How Nyoy and Mikkie keep the fire burning
‘If you see us sa bahay we are, like, playing around all the time, being stupid and crazy.’
Two years into their marriage, Nyoy Volante and Mikkie Bradshaw still act as if they just stepped out of church to ride into the sunset. In a recent interview, the couple revealed the secret to their smooth relationship: They never stopped being friends. Although he remains the man of the house, theirs is a partnership “at may kanya-kanya lang kaming assignment.” The two have a 13-year-age gap if that helps explain anything. Each is often the other’s feedback fellow. “We don’t really take offense in what the other has to say. Kasi it can be wrong. It can be right but it’s an opinion and that’s a trusted opinion,” Nyoy said. “As far as I’m concerned, I think we’ve established enough that we have somehow the same taste and to a point na, when she says something, parang feeling ko automatic na you trust it.”
But just like any other relationship, the two have arguments, too.
“And that’s fine because for whatever reason, we seem to bounce back from those arguments,” the theater actress said.
In one line, really, how do they keep the music playing?
“If you see us sa bahay we are, like, playing around all the time, being stupid and crazy,” Nyoy said.
Interesting.
Own method
The couple is just thankful that Mikkie’s eight-year-old daughter, Sophie, has “learned to be one with every kind;” meaning she knows how to relate to different kinds of people without bias. “She’s very emphatic,” Nyoy shared. They believe it is because of Sophie’s exposure to theater.
“She learned so much from the stories we tell on stage, the characters we portrayed, and the people she met along the way,” the 27-year-old actress shared.
In fact, the young child is following in the footsteps on her parents. She was recently part of the local stage musical “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
The duo sees theater as a big part of their parenting style.
But more than just teaching their kid to have an open mind, Nyoy and Mikkie make sure to have open communication lines with her.
Mikkie revealed they want it that way because when she was a kid, she was so afraid to tell her mom that she had a crush on a boy. She thinks not expressing one’s self will lead to having secrets and that is what leads to all sort of things.
“I want her to be open with us,” she said.
And how does Sophie feel about being able to talk about anything under the sun with her parents?
“She says, ‘Mom, I get it, that’s enough please. No more,’” Mikkie said, laughing. “Sophie says sometimes, ‘I don’t think other families talk about this stuff.’”
They’re happy that their parenting style is in line with the message of the local version of Broadway musical “Kinky Boots” which they star in.
“Be who you wanna be,” Nyoy summed.
Once more
After the successful and soldout run of “Kinky Boots” last year, the Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group is thrilled to announce a limited repeat run of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical.
Nyoy will reprise his role as drag queen Lola, while Mikkie will play the lovestruck factory
employee Lauren, replacing Yannah Laurel, who played the role in last year’s run.
Aside from them, most of the original cast members will still be part of the re-run, which, again, will be directed by Bobby Garcia.
Nyoy considers the dance numbers as the most challenging part of the role as he really isn’t one.
“I am expected to look or at least like I am a dancer kasi ako ’yung pinaka-boss. Hopefully kaya natin i-fake, the effort naman eh nandu’n.”
Does he feel pressured over having a re-run, we asked.
“I have this point of view kasi na... I’m just gonna do the thing that was assigned to me as an actor and the rest is up to everyone else. As far as it being a hit, I don’t think it’s just about me doing good with what I’m doing. It’s a collaborative effort with the actors pati ’yung production, advertising,” he said.
Written by Harvey Fierstein, “Kinky Boots” is about Charlie, the son of a shoemaker who reluctantly takes up his father’s factory after his death. Then there’s Lola, a drag queen who’s fueled by her passion for shoes. The duo tries to save the factory from bankruptcy, and they eventually find themselves part of an uncanny bond that forms between their two worlds. Together they learn what it means to be each other’s friend despite their differences.
Weight off shoulders
Nyoy admitted that initially, he was scared portraying the role of a drag queen as he will be representing the LGBT community.
“I was so afraid of doing it wrong,” he said. “I didn’t want to misrepresent them.”
Well, even real drag queens have come up to him and congratulated him for a job well done.
“Kinky Boots” goes onstage at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of RCBC Plaza, Makati City from March 2 to 18.
If you see us sa bahay we are, like, playing around all the time, being stupid and crazy.