tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51232287167654738092024-02-19T10:40:58.509+08:002000 and Thinimcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-19674746889154802992011-04-18T10:51:00.000+08:002011-04-18T10:51:36.280+08:00CHASING TOFF: The Fix<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="No photo" class="floatleft" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_Image1" src="http://www.philstar.com/NewPhilstar/www/image/columnistPhotos/Christopher-De-Venecia.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: red; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: red; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: red; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: red; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;" /></td><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">The fix</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Christopher+De+Venecia" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a> <span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated April 18, 2011 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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</span><div id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img858.imageshack.us/img858/6500/lif2w.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">From castles to corporate companies: Daniel Radcliff stars in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying</span><a class="smaller" href="http://www.philstar.com/Photo.aspx?articleid=677371" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Broadway</span></span></a>, to me, is the Center of the Universe. Over a slew of annual trips to the Big Apple, I have become, what you can say, accustomed and preternaturally betrothed to the ins and outs of the enchanted city. Imagine the skyscrapers, the marquees, the playbills, the enormous billboards, the city lights, and the street singers melding together to paint the perfect scenery that can absolutely vivify and penetrate through one’s core existence. Broadway is definitely the Mecca of theater aficionados such as myself. And despite <i>Spider-man the Musical</i> making the utmost mockery of the industry through its failed multi-million dollar attempt at giving Peter Parker some acting chops, all roads definitely lead to <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">42nd </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">street</span></span></a> and the ever-exciting and evolving Great White Way.<br />
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While our local theater counterpart seems very much alive and resplendent in 2011 with muscle-packed shows like <i>Rent</i>, <i><a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Next </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">to </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Normal</span></span></a></i>, <i>Joy Luck Club</i>, <i>39 Steps</i>, and <i>Shakespeare Goes to Hollywood </i>(currently playing at the On-Stage Greenbelt Theater via Repertory Philippines), I can’t help but allow my mind to wander off to the place where it all started, where truth to tell, my love affair with theater thoroughly began. Browsing on-line in preparation for my upcoming New York trip, here are this season’s hottest new shows and musicals that are making, or will be making waves in the Big Apple once this Philippine Broadway eagle has landed.<br />
<div align="center"><b>‘Stars’ Spreading the news</b></div>Coming from his successful <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Broadway </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">debut</span></span></a> in <i>Equus</i>, Daniel Radcliffe, who is best known for his stint in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, tries his hand at a full-blown musical revival of the Frank <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Loesser</span></span></a> classic, <i>How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. </i>The piece, having won seven Tony Awards when it first opened in 1962 with a revival in 1995 starring Matthew Broderick, centers on a young window-cleaner who works his way up the corporate ladder to become an advertising executive in the World-Wide Wicket Company. Personally, I am thrilled to see Radcliffe sing and dance his way through this highly effervescent musical which promises an Old Broadway feel to it — something I’ve been craving for since my last experience at the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink5" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Lincoln </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Center</span></span></a> with South Pacific.<br />
