When fantasy & love merge

With Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Rico J. Puno and Ai-Ai delas Alas sharing one concert stage, Star Media’s Valentine fantaconcierto Forever After, to be staged on Feb. 11 and 12 at the Araneta Coliseum, will make concert goers experience the immense power of love through heartfelt renditions of timeless love songs, stunning visuals and witty takes on the realities of the universal feeling.

"We want to present something really different," states director Rowell Santiago. "With the immense popularity of TV fantaseryes, we thought that incorporating fantasy in the concert scene is a good idea."

Direk Rowell admits this project is a big challenge for him. "I think this is the most daring project I have ever made," he says.

Aside from spectacular visual effects, Forever After boasts of a storyline penned by Ricky Lee. The show tells the story of two star-crossed lovers, Regine’s Regs and Ogie’s Pogs, who were separated as kids. But fate had its way of making them fall in love with each other. Ai-Ai’s Amorata, Queen of Fairy Land, despises everything about love. So she tries to break them apart.

Rico J, on the other hand, plays Koriks, who will teach the young lovers to fight for their love.

"Forever After basically revolves around the love story of the two young lovers," says Lee. "But the characters of Ai-Ai and Rico play very important and interesting roles in the concert. Everyone should look forward to their performances."

Lee, who sees himself more of a music fan than a movie fan, considers the opportunity a dream come true.

"I wrote one show for Ai-Ai’s concert at a comedy bar before. But Forever After is the first concert I’ve written," says Lee. "And, I’ve always wanted to do something for Regine."

Although the concert has a storyline, Lee clarifies that the audience will not be alienated from it. "It is not a musical. It is a concert with a storyline," assures Lee. "The script was loosely written to give way to the performers’ personalities. The audience is part of the whole show."

Asked how the idea for the concert came up, Ogie recalls, "It started as an idea for a poster. Tapos, ginawang opening number. Before we knew it, the Valentine concert had a fantasy theme already. I immediately called Ricky Lee to write. Everything just fell into its place."

Asked about his preparations for the show, Rico J. jokingly complained his long speaking lines. "Besides, in the videos that we shoot for the concert, it is as if we have already done a movie. Ganun namin `to, pinaghihirapan. The audience will like it."

Ogie adds. "We took this seriously. Video pa lang, bongga na!" He says that fans should look forward to his kilig duet with Regine, where they will sing Hold Me In Your Arms and More Than You’ll Ever Know.

Regine, on the other hand, teases, "The ending is so beautiful. It’s something different and unexpected."

Regine says she is happy working with Ai-Ai and Rico. "What I’m afraid of is I might not be able to sing when I watch Ai and Rico."

Ogie assures that Forever After, with Raul Mitra as musical director, is an elaborate celebration of love. "It highlights the different stages of falling in love. Everyone can relate to it," he goes on.

Direk Rowell will follow the dictum, "What the audience could not see, they should feel." More than just a showcase of these four seasoned concert performers‘ talents, Forever After is a magical experience capturing the essence of the Valentine season.