Care Divas: Marvelously gay

It’s interesting to note that though the Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (PETA) much-talked about opus, Care Divas, is so marvellously gay, viewers forget it is so just a few minutes into the show.

Already into its fourth rerun since opening last February, the musical dramedy about five Filipino transvestites who work in Israel as caregivers and who masquerade at night as “show gays” at the time of the intifada (the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation) has been attracting people from all walks of life and people of different sexual and political orientations for its power to speak to any heart that knows tribulations and triumphs, heartaches and ecstasies.

“We believe this is the reason parents don’t stop their kids from approaching us for autographs or picture-taking after the show,” said Vincent de Jesus, one of the lead actors as well as the musical director of Care Divas.

“The adults know that even the children sense that the message of the show far overshadows the wig and the false eyelashes that some of the male characters wear.”

Who can’t relate to making sacrifices for family? The willingness to risk everything in order to make a dream come true? The sadness one must hide behind a happy face just to make it through another day? Being in a strange situation with no one to turn to but yourself?

All these and more are in Care Divas without the show depicting gays as pushovers. Instead, they are survivors, heroes, winners — loud and proud.

Adding so much color and fun to Care Divas is the music. Two of the must-hear, must-watch numbers are Good, Good Girls and We Want To Make It Big In Tel A Viv.

According to Vince, the mostly celebratory music captures the transformation of the gay characters Kayla, Thalia, Jonee, Chelsea and Shai from being “baduy” gays to “bonggang” drag queens.

In researching for Care Divas, writer Liza Magtoto did a lot of interviews with OFWs. She also spoke with a lot of caregivers in Israel and watched documentaries about the subject in the course of two years.

Little wonder that Filipinos can fully relate to the show. Really, is there a Filipino in this time and age who doesn’t personally know an OFW, who does not want to become an OFW or who isn’t already one?

The cast of Care Divas includes some of the biggest theater and TV actors today: Melvin Lee, Vincent de Jesus, Ricci Chan, Jerald Napoles, Phil Noble, Buddy Caramat, Dudz Teraña, Jason Barcial, Cecilia Garrucho, Paul Holme, Myke Solomon, Angeli Bayani, Eric Dela Cruz and Dom Miclat-Jansen. 

Aside from Liza and Vincent, the creative team behind the show includes director Maribel Legarda, costume designer John Abul, events and theater lighting designer Jon Jon Villareal, visual artist and set designer Leo Abaya and contemporary dancer and choreographer Carlon Matobato.

Care Divas is staged at the PETA Theater Center. July 15, 16, 17 are performances sponsored by Ladlad (The political organization of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Filipinos). For inquiries and ticket reservations, call Backroom at 435-1098 or 928-3121.