Just call them The Honks

They may not take off their shirts in their performances or gyrate to the pulsating beat of an Eminem rap but the men of the musicale Honk!, jokingly called The Honks, may give the real Hunks a run for their money. Franco Laurel, Carlo Orosa, Noel Rayos and Tonipet Gaba are all exciting actors and are sure to give an electrifying performance in Honk! which opens on Aug. 1 and will run until September at Meralco Theater.

Based on the children’s story The Ugly Duckling, Honk! is a musicale that follows the tale of a misfit of a duckling who struggles to find his place in the world.

In the middle of their frenzied rehearsal schedule, we catch The Honks in a moment of fun and relaxation as they talk about the musicale. Read on.

Boy Abunda (BA): What role do you play in Honk!?

Franco Laurel (FL): I play Ugly. He is quite naïve but has a very pure heart. He doesn’t have any mean bone in his body.

Carlo Orosa (CO): I also play the role of Ugly. He is the Ugly Duckjling, and aside from being physically ugly, he is misunderstood because of how he looks. He believes in his heart that being ugly is not all that bad.

Noel Rayos (NR): I play the role of the cat. He doesn’t even have a name. My made-up history is that he was the unwanted kitten in the litter and his human owners neglected him. Aw… Kawawa naman siya. Kaya siya naging villain.

Tonipet Gaba (TG): I also play the cat. He’s very interesting. His traits are very human! Imagine, a human personified by a cat!

BA: How is this different from the other roles you have done in theater?

FL: The first role I ever did was Bharata, a very regal prince, for Rama at Sita. So it is quite different from Ugly. As Ugly, I look and move in a funny way but in the end I become a swan which is similar to Bharata. They’re both regal, strong and pure-hearted.

CO: I guess this is the biggest role I’m going to play so far. I’ve played animal roles before but this really puts the cherry into the cream.

NR: I don’t play villain very often. In fact, this is only my second time out of the 49 others I did. This is my first musical villain role. It’s so much fun being catty!

BA: What attracted you to the musicale?

FL: I love the music and the story. It’s inspiring.

CO: Honk! has all the elements of a very positive and wholesome musical theater piece. It’s really something I like because it’s a theater production everybody will enjoy.

NR: It’s a Trumpets play.

TG: The company! They’re all my friends. Plus Chari (Arespacochaga) is directing it!

BA: How is it working with Agot Isidro, Sheila Francisco, Carla Martinez, Nanette Inventor and Lana Jalosjos?

FL: I love working with all the female stars! I have worked with some of them outside theater but it’s the first time for me to work with most of them in theater. And they are all so gifted.

CO: Agot is very hard-working and she has a very fine voice. And there’s something about her that’s really elegant and regal onstage. She has a beautiful voice, beautiful face – the perfect mother to Ugly Duckling.

NR: They’re all great. Lana has the kind of voice that amazes. Agot’s so beautiful, you can’t take your eyes off her. I’ve loved Miss Carla Martinez’s work for years and I’m so glad to finally work with her. I’ve worked with Miss Sheila so many times and each time is a blessing.

TG: They’re all so beautiful!!

BA: What is your favorite song in the musicale and why?

FL: Now I’ve Seen You. It was the first song I learned from the musical and I just love the lyrics and the music. It’s a very beautiful love song that lifts me up everytime I sing it.

CO: Warts and All. It’s a lively number. In essence, it talks about the message of the play which is we may all look different, but somewhere out there someone’s gonna love you, warts and all. It is a song of hope.

NR: I like my song Play With Your Food because you have to be manic to do it. Hypercat! I also like the tango duet Together and Ugly’s love song Now I’ve Seen You. And it’s reprised as a duet so beautifully arranged by our musical director, Rony Fortich.

TG: I also like Franco and Lana’s duet, Now That I’ve Seen You.

BA: How is your director, Chari Arespacochaga?

FL: Chari is such a joy to work with. She is very encouraging and straightforward, which is what a director should be. I love working with her!

CO: She likes to play. Before we rehearse, we have a workshop. I think it’s one way of easing our bodies and minds, a way for us to bond. She’s very lenient. She knows the play well. She’s not a terror.

NR: I’ve enjoyed working with direk Chari many times as an actor. As a director, I appreciate very much that she trusts us to do the work.

TG: Basta ang sexy niya!

BA: What is the best thing about being a Honk!?

FL: I’m able to sing, act, dance and have fun with the whole cast. And give glory to God!

CO: We are surrounded by creative geniuses and great talents. I’m working with 20 extremely talented, generous actors.

NR: The best thing? My role. I just love it.

TG: It’s being with the people you love.

BA: So far, what is your most cherished Honk! experience?

FL: Everything. It’s the whole experience of working with everybody involved in it.

CO: When Brad Haak vocal coached us. He made us understand what our musicale is all about. He made us understand the dynamics of the music. The fact that he came from vocal coaching with the cast of Lion King makes us so privileged to have him.

NR: I agree with Franco. Everyday is a cherished experience.

TG: Hmmm… Rehearsals pa lang eh! Abangan! Ha ha!

BA: Why should we watch out for Honk! the musicale?

FL: Honk! is a musical experience that will give you the visual feast and the enchanting music people just love to watch and listen to!

CO: Because I’m there! In a time like this when our country is experiencing so much, people need to escape and go to a theater to watch and enjoy.

NR: Watching the musicale will make you remember how precious life is. Because we are all special and God loves us all just as we are.

TG: Basta nandoon ako! Mwahaha! O sige na nga, pati na rin sina Franco, Carlo, Noel, Sheila, Lana, etc.