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<div style="float: right; width: 350px;"><img alt="" src="http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/6241/lif2b350.jpg" /><span align="center" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: smaller;"><b>Strawberry field: Freckleface Strawberry is an enjoyable straight play about a girl covered in freckles.</b></span></div>Similarly, yet another Hollywood bigwig returns to the Big Apple for 2011 but offstage and behind-the-scenes via a musical adaptation of her autobiographical picture book <i>Freckleface Strawberry</i>. This actress is none other than award-winning Julianne Moore. I saw her perform several years ago in <i>The Vertical Hour</i> and while I usually get an A.D.D. attack watching straight plays, save for the recent tour-de-force performance of the Tony Award-winning <i>RED</i> starring Alfred Molina and Eddie Redmayne, I actually quite enjoyed myself on this one. The story centers on Strawberry, a seven-year-old redhead who is covered in freckles and is teased a lot in school. How she overcomes her insecurities, told through a storybook point-of-view and some feel-good Charlie Brown-esque melodies is the tensile strength of this children’s musical.<br />
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<div align="center"><b>Hollywood-centric</b></div>Not only are movie stars invading Broadway for 2011 but 42nd street seems to be going Hollywood-centric this year with a slew of film-to-stage adaptations. And no, they’re not necessarily movie musicals. Case in point. <i><a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink6" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Catch </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Me </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">If </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">You </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Can</span></span></a></i>. Yes, you heard it right — a stage musical adaptation of the hit Hollywood film which starred Leonardo DiCaprio. The show chases after Frank Abagnale Jr., a world-class con artist who jet sets, diagnoses, defends, and prosecutes his way to millions of dollars, all before he turns 19. But what happens when love ultimately catches up to him? The musical stars Broadway’s “it” leading man Aaron Tveit of <i>Next to Normal</i> fame, and features music by Marc <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink7" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: blue; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Shaiman</span></span></a> and Scott Wittman, the hit-makers of <i>Hairspray</i>.<br />
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Next up: a wildly contagious hit musical based on one of the most successful Australian movies of all time. <i>Priscilla, Queen of the Desert </i>flies to the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink8" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Great </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">White</span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Way</span></span></a> and packs one hell of a laugh while summoning utmost nostalgia. The musical centers on drag queen Mitzi del Bra, aka Tick, who hails from the distant town of Alice Springs in Australia and his journey with pals Bernadette and Adam in a large tour bus called “Priscilla Queen of the Desert.” They are on a quest to find friendship and true love — a tried and tested premise that proves parsimony is key to material perfection. The show has a Mamma Mia feel to it, featuring popular jukebox songs such as <i>What’s Love Got to Do With It? I Say A Little Prayer, I Love the Nightlife, Girls Just Wanna have Fun,</i> and <i>Boogie Wonderland</i>.<br />
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And finally, from Australia to the West End, another movie musical has made its way to Broadway. Give it up for disco diva and headliner Deloris Van Cartier as she dons the habit in <i><a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink9" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Sister </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Act</span></span></a></i>. This was the show I was looking forward to the most since I’m a huge fan of the movie; unfortunately, a lot of the songs, including <i>I Will Follow Him </i>have been excluded from this version. I’m not quite sure how this will work but I’m optimistic. The musical follows the story of Deloris who becomes an accidental witness to a murder and she is thus placed under the protective custody of the one place she is sure not to be found: a convent.<br />
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<div align="center"><b>Great expectations</b></div>There sure are a lot of great shows debuting on Broadway this year. Let’s not forget: the Sutton Foster starrer and revival of <i>Anything Goes, Wonderland,</i> a modern-day take on the classic Alice in Wonderland story set in New York City, <i><a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=677371&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink10" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">American </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Idiot</span></span></a></i> featuring the songs of Green Day, and the return of <i>Rent</i>. With its overseas counterpart looking mighty fierce in 2011, no wonder our local theater scene is hot on its tails. <i>Yowza!</i><br />
