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.
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)
