The Snake hissing kindly for The CompanY - DIRECT LINE by Boy Abunda

Bravo! On the final night of the repeat performances of The CompanY’s 15th anniversary concert titled The CompanY HITS 15! — The Repeat; the audience accorded the country’s premiere vocal group two standing ovations. This elaborate musical revue ran for more than two hours but still, the audience would not let go of this versatile sextet. All in all, The Com-panY indulged their audience with five encore numbers by night’s end.

"It was all worth it!!!" hollered The CompanY’s artistic director, Moy Ortiz, to the cheering audience. This spontaneous outburst is quite understandable considering this show consumed the time and energy of the members during the last six months of 2000.

The show featured most of The Com- panY’s greatest hits from their nine studio albums as well as their hit production numbers on their innumerable stage performances for the past 15 years. Considering that The CompanY had more than eight costume changes (all designed and executed by their longtime couturier Danilo Franco), the show was seamless and cohesive; running at a breakneck speed. It was relentless; one strong number after the other, non-stop.

This act was highly stylized and thea-trical in attack; bordering on camp. The audience could easily surmise that it would be an unusual night from the very first number (i.e. Opening Credits projected on the silver screen while members of the Hotlegs sashayed in Christian Dior pre-war bar gowns) to the grand finale (i.e. Northern Tagalog tradition of pinning money on newlyweds while dancing to a deephouse mix).

One of the highlights of the evening was the Search for the Karaoke Superstar 2000; a satire of the karaoke culture and phenomenon. Seasoned singer/comedienne Nanette Inventor was in fine form as she effortlessly displayed her comedic chops playing the role of the abrasive and obnoxious karaoke emcee named Dakota Harrison. UP theater actor, Jose Mari Jose, was also hilarious as the intrusive herma-phrodite contestant Coba (derived from one of the show’s sponsors, Jacob’s High Calcium Crisp Crackers!).

The CompanY displayed true versatility, not only as competent singers but as stage performers as well, gifted with proficient comedic timing, when they tackled various alter egos and roles in this production. One of their incarnations was the cartoonish Ang Tapsi ni Vivian Chorale and Plokloric Troupe. Clad in plastic table top covers (like the ones you see in your local panciterias and turo-turos), this alter-ego group brought the house down with their Baroque inspired version of the hits of Yo-yoy Villame, Butchikik and Si Felimon.

Pop, jazz, comedic vaudeville shtick, musical theater, avant-garde performance art, etc. etc. For all their gimmickry and wanton appetite for spectacle, it cannot be denied that The Com-panY shines the brightest during their a cappella numbers. Of course, the presentation of these a cappella numbers are (still) not straightforward nor devoid of gimmicks, but nevertheless, it is during these moments where the audiences see the main reason why the group has flourished for so long. The CompanY is peerless and in a league of their own when it comes to creating magic with only their voices! Their a cappella shining moments were: Mission Impossible Theme, Dancing Queen, Jambalaya and the Yo-yoy Villame Medley.

Of course, one is known by the company one keeps. The show‘s success is also due to the talented and competent production team behind the scenes. Kudos go to director and writer Floy Quintos, concert and record producers Margot and Edith Gallardo, choreographers Christine Blando and Georcelle Dapat, costume designer Danilo Franco, short play writer Ricky Lopez.

Congratulations to Sweet Plantado, Annie Quintos, Cecille Bautista, Reuben Laurente, Andre Castillo and Moy Ortiz, collectively known as The Com-panY! Here’s wishing you more years of music, laughter and the best company!!!

2001, the Year of the Golden Snake, seems to be hissing kindly at The CompanY. Valentine is a busy time for the group. On Feb. 14, they will perform at the Shangri-La Hotel, Mactan, Cebu on Feb. 15, they go pop-jazz at Ratsky’s and on Feb. 21, they perform at WRock at Hard Rock!