<i><img align="right" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/4567/lif2d.jpg" vspace="5" /></i><br />
<div align="center">* * *</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><i>Follow me on Twitter: imcalledtoffee. Or e-mail me at<a href="mailto:%20imcalledtoffee@mac.com" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"> imcalledtoffee@mac.com</a>.</i></div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-73012860405728270022011-04-18T03:34:00.002+08:002011-04-18T03:34:40.182+08:00CHASING TOFF: Dynamic Duo<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 265px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td width="250"><img align="left" src="http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/6572/ystar2y.jpg" width="250px" /></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="caption titlelink1" style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px;"><b>Charity’s case:</b> The dance hall hostess (Nikki Gil), falls for regular Joe Oscar (Kris Lawrence) in the musical <i>Sweet Charity</i>.</span></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><span class="articletitleblack1" style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 25px; font-weight: bold;">Dynamic duo </span><br />
<span class="author" style="color: #004276; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorname.aspx?AuthorName=[authorname]" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a></span> <span class="publish" style="color: #999999; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">The Philippine Star Updated April 15, 2011 12:00 AM</span><br />
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<span class="teaser titlelink1" style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
When you’re rapping about the business of show business, you’re probably reeling off on three kinds of individuals: the movie star, the TV personality, and the thespian. But due to the varying techniques, disciplines, and sometimes, even years of training that each one entails, for practitioners, it’s hardly ever an either-or.<br />
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Once in a blue moon, however, you encounter artists like Nikki Gil and Kris Lawrence who are willing to train and engage in a series of out-of-body experiences, all in pursuit of holistic, 360-degree artistic expression.<br />
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It must be all the Daniel Radcliffes, Christina Applegates, and Hugh Jackmans of this world all heading down the mountain of tinsel town and flying east to conquer the stage, and ultimately, the Great White Way. Such that when Nicholas Cage claims, “To be a good actor, you have to be something like a criminal, to be willing to break the rules to strive for something new,” you can’t help but wonder if he’s actually gabbing about the worthy endeavors of these two.<br />
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From preparations to sweet escapes, and for one of ‘em, what it’s like to share the stage and possibly a stage kiss with his best friend’s gal, <b>Young Star</b> gets up-close and personal with the stars of 9 Works Theatrical’s forthcoming musical extravaganza, the Bob Fosse dance comedy musical, <i>Sweet Charity.</i><br />
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<b>YOUNG STAR: What role do you play in the show?</b><br />
<b>Nikki Gil:</b><b> </b>I play Charity Hope Valentine, a genuinely “nice” individual who wanted nothing more than to be loved. She works as a dance hall hostess and easily falls for any guy who would give her the slightest bit of attention.<br />
<b>Kris Lawrence</b>: I play Oscar, Sweet Charity’s love interest. He’s a regular Joe Shmoe that somehow catches Charity’s attention with his boyish charm.<br />
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<b>You were last seen as Elle Woods in </b><b><i>Legally Blonde the Musical. </i></b><b>How would you compare the two roles?</b><br />
<b>Nikki:</b><b> </b>Elle’s journey revolved around getting Warner to love her. Charity’s journey revolves around getting <i>anyone </i>to love her. Charity is more naïve and more easily manipulated, which is why many take advantage of her kindness. Elle is more gutsy and feisty and knew what she had to do to get what she wanted. Both characters are easy to love and they are both fun.<br />
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<b>This is the first time you’re venturing into the world of musical theater. What made you decide to take the leap? </b><br />
<b>Kris</b><b>: </b>I’ve always been a fan of musicals, and my sister played Kim in <i>Miss Saigon </i>for six years… So, I thought I’d give it a shot and try something new.<br />
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<b>You’re playing a role that was popularized by Christina Applegate in a recent Broadway revival. Any pressure coming into this?</b><br />
