Fun Home’s topic on sexuality is bold and brave

MANILA, Philippines - How does a daughter take it when her mother makes a “tsunami-like” revelation to her that her father is gay? What makes the family situation a bit more complicated is when the daughter herself also discovers her own sexuality and comes to terms with being a lesbian?

The topic about sexuality and coming-of-age predicament is bold and brave. Yet, Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG) was daring enough to present it in its latest production titled Fun Home.

A musical adapted by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron from Alison Bechdel’s 2006 memoir of the same title, Fun Home is a multi-Tony Award winner after its Broadways debut in 2015.

It is understandable that the musical was heavily hyped with Broadway star Lea Salonga in the cast, even if she is not the lead actress. Her face also banners all the pertinent promotional materials. Fun Home marked Lea’s return to local musical theater.

As the mother of Alison Bechdel, the central character in the story, Lea started rehearsing for Fun Home on the heels of her highly-successful post-Valentine’s concert at the PICC. Though initially a bit under the weather, she nonetheless sailed through Fun Home rehearsals as a true-blue professional.

For a change, Lea used daring words like “stupid,” “bitch” and “f…king” in her dialogue. One doesn’t normally hear Lea utter those words on or off-stage, but her Helen Bechdel in Fun Home made her say those words apparently out of her character’s sheer disappointment and pressing family situation.

After the limited run of Fun Home, Lea will have her North American tour this month and a show with the Brigham Young University Chamber Orchestra on May 30 at the CCP Main Theater.

Meanwhile, Alison was played by three performers in Fun Home. The 10-year-old character was essayed by Katie Bradshaw, the confused, college student by Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante and the present-day Alison by Cris Villonco.

Cris’ portrayal alongside Lea was undoubtedly with flashes of brilliance. Another young actress will probably be easily intimidated to share the stage and act alongside Lea. Yet, Cris stepping into the shoes of Alison, with her hair purposely cropped and donning her only rugged outfit of denim pants and large tees, was undoubtedly impressive. The heart-rending Telephone Wire tells about Alison’s effort to reach out to her homosexual dad.

Mikkie, meanwhile, had daring, yet tastefully done lip-locking scene with Yannah Laurel as Joan. Too bad, the talented Yannah had very limited time onstage for her role in this musical.

A nervous and excited Alison crooned Changing My Major, while Katie as the young Alison got her spot number in the poignant Ring of Keys. The same song was rendered by Lea’s daughter, Nicole Chien, in Songs from the Stage last February.

The Bechdel family is not your ordinary family. They reside in Welcome To Our House on Maple Avenue in Pennsylvania, their funeral home, hence, Fun Home. That’s what makes it a dark, yet funny musical. Talented young actors Daniel Drilon and Noel Comia completed the Bechdel children.

In Days and Days, Helen’s anguish to her family’s dilemma — her husband Bruce, her two boys and her daughter — Lea’s crystal-clear and distinct voice resonated onstage. That number only proved she is indeed a seasoned theater thespian.

American actor Eric Kunze, the guy who played Marius in Broadway’s Les Miserables, with Lea as Eponine more than 20 years ago, makes his Philippine theater debut in Fun Home. As the closet-gay Bruce, father to Alison and husband to Helen, Eric obviously gave his 100 percent to essay his challenging role.

Staged for a good 100 minutes, sans intermission, Fun Home was brilliantly directed by Bobby Garcia with musical direction by Ceejay Javier.