The cast of Chuva Choo Choo: The Mr. Kupido Musicale with composer Vehnee Saturno and director George de Jesus |
Productions involving popular and
well-loved songs by one composer or performer gathered and strung together to
make a stage musical have proven to be enjoyable and well-liked. Of course, the
songs in question should have been a monumental part of popular culture. The
songs of Swedish pop group Abba, made into the musical Mamma Mia! in
1999, was then turned into a movie in 2008 and has been staged in the Philippines recently.
In the Philippines , the most famous
jukebox musical of late is the Philippine Educational Theater Association’s Rak
of Aegis, using the songs of pop-rock band Aegis. The musical has been so
successful it has had several runs already.
Sensing the likability of such genre, Stages Production
Specialist Inc. came up with Chuva Choo Choo: The Mr. Kupido Musicale,
featuring the popular songs of Vehnee Saturno, one of the most popular and
recognizable pop composers today with a long string of hits for some of the
country’s biggest singers.
The multi-awarded composer is known for songs such as “Be My
Lady” (originally performed by Martin Nievera), “Sana Kahit Minsan” and
“Simple Lang” (Ariel Rivera), “Isang Lahi” (Regine Velasquez),
“Mr. Kupido” (Rachel Alejandro), “Bakit Pa ?” (Jessa
Zaragoza), “Wala na Bang Pag-ibig?” and “Dahil Tanging Ikaw”
(Jaya) and “Forever’s Not Enough” (Sarah Geronimo).
The first four shows of Chuva Choo Choo were staged on
Sept. 25, 26 and 27, inaugurating the new Power Mac Center Spotlight at the
still-in-construction, 22-hectare property Circuit Makati in Carmona, Makati
City.
The musical coincides with the 35th year anniversary of
Saturno in the industry. The composer said that it has been a dream of his to
have a stage musical. In the past years, he had been in talks with several
producers, but nothing came into fruition. Two years ago, theater actor and
singer Audie Gemora came up with idea of staging a production inspired by the
film Connie and Carla. At the same time, they were looking through the
songs of Saturno. Two project ideas fused into one.
Palanca award-winning playwright and actor George de Jesus
III wrought a musical out of Saturno songs heavily inspired by Nia Vardalos and
Michael Lemberck’s 2004 movie. In Chuva Choo Choo, the two main
characters become sisters Dina and Darla (played by Joanna Ampil and Morisette
Amon, respectively) in a small town in Pangasinan. They are joined by their gay
friend Nenita (Ross Pesigan), who acts as their fan, choreographer and
sidekick, in the two’s forays in amateur singing contests. In one contest where
they lose, they overhear one of the judges, Mayor T (Juliene Mendoza) in an
altercation with the contest organizer. The three hear a gunshot and quickly
conclude that a murder had been committed. They flee, fearing for their life,
with Tonton (Jojo Riguerra), the mayor’s bodyguard and Dina’s ex-boyfriend, in
pursuit.
They go to Manila and stay with
Nenita’s relatives. Tonton catches up with them and they flee again. Nenita
eventually meets Zsazsa (Mendoza), an entertainment manager at Mr. Kupido Bar.
This leads to Dina and Darla disguising and performing as gay impersonators at
the bar under the names Jessa and Jaya. Impressed with their voices, Zsazsa,
together with Lani (Ron Alfonso), a former entertainer in Japan and an
impersonator at the bar, and Regine (Jay Marquez), who is always in love with a
macho dancer, hope they will bring in customers to their failing bar.
In one of their performances, Anne (Via Antonio), a host and
talent scout, invites Jessa and Jaya to audition for the newest TV talent
reality show Pinoy Got Boses (PGB). Eventually, Jessa and Jaya become a
hit and make it to the grand finals.
Jessa/Darla falls for handsome and hunky Zandro (Edward
Benosa), Zsazsa’s straight younger brother. Zandro, however, dismisses Darla,
thinking she’s gay. Jessa yearns to reveal her true identity. On the other
hand, Tonton drops by one night at the bar and is smitten by Jaya mainly
because of her resemblance to Dina. Dina tries to ward off Tonton’s advances.
Nenita is in battle with
Lani
and Regine for creative control of Dina and Darla’s production numbers,
creating tension in the group. The play culminates in the grand finals of PGB,
where their identities are revealed.
Because of its adaptation of Connie and Carla, Chuva
Choo Choo is afflicted with same flaws of the movie, including
predictability and trite premises. Aside from situating the movie in the Philippines , Chuva Choo
Choo does not give a fresh twist to the Connie and Carla story.
Crafty, though, is how the songs of Saturno are incorporated into the play,
woven almost seamlessly into the story. As the songs are mostly about love and
relationships, these parts of the play are the ones pregnant with music and
singing. Fortunately, the story involves stage performances, the characters
being performers, and Chuva Choo Choo has enjoyable musical showcases.
Aside from the music, what makes Chuva Choo Choo a fun
watch is its comedy, crisp and relatable. It may start a bit slow, but it
becomes uproarious upon the entrance of Zsazsa and company. Its comedy heavily
draws from pop culture, especially from amateur singing contest conventions,
and Filipino gay camp and culture. Adding to its comedic techniques is its
being self-aware. Every now and then, the play points to its being a play, an
artifice. Set changes can be witnessed and sometimes called to the audience’s
attention. Stage hands sometimes become part of the scene.
The effectiveness of Chuva Choo Choo’s comedy is due
to its very able actors, who seem to make the scenes effortless and deliver
their lines well-timed. Antonio is applauded for her multiple roles, from
Nenita’s aunt to a contest host.
Despite dressed heavily in gay camp, the story is basically
about romantic love and about straight people. In one of the final scenes,
Darla is revealed to be biologically a girl, and Zandro, who constantly has
warded off Darla’s affections, suddenly professes love. In one short swoop,
this encapsulates how many regard the LGBT. But it must be noted also that
Tonton is smitten with Dina despite being perceived as gay.
Still, Chuva Choo Choo is thoroughly a fun watch, and
can be likened to the pop songs it is riddled with—enjoyable and familiar without
being provocative.
The first four stagings of the musical were a way to test its
viability. Producer Alvin Trono said they are trying out a new business model
for theater productions in which they mount a limited run first before the
regular run to gauge audience reception.
Chuva Choo Choo: The Mr. Kupido Musicale’s regular run
is set for January 2016, still at the new Power Mac Center Spotlight, a
300-seater black box theater. The multi-purpose venue with flexible seating
set-up and lights and sound system is patterned to compliment interactive
performances.
“Chuva
Choo Choo is a comedy musical that is relatable to audiences of all ages
through Vehnee’s songs. And we thought that the Power Mac Center Spotlight,
being the newest theater venue in the metro, would be the perfect venue to
bring the show closer to more people,” shared Trono.
For ticket inquiries, call Cheng Pimentel of
Stages Production Specialist Inc. at mobile phone number 0917-8596544.
Hunky Edward Benosa |
Nenita (Pesigan) shows his choreography and concept for Dina and Darla’s grand final performance |
Dina (Ampil) and Darla (Amon) sing with Zsazsa (Mendoza), Lani (Alfonso) and Regine (Marquez) |
Tonton meets Jaya |
A fantasy number of Jessa/Darla |
Tonton (Riguerra) is immediately smitten by Dina and doesn’t know the impersonator is really his former girlfriend |
The Chuva Choo Choo cast having a selfie with special guest Rachel Alejandro |
Roel Hoang Manipon with Saturno |
Photos by Roel Hoang Manipon
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