<b>Nikki</b>: As soon as I am handed the responsibility of a role, the pressure begins. This is positive pressure, however. Christina Applegate did a fantastic job as Charity. Shirley MacLaine did an amazing job in the movie version. I believe the challenge is in creating my own version of Charity which, of course, would only be possible with the help of <i>direk</i> Robbie and a wonderful cast.<br />
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<b>How does it feel to be Nikki’s love interest? Do you have some sort of gentleman’s agreement with Billy?</b><br />
<b>Kris</b><b>: </b>You know what… one of the first questions I asked was if there’s going to be a kissing scene <i>kasi</i> she’s the girlfriend of one my best friends. When me and Billy were hangin’ out one night, he said, “Dude…that kiss better be a <i>staged </i>kiss, ayt?”<i>(laughs)</i> I think it’ll be fun actually.<br />
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<b><i>Sweet Charity</i></b><b> is known to be a heavy dance musical. I mean, it’s from the iconic Bob Fosse, creator of the musical</b><b><i>Chicago</i></b><b>. What kind of preparations are you doing for the role?</b><br />
<b>Nikki</b>: Bob Fosse’s style is very distinct. It’s the small details that separate this kind of dancing from other genres. I am definitely getting help from a professional and will be going through dance classes for this one.<br />
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<b>People know you to be the smooth R&B crooner. What kind of Kris Lawrence can people expect from this show?</b><br />
<b>Kris:</b><b> </b>Actually I’m kind of excited to see what different side of me it’ll bring out! This is <i>the opposite </i>of what I do. If R&B was night, this is day. If R&B is yin, this is yang. When I auditioned for the part, they asked me if I was willing to change the way I sang for this project. I laughed in my head ‘cause I pictured a Chris Brown image with a Josh Groban voice. I think it’s going to be an interesting fusion.<br />
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<b>Any fears or challenges coming into this?</b><br />
<b>Nikki</b>: Anything Bob Fosse is intimidating! But I believe with hard work, a fabulous cast and a fantastic director, we will be able to come up with a version of <i>Sweet Charity </i>unlike any other.<br />
<b>Kris:</b><b> </b>Jumping into something new always brings out the heebie-jeebies in people. I feel like I’m jumping into an ice-cold swimming pool butt-naked! But at the end of the day, it’s a performance and I’m very anxious to see what kind of performance God will course through me this time.<br />
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<b>What’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever done for someone?</b><br />
<b>Nikki</b>: My boyfriend’s family lives in the US. And for his birthday, he wanted nothing more than to be surrounded by family. So for his birthday dinner, I “lent” him my family and threw him a surprise party.<br />
<b>Kris:</b><b> </b>The sweetest thing I’ve ever done for someone was send them on a Scavenger Hunt with clues and at every stop was a nice gift for them to enjoy.<br />
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</b><br />
<b>Describe your sweetest escape.</b><br />
<b>Nikki</b>: I have always wanted to go to Paris.<br />
<b>Kris:</b><b> </b>For me and a special someone (whoever that may be) ... to spend a couple of days in Amanpulo. Every night, we’ll have dinner under the stars, just us two. Every morning, breakfast on the beach, and just great conversation all throughout.<br />
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<b>What’s your sweetest indulgence?</b><br />
<b>Nikki</b>: Anyone close to me will tell you that candy plays a major role in my diet. It is part of my food groups.<br />
<b>Kris:</b><b> </b>I’m such a sucker for chocolates! Can’t say no to them, especially Patchi and White Chocolate Royce!<br />
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</b><br />
<b>Finally, why should we see go see this musical?</b><br />
<b>Nikki: </b><i>Sweet Charity </i>is a classic! The music is beautiful and the choreography exciting!<br />
<b>Kris:</b><b> </b>It’s definitely gonna be a <i>huge </i>production. The female cast is an all-star line-up… And you’ll laugh a lot, that’s for sure. Great show-stopping numbers and you’ll see Nikki Gil at her best and me in a totally different element. And come on…9 Works is doing it!<br />
