Mark re-energizes career with theater foray

Mark Bautista is no stranger to nudity, partial or otherwise. In 2005, he released a single titled You Win the Game, accompanied by a music video in which he appeared topless.

When he released his third studio album Every Now And Then two years later, his fans were treated to a series of daring photos featured in the album inlay. So it may come as a surprise to them that their idol is actually very shy about showing off his body — and that he almost said no to his latest project, a role in the Viva Atlantis production of the musical The Full Monty.

According to Mark, the idea for him to join The Full Monty cast came from Viva Entertainment head Vic del Rosario.

“Boss Vic told me that this is a great play to do, and this is the first play of Viva. The Full Monty is the launching project of the partnership of Viva and Atlantis, so it’s very important that I do this,” Mark explains.

“Sinabi rin niya na disenteng company ang Atlantis and hindi ako mababastos dito. I also felt that I needed to do it because sa career ko, sabi ko kailangan naman may bago akong ipakita. Hindi yung usual na album, or role sa TV as best friend ng ibang artista. Gusto ko magkaroon ng bagong flavor sa career, kung yun yung pag-uusapan. Sa tingin ko maganda naman gawin ito for my career for now. Instead of doing an indie film or something, I’ll do this first.”

Another reason Mark agreed to do it was because he reached a point where he felt his career was becoming stale. He had hit a rut and believed he needed to do something drastic to get out of it — hence the role in Full Monty. “I came to a point na naisip ko na parang wala na talaga akong nabibigay na bago sa mga tao, na parang sa dami ng bagong artista na dumadating, ayoko naman na masabihan ako ng, ‘Uy, si Mark, mag-ko-concert nga pero same songs na naman yung gagawin niya.’ That’s why I accepted this project because it’s totally different from what I’ve done in the past.”

The Full Monty tells the story of five guys who are down on their luck for various reasons. After seeing their wives thoroughly enjoy watching the Chippendales perform, they decide to mount a similar strip act at a local club, boldly declaring their performance will be better than the Chippendales — because they will go “the full monty” and take off every stitch of clothing on their bodies.

When Mark learned the nudity was both integral to the musical’s plot and yet not a focal point of it, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Hindi naman pala ito tungkol lang sa paghuhubad, may anggulo din pala ito ng relationship ng isang father sa anak niya, na hindi ma-fulfill nung tatay yung responsibilities niya kasi wala na siyang trabaho,” explains Mark.

“Actually, heart-warming siya kasi gusto niyang sustentuhan yung anak niya kaso hindi siya makapagbigay, kaya baka hindi na niya makita yung anak niya dahil ayaw na ibigay sa kanya nung nanay. Kaya naisip niya na might as well maghanap na lang ng trabaho.”

Mark confirms that in the musical’s penultimate scene, he and his co-stars — which include familiar faces like Arnell Ignacio, Marco Sison, Jamie Wilson, Nino Alejandro and OJ Mariano — will indeed go all the way, in a manner of speaking. “Sabihin ko na lang na few seconds siya,” Mark says when asked how long he and the others will be nude onstage. “Pero total nudity talaga ang mangyayari. Gagawa lang kami ng paraan na maging tasteful pa rin siya at swak sa panlasa ng mga Pinoy,” he adds with a naughty wink.