Love unfolds across time in tearjerker ‘The Notebook: The Musical’
MANILA, Philippines — the time the lights came up for intermission after Act 1 of “The Notebook: The Musical,” tears were already flowing among audience members as emotions ran high.
The first act reveals that Older Allie is experiencing episodes of dementia, while Middle Allie and Noah find their way back to each other after a long separation.
Spanning three different periods in Allie and Noah’s lives, “The Notebook: The Musical” is based on Nicholas Sparks’ bestselling novel and its beloved 2004 film adaptation. It explores themes of memory, time, separation and the choices we make in life.
For its Manila staging, presented by Theatre Group Asia, Original Pilipino Music (OPM) icon Celeste Legaspi takes on the role of Older Allie opposite veteran actor Rody Vera as Older Noah. Singer-performer Morissette plays Middle Allie, with Filipino-Kiwi actor Laurence Mossman as Middle Noah, while stage talents Sheena Belarmino and Benedix Ramos portray Young Allie and Young Noah, respectively.
It was heartbreaking to watch Older Allie lose her memories of Noah even as he continued to express his enduring love for her. At the same time, the musical offered bittersweet and tender moments, with the actors bringing warmth and intimacy to their romantic scenes.
Beyond its tearjerking and tender scenes, the international premiere of “The Notebook: The Musical” was also notable for how Filipino artistry shone onstage.
Featuring music and lyrics by acclaimed singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson and a book by Bekah Brunstetter, the Manila production is brimming with Filipino pride — from its cast and creative team to Filipino-American theater director Nicholas Polonio at the helm.
The principal cast includes Carla Guevara Laforteza as Mother, Floyd Tena as Father, Shaun Ocrisma as Fin, Jillian Itaas as Georgie, Felicity Kyle Napuli as Sarah, Markki Stroem as Lon, Kathleen Francisco as Nurse Joanna and Omar Uddin as Johnny.
Justine Narciso covers Young Allie and Sarah, while Albert Silos covers Young Noah and Fin. Katrine Sunga covers Middle Allie, Nurse Joanna, Concierge and Georgie, while Edward Benosa covers Middle Noah, Lon, Nurse Tyler and Johnny. Gimbey dela Cruz covers Older Allie, Mother and Nurse Lori, while Jamie Wilson covers Older Noah, Father and Son.
Direk Nicholas shared during the press conference that what makes the musical unique is the wealth of Filipino talent behind the production.
“I’d say that it’s the fact that every single artist on the team is Filipino, in both a local and international context — not only the actors we have onstage and the covers, but also the crew, all the designers and the music team,” he said.
“It is a reflection, I think, of Filipino talent, imagination and artistry in a truly global and local context simultaneously. Every single creative choice that was made on this stage is designed by Filipino imagination and artistry. I think it is just incredibly exciting to kind of paint this entire world with the ways that we see it, and I’m uniquely excited to see how you guys think that the Filipino imagination imagines as exotic a location as coastal North Carolina (the musical’s setting).”
The musical’s gala night, held on Wednesday, was attended by National Artists Ricky Lee and Ryan Cayabyab, as well as singers and performers Martin Nievera, Jed Madela and Sam Concepcion, among others.
“The Notebook: The Musical” runs until Sept. 20 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati, with tickets available through TicketWorld.
Three versions, one Allie
Celeste, Morissette and Sheena successfully portrayed Allie at three stages of her life as one cohesive character, aided by a strong and well-written script.
“From the mannerisms to how we laugh, how we put our hands in which way, it also helps us to be cohesive in the story. But of course, I would agree, the script delivers it so well. So hindi kami medyo nahirapan in terms of the storytelling, ’cause the script is just well done,” Sheena said during the press conference.
Morissette shared that since rehearsals began, the three actresses had been working on how they could portray one person despite having different acting styles.
“And just being able to discover that and explore different ways and eventually find those little mannerisms. But I do agree with Sheena as well that the material is so good that we didn’t have to try so hard, and you just see it right away. Our job as actresses is just to be able to deliver in a way that’s true to us, but at the same time, it’s for the audience as well. They literally just see one person,” Morissette explained.
For veteran singer-actress Celeste, “being a genuine old person has its benefits.”
“I know that people change as we grow older, so being the same as Sheena and Morissette was not my goal,” she said, adding that her goal was to portray Allie as she lives with dementia.
“And the challenge of that, and I knew that because they are excellent actors and musicians and singers, that they will take care of their parts. And then because the story is very well-written, the narrative is very clear, we will come together in the end and it will all be beautiful.”
Celeste also thanked the musical’s team for giving her an “older, rare role especially for women.”
“And to be able to work with this cast is marvelous. Filipino talent at its very best from everything — from production to the crew, everything. And then the singers. I can tell you that it’s wonderful to be with them,” she added.
Bringing three versions of Noah to life
Rody, Laurence and Benedix, for their part, seamlessly brought Noah to life across the different stages of his life.
“Nothing can really prepare you for the emotion. I think even to this point, we realize that every time we do a run of the show, there’s something different that just falls on your heart. It might be a word, it might be someone’s delivery of a line, and then you see either a part of yourself in your life, or you see someone that you love, or a friend of yours, just in that character in that moment. And that’s when it truly becomes this human moment,” Laurence said.
He encouraged the audience to simply “be open” as they tell the “beautiful, wonderful, romantic story about life and love,” assuring them that they would be able to relate to the characters in one way or another.
What makes the musical unique, according to Rody, is how it plays with time.
“It always, consistently breaks the continuum. And so it’s almost like nagsama-sama silang lahat and it becomes an eternal space,” he elaborated.
To prepare for their roles, Rody shared that they would sit and watch what was happening onstage before entering, allowing themselves to “completely lock in with it.”
“You just really have to watch the Younger Noah and then the Middle Noah, and then me. And then we squeeze together in one space, but it completely gives me, as an actor, a different perspective and different emotions,” Rody shared.
“So I guess, so far, we’ve been together for a week, and every day, like what Laurence is saying, there’s always a part in that particular time that you’re watching na medyo bibigay ka nang kaunti. And I think ang problema ngayon kung paano ka hindi iiyak.”
- Latest
- Trending