<div align="center">* * *</div>Sweet Charity<i>, the Bob Fosse dance-musical-comedy, will open in August at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, directed by Robbie Guevara. For show buying and fundraising opportunities, call 557-5860 or 0917-5545560, or visit www.9workstheatrical.com. You may also log on to www.facebook.com/9workstheatrical for more info about the show and the rest of the cast.</i>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-66558218253576754662011-03-21T03:07:00.001+08:002011-03-21T03:07:26.499+08:00HEALTH HAZARDI've been going around a lot of lies lately - I'm finding myself facing a huge crossroad. Where do I go?imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-43406866500962451352011-03-14T00:37:00.001+08:002011-03-14T00:50:46.741+08:00Circus, Circus<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Circus, circus</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Christopher+De+Venecia" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a> <span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated March 14, 2011 12:00 AM</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">There’s a certain feeling of romanticism evoked by the circus. The performing acts, the stunts, the costumes, the clowns, the incredulous set pieces, the eerie sort of enchanting music that accompanies each one are all part and parcel of the magnificent three hundred sixty-degree live experience of every circus spectator. Whether young or young at heart, audiences are moved and fundamentally captivated, all the while being kept on the edge of their seats.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEq5ArwMUJ_t4YoMbzYccJC_P4BEipi42ABKph5Rrm87SAp1Qap5WneymqygRWyG-w40oME5ftvBSnm0ETdFJVWALdfLTpgwHuRdAy8zpf9gG1xfXr7knoMzBtJDTG1ERPeKDJKKypi8/s1600/juggling02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEq5ArwMUJ_t4YoMbzYccJC_P4BEipi42ABKph5Rrm87SAp1Qap5WneymqygRWyG-w40oME5ftvBSnm0ETdFJVWALdfLTpgwHuRdAy8zpf9gG1xfXr7knoMzBtJDTG1ERPeKDJKKypi8/s320/juggling02.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Juggling. Photo by Rick Diamond. Costume by Eiko Ishioka.</b></div><br />
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Over the years, the circus has been able to entertain scores of audiences worldwide. But for one particular circus troupe, it has been able to go beyond the realms of unadulterated entertainment, making possible the impossible and informing audiences in as much as they are able to inspire and ignite their passion, sensitivities, and imagination. The group is quite possibly the foremost authority on anything ‘circus’-related as the word has grown synonymous and fantastically betrothed to the group’s existence. They are none other than Cirque du Soleil and they’re finally coming to Manila.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkiN70xsoH1gGukP_g0cdjO82GC4I4G6FOeaGktKkEK08BQgx3oarZ3w11vRzFkFY5f_sn5n-htwIreO-6IOgAZvV4EdIgblKwKLxps6-lGPV3OD8msNXNBspZlUttpxlPj-urpu_7U4/s1600/flightoficarus03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkiN70xsoH1gGukP_g0cdjO82GC4I4G6FOeaGktKkEK08BQgx3oarZ3w11vRzFkFY5f_sn5n-htwIreO-6IOgAZvV4EdIgblKwKLxps6-lGPV3OD8msNXNBspZlUttpxlPj-urpu_7U4/s320/flightoficarus03.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Flight of the Icarus. PHOTO by Benoit Camirand. Costume by Eiko Ishioka.</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Origins</strong></div>Cirque du Soleil literally means “Circus of the Sun.” Founded in 1984 by Canadian Guy Laliberte, the show was meant to carry out the festivities across the province of Quebec to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Canada’s discovery. Since the show had garnered considerable success during that time, it continued on, and has remained to this day, vibrant, indefatigable, and constantly in the making, performing to over hundreds of millions of spectators around the globe.<br />
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With over 5,000 employees worldwide, Cirque<i> </i>has also enabled thousands of artists of various cultural diversities to showcase their unique talents whether onstage or offstage. At present, the group is performing a total of 19 different shows, including <i>Quidam,</i> <i>Dralion</i>, <i>Corteo</i>, <i>Mystere</i> and <i>Zumanity</i>, to name a few, all in lieu of their mission to invoke the imagination, provoke the senses, and evoke the emotions of people around the globe.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Georgian Dance. PHOTO by Rick Diamond. Costume by Eiko Ishioka.</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <strong>Cirque-Xperience</strong></div>My first Cirque-xperience happened in 1998 when I first caught <i>O</i> at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The show, whose name is pronounced as<i>eau</i>, like “water” in the French vernacular, featured a gamut of water-themed acts over a stage that rose and fell to accommodate synchronized swimming, death drops, contortionists, trapeze, and quite possibly the most stunning imagery that accompanied each one. The hydraulics of the underwater stage lift made moments where the performers seem like they were dancing on top of the water possible and quite possibly, gave me the most breathtaking, albeit expensive, cirque-xperience of my life.<br />
