A diva who can’t sing/ A concert/ A ‘thank you’

In "Glorious", Repertory Philippines'' current onstage presentation, Joy Virata portrays a diva who can’t carry a tune. It is a feat for a highly musical soprano like Joy to sing off-key, and she "triumphs" as Florence Foster-Jenkins each time she does, with the unwavering support of loyal friends — Dorothy, her admirer St. Clair Byfield, and piano accompanist Cosme McMoon who desperately tries to evade telling her about her inadequacies for fear of offending her. His tact and diplomacy are a real burden each time he listens to her screeching as he accompanies her.

Although Peter Quilter’s true-to-life play is billed as a comedy, it does not elicit guffaws and hearty laughter: what Florence conveys is the tragedy of a diva who, possessed with an all-consuming passion for music, insists on singing even when she can’t carry a tune. Despite this, she reportedly says with straight-faced audacity, "I am well aware there are people who say I cannot sing! But whatever the case may be — there is no one who can say I didn’t sing!"

There seems to be a vague suggestion that the wealth Florence’s husband has left her helps to buy her "success", and the audience wonders how some people, e.g., the eminent song writer Cole Porter, praise her with apparent sincerity.

The rude awakening comes when Mrs. Verrinder-Gedge interrupts a performance and abrasively demands that Florence stop singing because she is a disgrace to all other divas. Yet the next venue is Carnegie Hall no less! The audience is left wondering (again) about the bouquets if not the brickbats.

In her director’s notes, Carmen "Baby" Barredo enjoins the audience to take Florence "as the guiding light for those who dream", adding, "I hope you learn from her." Barredo herself is a singer —quite unlike Florence because she has perfect pitch — and her solid musical and theatrical training abroad as well as her unerring instincts bring about perfect timing and pacing, and tightly-knit ensemble work from a wonderful cast: Joy is masterful, superb in her characterization of the eccentric Florence; there are the remarkable portrayals of Rem Zamora as the repressed, timid Cosme; Bonggoy Manahan as the debonair, flamboyant St. Clair; Pinky Marquez as the loquacious, flighty Dorothy, Jay Valencia Glorioso is marvelously terrifying as Mrs. Gedge who intensely objects to Florence’s atrocious singing. Chari Arespacochaga as Maria, the Mexican cook who speaks only Spanish brings relief to the audience anxious about Florence’s vocal antics. Actually, the only comic sequence is the formal funeral service for Dorothy’s dog Ricky.

The elegant stage sets of Ariel Reonal and the ravishing costumes of Florence reflect the vintage ambiance of the 30s and 40s.

Theater-lovers should witness how Florence re-enacts the truism "No guts, no glory!" They will in any case admire how Barredo and the players live up to the excellent standards Rep has insisted on through these many decades.

Concert for the heart

The Foundation for Lay Education on Heart Diseases, Inc., chairmanned by Jose S. Concepcion, will present the concert "How to Remain Young at Heart" at the RCBC theater on April 27 at 7 p.m. The concert will launch the 20 original FLEHD songs by Jeremiah "Jimboy" Calisang, with lyrics by Dr. Adolfo B. Bellosillo.

Singing the compositions will be mezzo-soprano Jai Sabas Aracama, tenor Calisang, the UP Concert Chorus, and Dean Ramon Acoymo as guest tenor. The Philippine Ballet Theater will also perform.

A belated ‘thank you’

Sincere though belated thanks to all those who sent me congratulatory messages for my recent awards, among them Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo whose letter is in eloquent and impeccable Spanish, UP president Emerlinda Roman, UP V-P Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, former Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Delfin Colomé, French Embassy Cultural Attaché Carolle Lucas, distinguished fictionist Gilda Cordero Fernando and noted artist Ivi-Avellano Cosio.