CHINESE AS IT SEEMS, THE HEART STILL SEES (a rave review for the musical play "Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical")...

What happens when the heart stopped beating? Does it dry up, like a raisin the sun? Or does it succumb into the wells of nothingness- finding its way out amidst the darkness?

What happens when two souls who loved each other so deeply got separated by the vast eternity? Would they find the way back, or hold-on to the memories of an untarnished past?

What happens when the future becomes today? And as the heart spoke of love, as if nothing as it seemed, the soul would vanish and the tears went flowing.

Because,

Chinese as it seemed, the heart still saw

FOREVER.

***

In a splendid showcase of songs, dances, revealing moves and feelings- once more, the sincere hearts of Chinese people who lived and died in the very heart of a place inside the city of Manila- and that is, Binondo- were justified.

They were not strangers, by the way, because they were friends who became loyal and strong. In every ordinary pictures of so many Filipinos- they stayed and they helped. They guided and they waited. They went back and made reassurances of love and ETERNITY.

A blogger and a writer suddenly remembered, he had friends who were Chinese, too. Chinese friends who helped him along the way, and related somehow to the plot and the perfect vision of the musical play BINONDO: A TSINOY MUSICAL.

As the tears almost flowed, in many of the most provocative scenes of the musical play- you would feel a HEART stronger than the gravity of an infinite universe, more powerful than Faith and most enduring in all kinds of loves and affections.

And again, the blogger and the writer remembered his late father who passed-away. How his dad loved the song The Moon Represents My Heart, and how he felt sorry that he's gone now. Just like the moon that sometimes would hide-away amidst the compelling darkness of nervousness and fright.

In the most dramatic scene of the play- in which, the mother of the lead character named Lily died, the tears eventually flowed- and the musical play had proven its worthy cause and crusade for love.

In that very scene, the Artistry of this great musical play was fully quenched- as the Cast Ensemble danced and moved from the right side, wearing black outfits like black cats of dark superstitions and impending tragedy for love.

The Harlequin ego-trippers who danced, narrated, intrigued and sang songs of love and mystique- six of them as you would count, were all perfect in their unique participation. And these were ‘named’ good theater actors who covered their faces with make-up and joker-like nuances- among them were Tuesday Vargas, Lorenz Martinez and Jim Pebanco. They all exuded a perfect melody.

What could be better than the great, colorful backdrop of a Lily flower shadow who appeared like a smoke on the backdrop as the play started. It was colorful and magnificent to the eye. And it revealed a hidden message of an outstanding theatrical presentation out to come. Kudos to Otto Hernandez.

JN Nombres' lights provided the much-needed dramatic effect, which was subtle and concise. It never underestimated, as it flowed with the rhythm and the music.

And how could we forget the songs? Aside from "The Moon That Represents My Heart" which was used not as a part of the playlist, but as an integral part of the story- songs like "Kung Sino Nga Bang Una ay Siya Ring Huli", "Masdan Ang Hugis Ng Buwan" (the opening song number), and "Minamahal Kong Lily"- were all-too powerful, versatile, brave. Mr. Von de Guzman (the composer of songs) unassumingly heralded the springs of nature.

Mr. Gershom Chua, Mr. Eljay Castro Deldoc and Mr. Ricky Lee- the playwrights- did a good job of putting-up tearful words which all came from their hearts and united in form and shapes- BINONDO: A TSINOY MUSICAL , again, achieved its true purpose-

that, of winning you through words and capturing your hidden desires of the heart.

****

When the movements and the very strong and graceful dances overpowered all might and just, you surely saw PERFECTION. Without the very bold Choreography of one great Douglas Nierras, somewhow you would think- "Will the show ever be the same again?"

Questions like that would challenge your mind. But an unforgettable theater production like this- with a sincere will of dedication and honest intentions celebrate in unison and perfect "tandems". Without the other, it could die.

***

You almost saw real life as the characters of this play acted. You would feel how they greatly loved it or, them.

Noel Rayos as Carlos. Mariella Laurel as Jasmine. Ashley Factor as Ruby.

Arman Ferrer as Ah-Tiong.
Shiela Valderrama-Martinez as Lily.

Along with the whole cast ensemble that added gloss and mammoth-like anticipations-,

In perfect timings and intense delivery of emotions- yeah, again we'd say, the characters went fully alive. Like souls that transpired in the surprising offerings of a night-

They all made you cry. They all made you SAW-

THAT, FOREVER SOMEHOW EXISTED-

and dreamt.

***

A vision with so much comprehension.

 An artful  delivery with a heart and a lingering feeling. How he handled and how he held it via his hand-

How he united these people in fully achieving a dream

How he transformed a story into one great delight and embracing spirit via a hidden wind-

the director of BINONDO: A TSNOY MUSICAL never really failed.

As the minds and the criticisms would eventually flow after this rave review-

Surely, a hand that withstood time

A Master of Artistry that held your feelings

would endure

until

ETERNITY.

director joel lamangan

the lead cast of "BINONDO: A TSINOY MUSICAL" with producer rebecca shangkuan chuannsu

(words written by robert manuguid silverio)