Watching the riotous ‘Walang Aray’

The musical “Walang Aray,” fiercely subtitled “Tumindig at Umibig,” is back at the PETA Theater Center.

It opened last Aug. 29 and will run up to Oct. 12. This is the show’s third outing, and it is as entertaining, as irreverent and as riotous as ever.

“Walang Aray” debuted at the PETA Lab in 2018 and then moved to the main stage in 2019. By 2022, it had become one of PETA’s biggest successes. With awards to boot. And now, it is back anew, and the fun continues.

“Walang Aray” is based on the zarzuela “Walang Sugat,” which dates back to 1902 and is considered one of the treasures of Philippine theater. It was written by the great Severino Reyes, 1861 to 1942. He was a playwright and promoter of the Tagalog version of the Spanish zarzuela and the founder of the Gran Compania de Zarzuela Tagala. He also published and edited Liwayway, the first weekly magazine in Filipino.

As a writer, Reyes was behind the beloved Lola Basyang, famous for stories for children.

Former kids from the ‘50s religiously listened to Lola Basyang on the radio. In later years, she or he moved to television. I do not know where Lola Basyang is nowadays. Hopefully, online. Our young Filipinos can certainly use the moral lessons of his or her stories.

Anyway, Lola Basyang maybe missing but “Walang Sugat” is very much present. Its new incarnation is written by the multi-faceted Rody Vera, who recently was an actor in the Broadway musical “Into the Woods.”

It is directed by Ian Segarra and has music by Vince Lim, who also wrote additional libretto and did the sound design. Oh, and not to forget, the striking costumes, both old and modern are by Bonsai Cielo.

Save for some tweaks here and there, “Walang Aray” tells the same story as “Walang Sugat,”  Julia, the queen of the zarzuela, and Tenyong, a would-be katipunero, are lovers. There are obstacles to their relationship though. Juana, Julia’s Momsie, wants to marry her off to Miguel, the son of the richest man in town. Tenyong, on the other hand, wants to go off to help the rebels win freedom for the Filipinos.

“Walang Aray” has a happy ending, but before that happens, you will meet almost every stereotyped character that has populated and continues to populate local melodrama. The scheming, money- and stature-obsessed parents, the bumbling helpers, and the villains, in this case the Spaniards and the members of the religious orders.

Outdated plot? Characters? No way. “Walang Aray” retains the zarzuela aesthetic thru and thru, including the over-the-top speaking and singing style. And those are all in Taglish. And the music is fearlessly all-encompassing: ballads, rap, rock and others.

Check out the showstopping Alkohol, which Tenyong’s manservant Lucas performs. It could have come out of a rock opera.

And the humor, so acute, is out of today’s headlines. The tabak-wielding katipuneros live in fear of the sabungan and of the lake of Taal. Zarzuela performers are in drag. Why, even the frayles are prone to gossip and can turn golden. They don’t hunt demons, though. The taong-bayan are the ones who are at their mercy.

I wonder, do Vera and Segarra meet every day to inject new jokes into the script, depending on the news that day? It is great if they do, because that is what keeps “Walang Aray” current and its message relevant to audiences all the time.

Of course, it also helps that “Walang Aray” has a truly fantastic cast that was up to the task and having as much fun as the audience.

Marinor Madamesila as Julia. Jon Abella as Tenyong. Divine Augina as Monica, Carlon Matobato as Lucas. Gold Villar-Lim as Momsie Juana. Csairus Habla as Don Tadeo. Roi Galilong as Padre Alfaro. Rendell Sanchez as Miguel and that ensemble overflowing with talent.

Make sure you watch “Walang Aray.” You will have a wonderful time.