Jonathan Larson’s musical on failure and regret

"I feel very passionate about this musical because it proves that Jonathan Larson was no fluke," says director Bobby Garcia, also the moving spirit behind Atlantis Productions.

His passion is understandable – not only does Bobby have personal ties with the late playwright’s family but he also brought Larson’s posthumous rock musical Rent to Manila in 1999. It was, of course, not just another story played onstage to music: adapted from Puccini’s classic tragic opera La Boheme, Rent was a stirring ode to the devastation wrought on humanity by AIDS and the human spirit’s indomitable resolve to celebrate life even in the face of death. Opening in Broadway in 1996, it went on to win not only a slew of Tony and Drama Desk Awards but also the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Tragically, Larson died of aortic aneurysm just days before the musical opened to rousing acclaim.

"Of course, because of Jonathan’s unexpected death, after a time there were people who began doubting whether Jonathan really had a distinct voice or Rent was just an accident – as if something profoundly moving as this could happen just by accident, or the musical would be diminished even if that were so," says Bobby. "But now, here is this similarly moving, equally brilliant musical that should forever settle this issue. It more than proves that Jonathan had a voice that was distinct."

What Bobby is referring to is tick, tick… BOOM!, the new rock musical Larson was in the process of finishing – he began writing it concurrently with Rent in the early ’90s – when he passed away on Jan. 25, 1995, a few days before his 36th birthday. Whatever minor polishing the material needed was accomplished by Larson’s collaborators and longtime friends Victoria Leacock and Robyn Goodman – with whom the late playwright worked on workshop production of the musical – and David Auburn, the award-winning playwright of the drama Proof who was tapped as script consultant and refashioned the material, originally written by Larson as a monologue, into a vehicle for three actors playing various characters.

tick, tick… BOOM! recalls much of the depression of Rent as it deals with such painful issues as failure and regret even as it spiritedly portrays the constant struggle for personal triumph. It made its off-Broadway debut last year and, not surprisingly, garnered the kind of glowing praise showered on Larson’s celebrated Rent. Not only did the New York Post gush that "God, Jonathan Larson was good!" but Time magazine also proclaimed that it was better than The Producers. "It provokes us, engages us in fresh ways, and creates a real emotional connection with the people on stage. Larson’s passionate rock-inspired music, with his sincerity and self-deprecating wit, pushes the musical into new territory."

This July, Larson’s acclaimed new musical will make its Manila debut at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater of RCBC Plaza, Makati City – once again fueled by Bobby’s passion for the late playwright’s oeuvre. For this upcoming outing of Atlantis Productions, he has tapped former Rent collaborators Bituin Escalante and Michael de Mesa with the Dawn’s Jet Pangan completing the triumvirate. "Actually, Jet would’ve been in the cast of Rent had our schedules allowed," says Bobby. "And I’m so happy he finally will be able to do this other Jonathan Larson project."

As with Rent, Bobby says he is excitedly looking forward to beginning rehearsals for the rock musical. "It’s not often that you come across a material that is as funny and angry and affecting as tick, tick…BOOM!, and it’s so easy to be excited," says the director, adding, "And if you put together a cast as enormously talented as the artists I’ve assembled for this production, that makes the work even more fun and exciting."

For tickets and show buying inquiries, please call Atlantis Productions at 8927078.

Strange Brew

More and more people are tuning in to Strange Brew, a sitcom/travelogue that airs on untv UHF 37. Strange Brew features the crazy tandem of Tado, a "pensionadong probinsyano" and his lovely lady driver Erning. It follows the duo’s adventures (and misadventures) aboard their maroon Volkswagen as they travel the streets of Manila and beyond.

The show airs everyday at 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., and features two episodes every week. Past episodes saw the duo visiting Antipolo, Baguio City, EDSA and many more.

untv is channel 59 on Home and Destiny Cable, channel 95 on Sky Cable and 13 on Dream Broadcasting System. untv is owned and operated by the Progressive Broadcasting Corporation, the same company behind NU 107, the country’s only rock station.