A little night to remember

MANILA, Philippines - The opening night of A Little Night Music saw stars flocking to the theater in support of Miss Dawn Zulueta’s musical theater comeback. It was a full house, eager to catch her in action and hear her sing. It has been nearly 12 years since she was on the legitimate stage, and the excitement was tangible.

Among the things that Atlantis Productions can be proud of is that they, more often than not, have impeccable taste in casting, with Dawn frontlining this urbane and saucy love story set in a country house during the turn of the century, against a lush musical background of waltz. It is a show simmering with surprising liaisons, passionate surprises, and mismatched lovers who find themselves in the arms of their rightful partners in the end. 

How she fared in her theater comeback deserves an arrow of acknowledgement for the actors who shared the stage with her first.

A stellar cast creates a luscious foil for the beauteous and glamorous character of Miss Zulueta’s Desiree Armfeldt, and each are worth mentioning, a great reason for applause for the show’s opening night.

Nonie Buencamino was perfectly cast as Frederik Egerman, Desiree’s middle-aged former lover. His presence was palpable and always consistently convincing. His scenes with Dawn were unforgettably teeming with teasingly delightful overtures, and even more so in the scenes shared with Cris Villonco, who plays his 18-year-old trophy wife, Anne Egerman. 

Cris shone in every scene, and sweeps the audience with her charm and lilting voice. Whether she is just speaking her lines or singing the musical’s songs, she mesmerizes and delights. How she made her character a mix of sensual naivete and cloyingly endearing immaturity was right on the mark.

Jay Valencia Glorioso injected humor into the dignified and graceful character of Madame Armfeldt, Desiree’s mother while Felix Rivera, who portrayed Henrik Egerman, gave a subtle and sensitive performance as the frustrated son always teased and never taken seriously. 

As Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm, the overconfident military dragoon who is Desiree’s lover, Jake Macapagal makes his mark with utter confidence that can only be pulled off by a seasoned theater actor.

Dawn Zulueta acknowledges standing ovation during the curtain call.

Not to be forgotten was the performance given by Jenny Jamora as Countess Charlotte Malcolm. She earned a lot of laughter as the martyr wife of Count Carl-Magnus.

Alys Andrea Serdenia stole a lot of scenes in the musical as Petra, the experienced and forthright maidservant, whose crass moves and seductive swaying of the hips made the audience laugh and applaud. Gabriel Santos, as Frid, Madame Armfeldt’s manservant, also delights in his own way on stage.

Frederika Armfeldt, the daughter of Desiree, was played by young Crystal Baranda-Paras, who showed promise and made her presence felt in this pool of musical theater talent, and it won’t be a surprise if we see and hear more of this young lady.

Teenee Chan, Agnes Barredo-Fenoli, Glen Llanes, Raul Montesa, Jenny Nuyda and Anthony Tarrosa Ong glued the musical together with their tastefully-tuned voices as they stepped in Greek-Chorus-like roles. They led the audience into beautiful transitions of the story, and the beauty of their voices wafted lightly over the precise notes of the band.

A lot of those present on opening night most certainly watched and most importantly, listened with bated breath and perked-up ears at how Dawn would fare in singing the beautiful and hauntingly heartbreaking solo Send In The Clowns, which is the most popular song in the show.

And how did she fare? 

One could cut through the sheer silence with a knife as the audience listened to Dawn as she sang, but it is also safe to note that more than half of the people in the theater were busy trying to swallow against the lumps in their throats at the emotion Dawn was pouring out onstage to get critical about her singing.

She won them over with her acting chops, although it was a pleasant delight to observe that Miss Zulueta’s voice was clear and true, and her renditions with the company and duets with her co-actors were well-prepared and confident.

Spotted among the audience during the opening night were Anton Lagdameo, Ruffa Gutierrez, Ciara Sotto-Oconer, German Moreno, Tintin Bersola-Babao with husband Julius Babao, Gina Alajar, Perla Bautista, Noel Trinidad, Leo Martinez, Anthony Pangilinan and his wife Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, Fritz Infante, Shirley Kuan and GR Rodis.

This witty love story of a musical is directed by Bobby Garcia, with musical direction by Ceejay Javier, choreographed by Chari Arespacochaga, with scenography by Mio Infante and lighting design by Dong Calingacion.

A Little Night Music is a tapestry of waltzes weaving around lost worlds, young love, regret and desire. 

Experience an early “It feels like Valentine’s Day” kind of rush this month, and watch the musical to see and hear for yourselves the sheer kind of joy that mirrors that familiar excitement and thrill and heart-wrenching loneliness and silly laughter that only love can bring.

(A Little Night Music runs until Oct. 31. For tickets call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or 840-1187.)