Magnificent Menchu

MANILA, Philippines - She is fondly called “The First Lady of Philippine Musical Theater” mostly because her résumé would be the envy of any Broadway star. To list just a few of her past roles: Eva Peron in Evita, Maria in West Side Story, Velma in Hairspray, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Anna in The King & I, and perhaps her greatest performance — as Diana in Next to Normal. But Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo is so much more than her résumé. She is a “First Lady” in every sense of that phrase.

I have watched Menchu in almost every show she has done. As a child, my mom used to take me to all the Repertory Philippines productions where Menchu performed regularly. Led by the inspirational tandem of Zeneida Amador and Baby Barredo, Repertory Philippines had world-class shows long before “world class” became a somewhat overused term to describe brilliant local productions. And Menchu was, and continues to be, one of their shining stars (not to mention her latest role as their associate artistic director).

I remember watching Menchu in West Side Story in 1981 and thinking she was far better than Natalie Wood was in the film (which I think is one of the great movie musicals). Everything about her performance was perfect. Sung beautifully, acted passionately and performed with breathtaking beauty, I can no longer watch any production of West Side Story without comparing Maria to the memory I have of Menchu performing the role. Little did I know then that Menchu and I (when we both grew up!) would end up working on many shows together. She has not only become one of my favorite leading ladies, but also, one of my dearest friends.

When I secured the rights to Next to Normal in 2010, I knew immediately that only Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo could play the vocally and emotionally demanding role of Diana. Not that I don’t think any other actress could act and sing the role, but I didn’t think many others had the durability of Menchu. I knew, in casting her, not only would she create a devastatingly human Diana, but I also knew I could depend on her to sail through the rehearsal process and the many two-show days without losing her voice, losing her stamina or getting too far lost in the character to make for an unpleasant experience for all of us involved. Menchu is a first lady on and offstage.

I first worked with her when we did Miss Saigon in Manila in 2000. Menchu was the standby for Ellen and went on many times. I rehearsed her for the role and it was then, too, that we became good friends (over many buffet dinners at the Westin Philippine Plaza, now the Sofitel). She would then go on to play many roles in Atlantis Productions shows such as Claire in the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof opposite Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, a cameo appearance as a Stepp Sister in Dreamgirls; she showed off her refined musical comedy skills as Velma in Hairspray, and then created, what I believe is a definitive performance, as Diana in Next to Normal.

Although this comes with so much bias, I think Menchu has created a Diana unlike any other that I have seen. “Fearless” is the best word that I can think of to describe her performance. When the show begins, Menchu fearlessly dives into her character and then lets everything unravel around her with so much truth that it is sometimes heartbreaking to watch. As Diana slips further into a worsening bi-polar disorder she begins to lose control of a life she thought she had planned so well. Menchu takes us, without compromise or apology, through all the complex emotions this entails.

And amid all that, she sings the role flawlessly. Rare is the musical theater actress who, amid tears, pain and heartbreak, can hit all the right notes without missing a beat. Well, she isn’t a First Lady for nothing.

I also thought it was time that Menchu deserved a CD of her own, so I talked to Sony Music bigwig Narciso Chan to release a CD-Lite of musical theater songs of Menchu which we would produce. Titled “Light,” the CD consists of seven songs from Menchu’s musical theater past, including two songs from Next to Normal. Long overdue, the CD is a wonderful keepsake of one of our most treasured musical theater talents.

I consider myself really lucky to be able to come back into a rehearsal room with the amazingly talented cast of Next to Normal, who in addition to Menchu include Jett Pangan, Felix Rivera, Bea Garcia, Markki Stroem and Jake Macapagal. A dream cast, unlike any other, they have all created pitch-perfect performances in a demanding musical that has come to mean the world to all of us involved in creating it. Seeing as it is next to impossible to get everyone in the same room at the same time, this could very well be the last time we are all in the same room together. So this process will be bittersweet for all of us.

I can speak for everyone involved with Next to Normal and say that this is a show that has changed all our lives and it is one of the proudest moments we have had working on a show. Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s musical has become a blessing in our lives. And it never would have happened without Menchu. Her Diana is a triumph of magnificent proportions for the First Lady. Her performance as Diana has become an integral part of the success of the show.

More importantly though, First Lady or not, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo has become an integral part of my life.

* * *

I do hope you will catch her career defining performance as Diana in Next to Normal as Atlantis Productions brings it to Manila one final time for a very limited repeat run. See you at the theater.

Next to Normal runs until Oct. 16 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium