You’re a good woman, Charlie B.

Her initials say it all. C.B. or Charlie Barredo is every bit as endearing as her co-initial holder and counterpart Charlie Brown. I’ve always had a knack for the latter since hearing the token song Happiness from the hit Broadway show, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. In fact, the song is one I opted to sing when Tita Baby asked us to render a song in one of many Repertory Summer Workshop exercises. It was then that I encountered Charlie – waiting quietly by her mom who just happened to be our American Idol-esque judge. Although I’ve known her since our brat-attack days in Colegio San Agustin and starred alongside her even in CSA’s musical rendition of We Sing Together, my interaction with Charlie never really went beyond "bullying her" as she’d always claim I did, and the one-dimensional hi’s and hellos that most grade schoolers come by. It’s funny to think that I’d bump into her again in one of those defining moments – where not even a flimsy use of my newly-discovered diaphragm could save my soul. Little did I know that we’d be swinging side-by-side again a few months later, bonding with Carlos and the rest of the Emperor’s New Clothes cast over long, enduring hours of our five-month run. Fate sure had a funny way of bringing Jonathan and Sally of We Sing Lane back together. Pigtails, green jumpers, red ribbons, and stroller-bags all gone, we’ve surely grown up from those childish grade school stereotypes. A few weeks ago, I decided to waltz back into the Onstage Greenbelt to catch a matinee performance of Repertory Philippines’ latest offering, Nobody’s Perfect – a British comedy where my good friend and kare, Charlie is appearing. I arrived a few hours early and decided to catch up with her in the most unlikely of places – on a prop couch of the play itself.

Philippine STAR: At what age did you join theater?

Charlie Barredo: I don’t remember precisely but I’ve probably been doing this since I was in diapers.

What made you pursue this craft?

Need I say more? My family, of course. They’re the ones who inspired me to join Repertory. Honestly, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my entire life.

So, it runs in the family?

Well, I guess you could say that.

What are some of your most notable works?

In Secret Garden, I played Mary Lennox – the young, sickly girl who befriends Colin. It was a challenge for me, both in acting and singing as her character required so much depth and emotion. I also starred in Forty Carats which was I consider to be my first straight play. Although technically, Miracle Worker was my first play. But I was a kid back then. It was different.

How has theater changed your life?

Well for one, it’s done wonders for my personality. Theatre gives you the confidence to go out into the world headstrong – to not be afraid of meeting new people and living out new experiences. Likewise, the discipline that is taught in Rep is seriously one of the most helpful lessons you’ll come by in life.

Kare, what’s your dream role?

Evita! Definitely Evita! I can picture myself in her shoes, overcoming all those ordeals that she had to go through to get to the top. In a way, I’m like her —–defining myself with each new trial that comes my way. And, ahem, I’d like to own Argentina someday.

Who do you look up to in this business?

Besides my tata (referring to the late Bibot Amador) and my mom, I really admire Lea Salonga. That girl started from scratch and made a name for herself on her own. Look at her now. She’s gone to international lengths with Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Flower Drum Song and so many other accomplishments – honestly, one of the greatest Filipinos of today. Go, Lea!

Hail Lea! Hail! What’s it like to be a Barredo?

I’m proud of the history, hard work and passion that have gone into shaping the Barredo name. I’m very privileged to be one but I try not to take advantage of it.

Do you feel any pressures of any kind with being a Barredo?

Yes, yes, yes and yes! Though, I try not to be consumed by it too much. Like most teens, I’m also still trying to figure out what I want to do in life. A lot is expected of me but I try to keep it real – pursuing what I want to pursue and not what others deem me to.

What are you up to besides theater?

I’m taking up Media Production at the Assumption College. I want to be an anchorwoman someday.

Fantastic! Who are your idols?

Without a doubt, Maria Resa and Veronica Pedrosa.

What else are you into?

I like painting with acrylic, reading although now I can’t seem to find the time to read, hanging out with friends and going out at night. P.S. I absolutely hate waking up in the morning.

Tell me about it. How are you able to balance school, your other interests, and acting?

I honestly don’t know. Kare, I want you to put in there: "I look at her and I see the pain and agony in her eyes." (Note: And so I put it.) It’s stressful but I’m still alive.

How are you still alive?

Major sucking up to teachers. I’m kidding. Well, it takes a lot of patience, determination, the drive to succeed, 99 percent perspiration and that 1 percent inspiration.

Ok, let’s get to Nobody’s Perfect. What role do you play here?

I play the role of Dee Dee, the daughter of Leonard played by Miguel Faustmann. She’s a spunky, intelligent teenager who knows her way around and gets what she wants.

Can you relate to this role?

Sorta. Although we’re total opposites, I really like how she’s so smart for her age. She’s very open-minded and liberal about things, probably because she’s European. I also like that she has a close relationship with her dad. Oh, and I love the British accent!

Wow, I can’t wait to see the show! To sum up, what advice can you give to young people out there who are aspiring to become theatre actors someday?

Know what you want and know who you are before you get into anything. Once you do, you’ll have to stick to it and do whatever it takes. Never-ever quit and for starters, join a workshop! Believe me, it’ll be one of the best things you’ll ever do in life. Right kare?

Amen!

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Catch Charlie Barredo in Nobody’s Perfect, a hilarious British comedy written by Simon Williams and directed by Baby Barredo. The play centers around Leonard, a statistician, played by Miguel Faustmann, who writes a romantic fiction novel and submits his work to a feminist publishing house called Love is All Around. Rejected by the editor Harriet played by Ana Bitong, he twitches his story’s original premise with a dash of his own life experiences and submits his work under a different pseudonym. Trouble is that Leonard uses a woman’s pseudonym. And much to his disdain, his falsely authored work captivates the interest of Harriet while she decides to meet with this writer extraordinaire. With the help of his daughter Dee Dee and his refuse-to-grow-old father Gus played by Bonggoy Manahan, Leonard fabricates the hilarious Auntie Myrtle, and struggles to remedy his sticky situation with an even more hilarious web of lies.

The musical will be staged at the Onstage Theatre, Greenbelt 1 tonight at 8 p.m., tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Feb.5 at 3:30 pm. For ticket inquiries, call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or Repertory Philippines at 887-0710.

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Catch your breath and let me know what you think at chasingtoff@yahoo.com