On Cue!

First and foremost, let me congratulate the working force behind “On Cue! Productions,” the newest theater group in Cebu, for a successful staging of “Synchrony: Excerpts of Broadway” at the CAP Theatre last Sunday night, May 24. It was actually the recital of about 50 students, who underwent workshops facilitated by On Cue over the summer, in cooperation with the Office of then Acting Mayor Michael Rama and ABS-CBN-Cebu.

I would say the mentors really brought out the best in the children, who had nothing but raw talents. They have blossomed into promising thespians after rigid workshops. Yes, there were instances that the singing voices of those who had vital parts in the staging of Broadway excerpts such as Cats, Fiddler on the Roof, Sound of Music, Annie, Oliver and Les Miserables, with special presentation of Disney’s Little Mermaid, but it was evident that the children were confident on stage.

I was very much amazed watching the children who never hesitated to explore the stage and went out of their way to find a microphone so that their speaking lines would be clearly heard. The facial expression was there, enunciation was close to perfect, and stage presence was greatly commendable. There was one or two instances that the pacing dragged, but those were definitely tolerable. Thus, I would say that for first timers,   presentation-wise it was Hugyaw (read: fabulous and amazing).

Another reason why I consider the project a Hugyaw one was because it paid tribute to the City’s Street Children who participated in the doxology and were given gifts after the show. It was heart-warming to see the thespians (who were obviously rich kids) handing out grocery bags to the disadvantaged children. It was the best scene I’ve seen that night!  

But there were technical glitches though. About five times, the lapels malfunctioned. I was told though that the workshop was held at the second floor of the City Library and it was only last Saturday that they moved to the CAP Theatre for the final blockings and other concerns, so this could be the reason why there were technical glitches. Maybe next time, this aspect will be perfected.

Anyway, thunderous applause goes to the workshop facilitators such as Noneluna Deligero for theater dance and ballet; Jurey Mirafuentes, director of ABS-CBN Cebu telenovelas, for acting; Cinbeth Orellano, choreographer of ABS-CBN for dancing and stage projection; Rico Lucena of ABS-CBN for speech and enunciation; Gina Mercado for voice, musicality and over-all directing; and Gay Marie Tieu, who was in-charge of the conceptualization of the project. Bravo On Cue Productions! I can’t wait to watch your next theater project!

By the way, speaking of projects, I hope and pray that ABS-CBN Cebu will resume its production of Cebuanovelas because I miss watching them already. Yes, I am a fan especially of Saranghe in 2007. Gosh, it has been that long already since ABS-CBN Cebu produced a Cebuanovela. That is why our General Manager Bhoy Mendoza did not stop himself from asking direk Jurey Mirafuentes the reason behind the absence of such a project lately. But direk Jurey, whom we had a chitchat after last Sunday’s presentation, told us to just wait and relax because he has a Hugyaw project coming up. Could this be a follow-up to the very successful Saranghe? I’m excited, I’m intrigued!