Rock of Aegis celebrates the Pinoy
Will it be lovelier the third time around? PETA ( Philippine Educational Theater Association), headed by signature actress CB Garrucho, is bringing back its monster hit Rak of
Aegis for yet another extended run, after chalking up 135 performances in the first year of its showing alone.
This was announced at a recent press launch at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City ( www.petatheater.com). Play dates are from June 17 to Aug. 16, Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 p. m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 3 p. m. and 8 p. m.
Part of the success of the play may be traced to the innovative use of the music of the rock band of the ’ 90s, the Aegis, some of which have become standards. The lyrics were changed to heighten the comic or dramatic moments unfolding. Music direction and arrangement is by the multi- talented Myke Solomon.
Rak of Aegis, written by Liza Magtoto, is directed once again by Maribel Legarda. The celebrated stage design is by Mio Infante, with its boat and body of water, and choreography is by Gio Gahol.
The musical, told with warmth and humor, is set in Barangay Venizia, which has been waterborne for the past two months as a result of a fierce storm. The community is impoverished, and the sandals and shoe- making industry has been severely affected. Our heroine Aileen ( Aicelle Santos, Kim Molina), a singer, hopes to be a YouTube sensation, be discovered by Ellen Degeneres and earn lots of dollars to be able to help her parents and her community.
A new addition to the cast is Lorenz Martinez, who starred as San Lorenzo Ruiz in the Cayabyab-Dumol musical Lorenzo. Other theater stalwarts in the line- up include Kalila Aguiluz, OJ Mariano and Nor Domingo. Poppert Bernadas and Myke himself take turns playing Kenny, Aileen’s boyfriend, while Pepe Herrera and Jerald Napoles are Tolits, the hunky boatman who is a potential rival of Kenny.
“The play is not perfect in its entirety,” director Maribel said during the press conference. “We made small changes, but in the end, people enjoyed it. It celebrates what is Filipino, I think that works with the audience. It’s a collaboration: Artists, production, marketing, the press… a whole community of people.”
The story is the same, she observed. There is new casting, and some of the songs have been changed.
Will there be surprises, a media person asked.
“Well, there are new actors,” Maribel said. “The space is open for them to create, to come up with their own jologs. Each actor takes to it (the role). People come back for the music, for the pure joy of having a good time.”
She added, “it’s a chance for those who haven’t seen it yet. So bring your relatives, the balikbayan ( retiring Pinoys).”
People connect with the music, she reiterated: “May baha ( there’s a flood). Pinoys can relate to this, the comedy, the wonderful actors having a good time, so the audience has a good time, too. It’s so Pinoy, the downtrodden thinking things will change.”
PETA being noted for its social content, the director said, “I think we managed to get content, substance, without ramming it down your throat. All the elements came together. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, let’s get it out there.”
She concluded, “Live performance is a long-term idea, but it is coming out now. People need a new kind of entertainment. How alive theater is, Filipino musical theater!”