just thinking about it gives me chills, it was out of this world PERFECTION. I seriously will hold that in my heart forever. I can't even listen to any other "Absolution", because it will be absolute crap when compared to Bibo's. This is why live theatre is so beautiful to me. You get these absolutely beautiful, unique moments that you will probably never see again.

GAH. The whole show was so spot-on perfect. The staging, the choreography, the music, the lights. The intimate setting made the story hit so much closer to home. There's nothing like seeing it live, and now I am even more in love with the material than ever.


***


I tried not to gush too much, but obviously it didn't work. :P You get a virtual cookie from me if you read the whole thing! I just... I love this show and this production SO MUCH. I couldn't hold back. It deserves every word of praise that it's getting, and needs ten thousand times more attention. YOU GUYS. PLEASE GO AND SEE THIS SHOW. It breaks my heart to think that many of you will never understand what I'm talking about when I say that it's one of the most beautiful things I will ever see in my life.

Please, please, please! Even if you don't have it, please make the time to go to the 3rd floor of Gonzaga Hall in Ateneo at 8pm, from February 24-28. You will forget about the Php200 that you will spend, because it is so incredibly worth it. PLEASE. I think you all know that I don't gush like this about just anything. There are no words for how badly I want as many people as possible to see this. Don't let the fact that it's a musical turn you off - the music is almost contemporary and so gorgeous, and the cast absolutely does it justice. Don't let the storyline turn you off - open your mind, go and see it, I promise it will blow you away. The close to 3 hours you will spend in that theatre will change you forever.

I remember being so floored and happy that this show was being staged in this country, and I could not be happier that blueREP did it. So, so, so well done. Thank you for giving me this experience I will never forget.

In a world that's quick to judge
I will try to understand
It's so hard to find your way
When you have no voice to guide you

(Cross-posted from my LJ.)