A kid had to face the world in his own animated version and conquer life's biggest monster. ANI (The Harvest) It's as if a child's imagination is a safe haven, a place where the world is a playground for all the possibilities the mind could think of. And even the tight and humble space called home, situated on a busy Metro could not hinder the inquisitive headspace of a young Mithi (played by Zyren Dela Cruz), a boy who accomplishes the day by playing with his colorful toy robots that perform a vital role in his imaginary narrative. With a loving father and a mother that sings him a self-assuring lullaby, Mithi is blissfully unaware of the harsh reality. But life decided to toy with his fate, and Mithi's perfect little world is now showing its cracks, putting his vulnerability to the test and slowly depriving him of his happiness he thought would last forever. And through his eyes, the world suddenly transforms itself into a menacing monster. Set in a lush
"Ang Huling El Bimbo" Review - A Retrospective Joyride of Heartstrings
Three men, haunted by a past incident, were reunited once again and took a trip to their younger years whilst honoring the greatest hits of an iconic Pinoy rock-band.
At last, 2018's critically-acclaimed musical is back with a much refined narration and an even more stronger performances from its new casts.
Ang Huling El Bimbo is an impactful ensemble of talented and youthful actors representing an important role on a theatrical prose that doesn't just take you to a nostalgic excursion but also taps into a person's bittersweet transition from his/her gleeful innocence to a sobering and sometimes harsh realization of one's triumph, failures and melancholic goodbyes.
As a celebration to one of the most influential rock bands of the 90s, El Bimbo was written in a way that doesn't just use Eraserheads' most iconic hits to appeal to fans of that era. Rather, with Dingdong Novenario's playwright and Dexter Santos' overall stage direction, the show brought the essence of what an E-heads' music is about, which is to tell a story mostly on a perspective of a teenager and his/her transition to adulthood — a coming-of-age tale.
Myke Salomon, musical director and is also a lead actor of the show did an amazing job at refining some musical performances, making sure that everything is coherent and streamlined to the overall theme.
Ang Huling El Bimbo follows the story of three friends, Emman, Hector and Anthony as told through their memoirs of their days as an isko in UP Diliman and their one girl friend Joy, a turon vendor and a helper in the then popular Toyang's Canteen who they met during one of their ROTC exercises. El Bimbo also shows young and adult versions of these characters, jumping from two different time frames as a then-and-now comparison and how their unbending friendship was formed, only to be tarnished by a tragic incident.
It's easy to get lost in the mix of really good actors, especially in this one where almost everybody shines on their own, boasting their vocal prowess as well as their remarkable acting chops. Most importantly, these actors really embody the character they're playing as.
Actors Boo Gabunada, Reb Atadero, and Lance Reblando as the young Emman, Hector and Anthony dominates the first act and you can tell the professionalism and the hardwork that these people invested in their craft. Gabunada in particular, as he was easily the best out of the three and really exudes that Pinoy dreamer persona. Red Atadero's very charming and friendly presence is very believable and his personality really elevates the character he portrays. Also worth noting is Lance Reblando's sassy and colorful aura, giving the audience an authentic giggle with his subtle but comical theatrics as the closeted Anthony.
The shifting between prop designs from one scene to another is very seamless and you can tell that they are well rehearsed, gracefully maneuvering in a rather spacious rostrum. When I watch a stage performance, I like to make sure that everybody stays in character even when not on the spotlight. Sure enough, the other background actors did just that and helped create a very convincing worldbuilding, managing to let the audience picture a glimpse of a veritable UP culture.
Of course the first act wouldn't be complete without the stellar performance of Tanya Manalang as young Joy. I mean, I cannot remember how many times have I told myself how amazing of a voice this person has. Crystal clear, very welcoming and almost sounding like Lea Salonga in her Miss Saigon days. I like how she enunciate every words when she's singing, making you understand the lyrics and the message that the song is trying to convey. You can tell if a stage actor is good if he/she can draw the attention to him/her whether on a solo or a group performance — a feat that Ms. Manalang right here easily smashes out of the park.
The second act continues but this time with the adult versions of the characters in OJ Mariano, David Ezra and Rafa Siguion-Reyna as Emman, Hector and Anthony respectively. It was in these parts where everything became confrontational, heavy and emotional, which is justified given the events that happened at these poor characters.
Carla Guevara-Laforteza played the adult Joy and just her younger counterpart, Ms. Laforteza did a wonderful job, pulling in all the emotions needed to express her character's demise and misfortunes. She also has a pristine quality to her voice and thus giving justice to the songs specifically arranged to fit the context of the scene. Mariano, Ezra and Siguion-Reyna's performances are commendable as well but I thought they had a lesser stage presence than their younger parallels.
I also like to highlight Ms. Shiela Francisco's performance as Joy's Tiya Deli. Very talented actress and a voice like no other — Francisco is a class act. The richness to the texture of her voice accompanied by her powerful belting capabilities is one of the most astounding moments of the show that's genuinely captivating and elating.
The show ended on a lofty bittersweet musical denouement that is very engaging and made the audience move their feet and clap harmoniously to the beat of the drums, justifying a solid experience like no other.
Let's Be Reel
Personally, I would've liked to see a few more scenes with the adult versions to kind of complete their individual arcs — like Emman probably having a daughter of his own and fixing his marriage, or Hector pulling himself together, or maybe Anthony finally embracing his sexuality. Something that would polish the otherwise masterpiece of a musical.
Regardless, Ang Huling El Bimbo is the definition of world-class act. It's a well-written, well-produced spectacle that pays homage to an OPM legend while telling a story that is enthralling and inspiring. A must-watch.
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