Ready to bare

If Mark Bautista is reported to be having sleepless nights lately, blame it on the forthcoming staging of The Full Monty, directed by Chari Arespacochaga, in which he and his five co-stars will, as The STAR’s Sounds Familiar graphically put it, “let go, let it out and let it hang” in the play’s finale, just like what the stars on Broadway and the movie version did — fleetingly, that is, (on Broadway) with the curtains falling immediately after the actors turned their backs, faced the audience, dropped clothes and inhibitions to the wind and then turned their backs again. A glimpse, yes, just a glimpse.

Presented by Viva Atlantis Theatricals, the play is set in Buffalo, New York, where six unemployed mill workers come up with a radical idea of making some quick cash by presenting a strip act at a local club. Already made into a film, the musical has spun off a book by Terrence Mc Nally with music and lyrics by David Yazbek.

“Actually, I’m focused on the story and the music,” said Mark (whose theater debut as Crisostomo Ibarra in Noli Me Tangere two years ago drew rave reviews), cast as Jerry Lukowski, a divorcee on the brink of losing custody of his most beloved son. “When I read the script, I was at first hesitant but then, why not? It’s a new challenge in my career. But direk Chari assured me that the ‘full monty’ scene, although very daring, will be done well, hindi malaswa.”

About time Mark, who’s turning 32 this year, shed his wholesome (“Pa-tweetums,” he said) image and act his age. If he gets stuck in goody-goody roles, he runs the risk of being overtaken by his contemporaries who have long graduated to mature roles.

Asked why it took him so long to, well, spring out of his cocoon, Mark explained, “I didn’t plan it. Maybe the right time has finally come.”

The Full Monty (which, incidentally, Ricky Davao has been dreaming to do after he saw it on Broadway) also stars Arnel Ignacio as Harold Nichols, an unemployed mill supervisor faced with the challenge of keeping up his lavish lifestyle; Marco Sison as Norah “Horse” Simmons, a retired mill worker constantly trying to live up to his name; Jamie Wilson as Dave Bukatinsky, Jerry’s best friend who is trying to find his way feeling like a man again; OJ Mariano as Malcolm MacGregor as the security guard who continues to work at the shut-down mill; and Niño Alejandro as Ethan Girard, a happy-go-lucky guy.

“I have no problem with going nude,” said Marco, adding in jest, “after all, my character is not called Horse for nothing.” Theater is not an alien territory to Marco who played Peping in the first staging of Katy ages ago (with Mitch Valdes in the title role), the English version of Nick Joaquin’s Larawan and The Aquilino Pimentel Story. “In fact, Arnel was daring us to strip naked already even during the rehearsals.”

Niño is a bit healthy these days and it’s just perfect for his character who’s supposed to be bulky. (Niño is the son-in-law of The STAR columnist Tony Katigbak, married to Tony’s daughter Michelle.)

“I’ve always been interested in theater,” admitted Niño who is best known as a singer-composer, writing songs mostly for other artists (like his cousin Rachel Alejandro whose albums were produced mostly by Niño). “The Full Monty role is too good to turn down.”

With Jamie, going nude onstage is, well, piece of pie.

“It will be my third time to do it,” said Jamie, younger brother of Monique. “My first was in Les Parents Terrible and then in The Blue Room. In the former, I played Michael who was basically tied to his mother’s apron strings and when I fell in love with a girl, my mother didn’t want me to get married. In the latter, which was about sexual lessons, in one scene I came out of the shower naked and my girlfriend was dressing me up. It was totally non-sexual. I was then 22 and, yes, I found it liberating. I was onstage naked for almost 10 minutes and my biggest problem was where I was gonna  put my lapel mike, hahahaha!”

Jamie said that he saw the movie version of The Full Monty and he liked it.

“What scares me about this play is the dancing,” admitted Jamie. “As an actor, that’s my weak point; I haven’t had any training in dancing. The music is nice; you’re being naked while dancing.”

A veteran of 10 plays, OJ initially had misgivings about accepting the role.

“It’s my first time to go naked and I’m a bit nervous,” said OJ. “I don’t see myself naked onstage so let’s see how it will turn out. I’m curious myself like everybody else.”

Said to be the happiest in the batch is, you guessed it, Arnel who can’t wait to be in the play’s finale scene which is understandably the highlight, perhaps more than its music and story (that’s why the title zeroes in on “it”).

“The whole story leads to the ‘full monty’ scene,” said Arnel, “so the actors really have to go naked. Otherwise, bale-wala ‘yung play.”

Oo nga naman, ano!

(Note: The Full Monty runs at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater at the RCBC Plaza in Makati from April 19 to May 5. Tickets for the Viva Atlantis Theatricals nights, April 26 and May 4, are on sale now. Fund-raising opportunities for interested show-buyers are also available. Call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or Ticketworld at 891-9999.)

Briefly Noted

Sen. Bong Revilla as the title role in the GMaA fantasy-adventure Indio

• His co-stars in the high-rating GMA fantasy-adventure Indio are all praises for Bong Revilla who has found a perfect leading lady in Jennylyn Mercado. Said Michael de Mesa, “Ibang klase si Bong lalo na sa fight scenes. I’m amazed by his energy.” Said Rhian Ramos, “Napakagaang ka-trabaho ni Bong. He’s generous with pointers on how to make our scenes better.”

• The Viva Atlantis Theatricals has found the right actress for the role of Jane in the person of Rachelle Ann Go. The singer/concert performer/TV personality earned raves for her performance as Ariel in the Atlantis presentation of Disney’s The Little Mermaid and that made it easy for her to bag the Jane role in the forthcoming staging of Disney’s Tarzan. Playdates: June 14 to July 7. (For inquiries, call Atlantis at 892-7078.)

• More news from Viva Atlantis Theatricals: Eula Valdes is cast as Morticia Addams (played by Anjelica Huston in the movie version) in The Addams Family to be staged at the Meralco Theater Nov. 15 to Dec. 8. Eula’s last stage appearance was as Claudia in Nine, another Atlantis production. (For inquiries, call Atlantis at 892-7078.)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected].)