Calvin Millado: Out of the closet and into the theater

The first time Calvin Millado squeezed all of himself – 195 lbs. packed into a six-foot frame – into the corset, he screamed, "Ouch!"

"It happened during our pictorial with Raymund (Isaac)," narrated Calvin who, so to speak, has sashayed out of the closet and right into the theater for his role as Frank ‘N’ Furter, the transvestite mad scientist in The Rocky Horror Show, directed by Bobby Garcia. "I didn’t feel right, not even if the costume was designed by the Rajo Laurel. Anyway, before clicking his camera, Raymund noticed that my zipper was open so he volunteered to zip it up. That’s when it happened. Yeah, naipit siya! I was wearing no underwear, only fishnet stockings; there was nothing underneath my corset. It hurt so I cried, ‘Ouch!!!’ Ang sakit talaga!"

During the pictorial and the rehearsals, Calvin was having difficulty getting "the feel and the hang of it," and it was because, Calvin realized, "I was holding back, I wasn’t comfortable being a woman." By and by, he noticed his co-stars (among them Anna Fegi as Magenta, Aiza Seguerra as Eddie/Dr. Scott, Bituin Escalante as Columbia, Jett Pangan as Riff Raff, Michael de Mesa as the Narrator, Jay Españo as Rocky, Joel Trinidad as Brad, Cathy Azanza as Janet and Mylene Dizon as member of the Chorus) giggling uncontrollably and, voila, Calvin realized that what he was doing was just right. It was working!

"It was just a matter of adopting the right attitude," said Calvin who has seen only a videotape of the musical and not the "live" stage version. "Now, I’m comfortable in my Rajo Laurel corset."

Wasn’t he worried his male-ness might be tainted by "stigma" when he accepted the role?

"I know myself and I know where I stand," assured Calvin, "and I trust Bobby (Garcia). When he mentioned the project to me, I didn’t even ask Bobby what role he had for me. I simply said, ‘Okay.’ That’s how much I trust Bobby. ‘I’d do it,’ I told him without my even seeing the script."

Although he has been doing theater since 1991 (as Elias in Noli and then in Fili, both musicals with libretto by Ryan Cayabyab; Bunganga ng Pating; and the first staging at Music Museum of Alikabok), Calvin honed his theater-acting talent to its full fruition in plays by Bobby Garcia, first in Rent and then in Jesus Christ Superstar (as Peter).

"My role in Rocky Horror Show is my most daring so far," confirmed Calvin. "It’s challenging because it’s a totally different character. Luckily, I have no hang-up about myself and my sexuality, so I have no problem on that point."

But he’s a bit apprehensive about a possible kissing scene with Jay Españo and Joel Trinidad (one at a time, of course!), with whom he’s working for the first time, because it’s the first time that he’ll kiss another guy.

"I hope it doesn’t require any tongue action," said Calvin in jest.

But if it ever does, so what? It’s only a play, anyway.

For the rehearsals, Calvin will be wearing three-inch-heeled shoes and a five-inch-heeled pair during the actual performance. Also, his hair will be dyed blond and he’ll be shaven not only "up there" but also "down there." (Beauty contestants are shaven "down there," too, aren’t they, so as to prevent any strand from showing in the glare of performance night.)

"I’ve been practising walking on heels at home," said Calvin who lives alone. Well and good. Around the house, Calvin has also gotten used to wearing women’s clothes – you know, to really get "the feel and the hang of it," all for, uh, art’s sake.

(The Rocky Horror Show will be staged from Nov. 15 to Dec. 8 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of the RCBC Plaza, Makati City, with ManMan Angsico as musical director, Gerry Fernandez as lighting designer and Rajo Laurel as costume designer. For ticket reservations and other inquiries, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078.)

The case of Amanda Griffin

British model Amanda Claire Griffin also, like foreign-bred Pinoy talents, recently landed in the news in connection with the "mission order" issued by the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation. Atty. Aga (of Ito ang Batas fame, on dzXL early evenings), lawyer of Amanda, sent Funfare a clarificatory letter concerning his client. Here it is:

Dear Ricky,

Greetings! I would like to inform you about the case of our client, Amanda Claire Griffin.

For your information, Amanda was born in Windsor, Berkshire, England, on Sept. 28, 1976. Her mother, Susan Gabuya Griffin, was still a Filipino citizen at the time of Amanda’s birth. She only became naturalized a year after. Under the Philippine Constitution, those born of Filipino mother or father is considered a Filipino citizen. Thus, for all legal intent and purpose, Amanda is entitled to be recognized as a Filipino citizen with all the rights and privileges appurtenant thereto. We have already filed her petition for dual recognition and we are just awaiting for the hearing of the same.

She was fined like the other foreign artists for not having the proper credentials with respect to their immigration status with the Bureau of Immigration. But this has been taken care of already.

For your information, as to my other clients, Nancy Castiglione has been given a Special Work Permit (SWP) already by the Bureau together with another client, Marc Wayne Saw Nelson.

As per our conversation, I hope we can forewarn the other foreign artists to register themselves already with the Bureau to avoid penalties/fines to be imposed upon them as I have been informed that another Mission Order will be issued next week.

Thank you for this and past favors.

Atty. Aga