Staging of Popoy and Basha’s love story done almost perfectly
ADAPTING a pop culture sensation such as “One More Chance” into a musical can be a big risk for any production house. Happily, though, for the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) they were truly up to the task and were able to create a musical that, while slightly rough around the edges, is a musical gem nonetheless.
One More Chance follows the story of Popoy and Basha whose picture-perfect relationship crumbled due to pressure and conflicts. They try to move on and fix their individuals lives but their paths continue to cross and they were reminded of what they had. Ultimately, they have to decide if what’s left is worth saving.
The 2007 film was a box-office hit and cemented the statuses of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo who played Popoy and Basha.
The film’s iconic lines — “She had me at my worst, you had me at my best,” being one of them — resonated with the audience who found the simple yet realistic storyline of the movie relatable.
All those elements were present in PETA’s musical adaptation.
“One More Chance, The Musical” stayed true to the film’s narrative — from the opening sequence to the ending — but added a few tweaks to the benefit of the audience.
In the musical, theatergoers get to see more of the stories of Popoy and Basha’s friends — Kenneth, Krizzy, Anj, JP and Chinno — whose struggles are familiar with today’s generation.
While the original material is already 17 years old this year, the musical does not feel dated what with the clever use of today’s language and references. Anj coming to the party wearing a mesh cap that everyone who uses motorcycle taxis can recognize from afar? Definitely a gem.
Another favorite update that the audience during the media night can’t seem to get enough of was the Koreanization of Nanay Edith and Tito Willie.
In the movie, the couple, who brought together Popoy and Basha for the project, was from the US. But PETA surely knows the big influence of Korean culture in the country and chose Nanay Edith and Tito Willie to be the loving balikbayans who adopted the carefree life of ajummas and ajeossi. Their presence was a respite in the otherwise dramatic storyline.
As mentioned earlier, the musical — at least the version this author saw on opening night — was somewhat rough around the edges.
In addition to captivating the audience with their acting and singing talents, Sam Concepcion and Anna Luna faced another challenge portraying Popoy and Basha: convincing theatergoers that they are in a believable relationship. However, it appears they still have room for improvement in this aspect.
To be sure, Luna was a force in singing her parts and evoking the right emotions. Concepcion was the same. But together, the all-important kilig was not yet there. Perhaps, with the musical extending until June, this could be resolved.
To conclude this review, the author would like to give props to two standouts in the musical.
Concepcion is no stranger to theater, with “Peter Pan” and “Joseph the Dreamer” among his recent stage credits. He is also not a newbie in acting what with several project on television and films.
All those experiences were evident in his portrayal of Popoy. He delivered the defeated and hurt acting that Popoy’s role demanded. Impressively, he captured the big venue with intimate emotions that work so well when depicted in close shots for TV or film. This arguably could be his best performance yet.
Finally, the standout was the music of Ben&Ben that was integrated perfectly into show.
A total of 23 songs, including a bonus track, were expertly placed and arranged by Myke Solomon, the musical director and sound designer. As a result, the music the flows seamlessly without feeling forced.
Overall, One More Chance The Musical is a worthwhile and exciting watch for fans of the original movie, of Ben&Ben and of local theater enthusiasts in general.