Isay finds playing Cory challenging

What do outstanding performers like Isay Alvarez, Robert Seña, Bobby Martino, Jonjon Briones, Pinky Marquez, Jograd dela Torre, Bituin Escalante, Angelique Lazo, Gigi Posadas and Bimbo Cerrudo have in common? They were newcomers cast in productions directed and written by Nestor Torre. Three of them are again in Torre’s latest project, Cory, with music composed by Lourdes “Bing” Pimentel.

Co-presented by Buhay Isang Awit Foundation and The San Miguel Corp., the musical goes onstage for final performances tomorrow, Jan. 16 and Jan. 17 at the Meralco Theater.

Torre is known for his unconventional style of casting fresh talents in lead roles. Alvarez, Seña, Martino and Briones, who made it to the London production of Miss Saigon started out as young leads in Magsimula Ka with more than 150 performances. Marquez, played a supporting role in Katy, then lead as the Virgin Mary in Magnificat, with more than 160 performances. Escalante first got noticed in Sino Ka Ba, Jose Rizal. Comedian Dela Torre was also in Magsimula Ka, while Lazo was in Awit ni Kadugnung.

Now Alvarez, Seña and Marquez play major roles in Cory which covers the former president’s life from childhood to her inauguration as the 11th president of the Philippines. Others in important roles are Tommy Abuel, Rito Asilo, Andy Bais, Edmund Sicam and Lou Veloso.

Alvarez has the most challenging role of all as Cory; Seña is Ferdinand Marcos; Marquez is Imelda. In the tradition of Torre’s previous shows, he has picked relative newcomers to fill many important roles. Foremost is Sherwin Sozon in the critical role of the slain martyr Ninoy Aquino. The businessman Sozon has always loved music, and took training in classical music. He did an opera written by National Artist Lucrecia Kasilag, Why Flowers Bloom in May. He also appeared in Tsinoy – Kaisa Ka!, a musical on the Filipino-Chinese in the Philippines, and in a straight play Ang Dalawa Niyang Libing.

Now comes the biggest role of his life. Getting the role was the easy part; preparing for the musical was a totally different matter. For the past two months Sozon has been undergoing intensive research and rehearsals to get the nuances of his role.

The rest of the cast have also gone through grueling rehearsal hours. Joseph Cris Domingo, 30, AB graduate of the Pamantasan ng Makati, is a shop attendant at an Internet café who has acted in productions of Tanghalang Sta. Ana during Holy Week. Jasper Joseph Tirad Antoja, 33, AB Philosophy at Sto. Niño Seminary in Aklan, decided the religious life was not for him and now teaches English to Korean students. Patricia Simone Dauz, 21, Art Studies at UP where she was president of the UP Theater Council joined Rito Asilo’s musical theater workshop at New Voice. Celine Fabie, 24, a Comm Arts graduate of Ateneo also teaches English to Koreans.

Another operatic singer in the cast is Bench Bautista who appeared in La Boheme, The Rhythm of Life and Heart and Music. She’s a Masscomm graduate of Assumption, finishing Masters in Industrial Relations. She plays the young Ballsy Aquino in the play.

Musical director is Leo Quinitio. For details, call 851-3120.