Still dazzling at five

You don’t have to fly to Broadway to experience a Broadway musical. You don’t have to crack London’s West End to savor the magic of theater. And you don’t have to be in Las Vegas or the Moulin Rouge in Paris to see Cancan dancers do their stuff. Because everything you want to see, be it in Broadway, the West End, Paris or Las Vegas, you can have it right here in Club Mwah.

Club Mwah celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. Pocholo Malillin, vice president and executive producer of Club Mwah and his partner Cris Nicolas, over-all director, choreographer and costume and set designer, came up with an anniversary treat for Club Mwah habitués — The Best of Follies de Mwah which runs for the whole year, and the Best of Club Mwah until February.

Pocholo and Cris are doing everything to give only the best for Club Mwah disciples.

“Aside from the world-class presentations, we provide them with the best theater environment. We enhanced the interiors and the lobby. Binago ang ilaw, ang music. Lalong bumango ang Club Mwah ngayon. Lalong maganda. When you drive along Boni Avenue, you will notice Club Mwah because ito yong abusadang gusali na animo’y napakasuplada,” exclaimed Pocholo.

Club Mwah he said was designed like a world-class Broadway theater. “You will be dazzled by its lighting and state-of-the-art design,” added Pocholo.

 Club Mwah is a favorite hang out not only of local clubbers, government officials, socialites, yuppies but foreigners as well. Theater habitués have been coming in droves since the opening of the Bedazzled shows. “We have our own version of the best loved Broadway musicals performed by Follies de Mwah. Among the jaw-dropping numbers are Miss Saigon, Chicago, Dream Girls, Phantom of the Opera, Masquerade, Cabaret. “One of the highlights is Lachmi, an Indian goddess with 16 arms on top of a 10-foot elephant straddling through the stage,” said Pocholo.

The beautiful repertoire of performances was put together by the tandem of Pocholo and Cris. “The costumes alone are real dazzlers. We never scrimp. For instance in our Pink Follies suite, our dancers are bedecked in Swarovski crystals. ‘Pag sinabing isang kilong Swarovski ang kailangan, isang kilo yan. The choreography is also exquisite,” he said.

With its unique entertainment, world-class dancers and theater facilities, Club Mwah has indeed created its own niche in the business of show. “During the early years of our operation, we could hardly break even. We were able to sustain operations because of our passion and determination to go on despite the odds,” explained Cris.

“Humility and hard work kasama na dun sa success ng Club Mwah. Ang Club Mwah nasa Boni Ave. malayo sa Makati Business Center and Ortigas. Once you visit Club Mwah, you will have a different experience at iba ang makikita mo kasi kakaiba siya,” said Pocholo.

Pocholo and Cris have a school that trains dancers and entertainers for Japan. The school was the very first to be accredited by the government. And Follies de Mwah dancers were trained by Cris and Pocholo. “We really have a lot of good dancers in the country. Napakatalino ng Pinoy. Napakamahusay,” Pocholo enthused.

Club Mwah’s Follies de Mwah performers dance, sing, act and impersonate. However, once in a while Cris would pitch in as dancer when one of the girls fails to appear for a show. And Pocholo would sew costumes or do the needle work. Just like yin and yang, Pocholo cannot operate without Cris. They complement each other’s work.

Pocholo also reveals that by March 6, Bedazzled 10 will have its premiere performance. It will feature spoofs of James Bond movies.

Club Mwah has standing invitations to perform in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Honulolu for the Filipino communities. They will also be in Lanao del Norte, Iligan and Bacolod in the next few months.

Club Mwah is accredited by the Department of Tourism as a must-see theater/club bar destination. It is also a venue for parties, weddings, debuts, product launches and fundraising shows. It is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.

For details, call 532-2826 and 535-7943 or log on to www.clubmwah.com

David Benoit at PICC

World famous musician-songwriter and composer David Benoit will perform in a concert David Benoit LIVE Manila 2010 on Feb. 11, 8 p.m. at the PICC Plenary Hall in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

A five-time Grammy nominee with hits including Key To You, Promise Me A Carousel, Land of the Loving, David performs with the 60- piece FILharmoniKA Orchestra conducted by Gerard Salonga. Guests are Bituin Escalante and Tots Tolentino.

The concert is presented by 106.7 Dream FM together with Ambient Media and Shindig Productions.

For details, call 911-5555 and 891-9999, PICC at 551-6296 or call the Dream FM Hotline 892-4216.