After Aegis, it’s Francis M for PETA

MANILA, Philippines – With the recent Rak of Aegis musical play, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) came out with a monster hit. The show utilized the music of the popular rock band Aegis in an innovative way, retaining the music, changing the lyrics when necessary and incorporating these into the story, which was about an inundated, low-income community and a young woman singer who wanted to be discovered by Ellen DeGeneres.

The play was told in a very entertaining style, with just enough social consciousness to go with PETA’s advocacy. It clicked with theater audiences, especially the young, which is PETA’s market, and was restaged many times.

Now PETA is threatening to do the same with the music of the late rap artist and singer/songwriter Francis Magalona, but in a different way.

This was announced at a recent press preview at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. The work in progress is titled 3 Stars and a Sun, the name of one of Francis M’s songs, with an allusion to the Filipino flag, in keeping with the rapper’s nationalist orientation.

The musical unveils a futuristic new world, a glimpse of what mankind will become if global warming is not resolved. The people, pale and grim-looking, are now sheltered in the Stormdome. There are two warring gangs, the youths from “glossy and developed” Lumino City at odds with their counterparts from the “rough streets” of Diliman City.

The two groups, coming from varied backgrounds and upbringing, must realize that there are more urgent issues than mere gang war.

A-listed talents are in (and behind) the production.

The director is For Domingo, with the multi-talented hunk Myke Salomon as musical director. The writers are the young Mixcaela Villalon and the veteran Rody Vera. Even more veteran is Bodjie Pascua as Mang Okik. Production design is by Gino Gonzales, lighting design by Shoko Matsumoto and Ian Torqueza, sound design by Teresa Barrozo and choreography by Delphine Buencamino.

The cast is headed by Paolo Valenciano as the “smug slacker,” alternating with Gio Gahol while Micco Manalo and Gold Villar are the “fiery troublemaker.” Che Ramos-Cosio and Carla Guevara Laforteza alternate as Congresswoman Inky, backed up by a slew of energetic triple-threat talents (actors-singers-dancers).

During the press launch, the media were treated to a foretaste of what was to come as the cast, clad in austere black and white attire, performed with brio, chanting Francis M songs and dancing with whiplash movements.

“We created a new world out of Francis M’s songs,” said arranger Myke. “We made a few changes and some rephrasing.”

Writer Mixcaela observed, “This is our genre, science-fiction. We came up with a story that will bridge all the (sentiments) in the songs. There was one song about hanapin ang liwanag sa dilim (look for the light in the darkness). We highlight pressing issues but in an unfamiliar way, via science-fiction.”

Director Nor said Myke listened to all the songs, and incorporated into the story whenever appropriate. All the hit songs as well as those not too familiar will be used. There was one song Bahala Na which sounded like a kundiman.

The first impression is that the musical play is dark and grim. “We made a conscious effort not to make another Rak of Aegis,” Nor said. “But that doesn’t mean it will not be fun. There will be fun, definitely.”

3 Stars and a Sun runs from Feb. 4 to March 6 at the PETA Theater Center. For details, call 725-6244.