‘Memories of Broadway’

St. Paul U. presented “Memories of Broadway”, with Dean of Music Sr. Anunciata Sta. Ana recalling how Fr. James Reuter, SJ, having staged and directed Broadway musicals for about three decades, gave St. Paul College the sobriquet “Broadway on Herran”.

Presumably owing to budget constraints, the recent production was simple and toned-down. The stage had only a billboard bearing the sign “Memories of Broadway” and a wide stairs from which the singers descended or ascended.

In the mixed cast, students, drew from their mentors added inspiration, incentive and impetus. However, the audience noticed the former being rather inhibited; the latter, polished and professional, giving their all.

Among the most outstanding was Eudence Padanuan whose rendition of “If I were a Rich Man” projected tremendous exuberance and fire, his eloquent movements deepening the meaning of his song from Fiddler on the Roof. Another riveting singer, Ronan Ferrer, sent the pulses beating rapidly with his powerful interpretation of “What Kind of Fool Am I?” from Stop the World I Want to Get Off. A youngster who drew considerable attention was Russell Indab. He emphatically articulated the words in “She Loves Me” from the musical of the same title, while demonstrating incredible energy and vitality.

Two blind performers reflected the inspiration they derive from St. Paul College of Music. John Maxell Magtibay should have been walking as he was singing “On the Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady. Instead, he was sitting on the stairs as he sang spiritedly. Joanna Marie Gawigan went through the motions of expressing her affection for her unseen partner Marlon Fernandez in the duets “I Have a Love” and “One Hand, One Heart” from West Side Story.

To be singled out were Elisanta Cortes in “Bill” from Showboat, Nenen  Espina in “My Man” from Ziegfield Follies, Thea Perez in “Memory” from Cats and Jewel Solidum in “Defining Gravity” from Wicked. Rosette Marie Aguinir, presumably a student, matched Russell with her propulsive, “git-up-and-go spirit in “And I Am Telling You” from Dreamgirls.

Completing the cast were Aristotle Molina in “Some Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific, Anna Amadian in “Don’t Rain on My Birthday” from Funny Girl, Regine  Garabiles and Jeffrey Buensuceso in “Tonight” from West Side Story, Fiona and Camille Gallano in “What Is This Feeling” from Wicked, Mary Clarisse Babao in “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” from Phantom of the Opera, Grace Garrol and Kenneth Raramar in “All I Ask of You” from the same musical, Ericka Cruz and Michelle Saleriano in “I Still Believe” from Miss Saigon.

Initial numbers were “With a Song in My Heart” rendered by four or five singers and “It’s a Grand Night for Singing” from State Fair by the ensemble. For an encore, it ended with a beautifully moving “Climb Every Mountain”,  sung in The Sound of Music by a nun. Jenny Medina, Melissa Tagueban, Eloise Gonzalo, Joel Daquioag, Jr. provided marvelous accompaniment.

Writers on theater in the US keep declaring that Broadway musicals have been steadily declining. I quote: “Is the Musical a Dead Form? Musicals flourished into the early sixties, but there were few new playwrights . . . and there seemed room for only Stephen Sondheim. By the early eighties, Broadway became a tourist attraction mounting fewer shows each year, and these were often star vehicles or extravaganzas that depended on sensational stage effects. This same holds true today. It is difficult to imagine when Broadway will again play a significant role in New York’s literary life.” — William Corbett, NY Literary Lights.

“You have two kinds of shows on Broadway - revivals and the same kind of musicals over and over again, all spectacles.” — Stephen Sondheim.

“It is clear that the musical theater is changing. No one knows where it is going.” — Tom Jones

St. Paul U. did not stage musical theater but merely revived its songs. I quote further: “The main goal of popular music is usually that of being pleasurable rather than having artistic depth.” Despite the inevitable limitations of a mixed cast, “Memories of Broadway” in sum was highly pleasurable.