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PDI Review: Virgin Labfest 15
Back to doing this, after a one-year hiatus. I am including here the phrases and sentences (italicized in brackets) that did not make the final draft, which you can view here.* * * *...
View ArticlePDI Review: 'Binondo, A Tsinoy Musical' by Maritess Alava-Young Foundation, Inc.
Fifteen minutes into this show, I already wanted to walk out. The Inquirer.net version of my review here.* * * * *'Binondo': A deeply flawed caricature of a cultureWhy the title?That...
View ArticlePDI Opinion: 'Cleaning up' Manila
New op-ed in Inquirer Opinion! Website version here.* * * * *'Cleaning up' ManilaAscending to the mayoral throne once occupied by plunder convict Joseph Estrada, Isko Moreno pledged to...
View ArticlePDI Feature: Twin Bill Theater and 'Dancing Lessons'
Think of Twin Bill as the young Red Turnip. The website version of my piece here.* * * * *'Dancing Lessons' between man with Asperger's and injured Broadway dancerTwin Bill Theater...
View ArticlePDI Feature: The Sondheim musicals of 2019
Who's a Sondheim nerd? The website version here.* * * * *Stephen Sondheim is coming to Manila--three timesNot the man himself, of course, who turns 90 in March and whose theater pieces...
View ArticlePDI Review: 'Madagascar: A Musical Adventure' by Atlantis Imaginarium Young...
My review of "Madagascar" in today's paper. Watching this, I felt like I was in one of those disgustingly extravagant children's parties in Corinthian Gardens or something. Dotnet link here.* *...
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PDI Review: 'Mabining Mandirigma' by Tanghalang Pilipino
Confession: I was never a fan of this musical. Right after the first act of the 2015 version, I wanted to leave out of boredom. I always thought it was a musical that didn't behave like a musical--that...
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PDI Review: 'Perfect Ten' - Lea Salonga in Concert
The thrill, nowadays, of a Lea Salonga concert lies in her guest performers. In that aspect, "Perfect Ten" certainly did not disappoint. The website version of my review here.* * * *...
View ArticlePDI Opinion: 'Theater and politics are inseparable'
My latest opinion piece, on the Irene Marcos debacle last week, is in today's paper.* * * * *'Theater and politics are inseparable'In a just world, the Marcoses wouldn't be walking free...
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PDI Review: 'Rak of Aegis' by PETA - 2019 run
I have now seen this musical 10 times--including three visits this year for this review, the Inquirer.net version of which is here.* * * * *'Rak of Aegis': Fully embodying spirit of...
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PDI Review: 'Passion' by Philippine Opera Company
The Sondheim fanatic in me can somehow die happy having seen a topnotch production of this most challenging show. Dotnet version of the review here.* * * * *'Passion' is a scintillating...
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PDI Review: 'The House of Bernarda Alba'/ 'Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba' by...
In today's Inquirer, my review of a show that encapsulated the Filipino word "sayang"--the website version here. I really do have very fond memories of Repertory Philippine's "August: Osage County."*...
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PDI Review: 'Himala: Isang Musikal' by 9 Works Theatrical and The Sandbox...
We had a collective theater yearender for 2018, but if it were only me, I'd have ranked this production first. Second would be "Desaparesidos"; third, "Waitress"; fourth, "Manila Notes"; fifth, "The...
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PDI Review: 'Katsuri' by Tanghalang Pilipino
This is one of those instances when I hate the word count, because there is just so much to say about and unpack in this play. Still, rare is that production that manages to rise above the shortcomings...
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PDI Review: 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' by Atlantis...
For a while there, I was torn between "Spring Awakening" and "Passion" as my pick for Best Musical-Non-Filipino Material. Happy to say this "Sweeney Todd" solves that problem. The website version of my...
View ArticlePDI Feature: Theatre Titas and 'Macbeth'
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the only surefire sustainable way of staging Shakespeare in Manila is through the university companies. So props to ye who hath balls to do so outside the...
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PDI Review: 'The Quest for the Adarna' by Repertory Philippines
Two articles in the Inquirer today! The first one--here--is a review of a show that I had to see twice because it has a cast chockfull of freakin' alternates. * * * * *'The Quest for...
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PDI Review: 'Cats' - The 2017 Asian Tour in Manila
When I saw "Cats" for the first time a little over nine years ago, it was only my sixth time in the theaters of Manila (and seventh, because I'd see it again). Before it, I'd only seen Atlantis'"Spring...
View ArticlePDI Review: 'Antigone vs. the People of the Philippines' by Tanghalang Ateneo
When was the last time I raved over a Tanghalang Ateneo show? The dotnet version of this review here.* * * * *Why you shouldn't miss Ateneo's 'conyo'-infused 'Antigone'How often does it...
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PDI Review: 'Walang Aray' by PETA
It's ironic how the less heavy-handed-political a Peta show gets, the better it turns out. The dotnet version of my "review"here. I've been told this show already has the go signal to join next year's...
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