Years later, I was able to catch <i>The Beatles’ Love</i>, a Cirque show that channeled the youthful energy of the British underground, underscored by aerial performances, extreme sports, and freestyle dance to the musical legacy of The Beatles. Of course by then, I was old enough to drink so I was able to enhance my viewing experience with a huge mug of frozen pina colada that made moments like <i>Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds</i>, incredibly trippy. It’s Vegas, baby! But watching Cirque substantiate and convey the essence of the Beatles through the conventions of the circus, I was reminded about Cirque du Soleil’s immense beauty and how a show that doesn’t necessarily follow the tell-all machinations of theater can still captivate audiences and give them the full breadth and depth of a relatable show.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Betrothed. PHOTO by Eric Piche. Costume by Eiko Ishioka.</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Varekai Comes To Manila</strong></div>Alas, as many others I assume, I am quite possibly a fan boy of Cirque du Soleil. Recollections of <i>O and The Beatles’ Love</i> to this day can still exact goose bumps usually brought about by powerful Broadway material; such that when I was invited to attend the media launch of Cirque du Soleil’s <i>Varekai </i>last Thursday at the prestigious Manila Hotel, I was floored and at the same time, titillated with the idea that my Cirqu<i>e</i>-xperiences would be recreated on Philippine soil.<br />
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The word <i>Varekai</i> means “wherever” in the Romany language of the gypsies — the universal wanderers. Written and directed by Dominic Champagne, the show pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to those who quest with infinite passion along the path that leads to <i>Varekai</i>.<br />
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Paying tribute to the ancient and rare circus traditions of Icarian games, Water Meteors, and the Georgian dance, the show promises an explosive fusion of drama and acrobatics, displaying skill and power set against innovative music and otherworldly sets, interwoven with choreography that speaks to all in the universal language of movement.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Russian Swings. PHOTO by Patrick Bernath. Costume by Eiko Ishioka.</b></div><i><br />
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<i>Varekai </i>will premiere on June 21 for a limited engagement under the blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) located at the Luneta, across Quirino Grandstand. Tickets are on sale at www.hoopla.ph or www.cirquedusoleil.com. For inquiries, call 775-0939, 881-0947, 0919-4508125 and 0917-4436463. The show is co-presented by The Mania Hotel.</div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-48716632219888307022011-02-20T15:25:00.000+08:002011-02-20T15:25:45.318+08:00Existential Crisis: Action Vs. SelfI Kinda need to be leaving in a bit for the matinee show of Rent today.<br />
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But lately, I've been thinking a lot about where I am at this point of my life, and where exactly I wanna go.<br />
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I've left SM already and I'm now full-time with 9 Works Theatrical. The ride has been hella fun, and hella stressful given that I am now PR and Marketing Director for the company - a lot of responsibility for someone my age. Thankfully, I'm able to keep up with the demands of the job, though I'm thoroughly understaffed. Not the point. Point is: the nature of the business is that you're busy as far as before the show opens (in the pre-production stages), but once it does, it's like all of a sudden, I have all this time on my hands. Time. Something I'm not entirely comfortable with.<br />
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Too much time on my hands makes me uneasy. It's like now, I don't know what do anymore coz I wake up everyday and there's less and less things-to-do on my planner. I always say that man is the sum of all his actions. You are essentially what you do. But if I'm not doing anything, then who am I? I'm a workhorse, a slave to my work - but when there's nothing for me to do at the moment, it's like I have no anchor... Unlike when I was in SM, it was always work, work, work. What do I do?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBj3WcdfGxhzhAqNQn0UGKEP8DUF79192gEtsQ_yUUeVyvRYf_J9LVMrIa6KqRHbulJ0QeWZq97_X7QQOsOSfWA-sBCKoLFdKQX5zohFKccwYj6q3baBqzmR8E5PnXnYQa_xBzNdyoOE/s1600/IMG_0630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBj3WcdfGxhzhAqNQn0UGKEP8DUF79192gEtsQ_yUUeVyvRYf_J9LVMrIa6KqRHbulJ0QeWZq97_X7QQOsOSfWA-sBCKoLFdKQX5zohFKccwYj6q3baBqzmR8E5PnXnYQa_xBzNdyoOE/s400/IMG_0630.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-39574324512728544132011-01-24T00:24:00.000+08:002011-01-24T00:24:23.915+08:00CHASING TOFF: Give Us a Break<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="No photo" class="floatleft" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_Image1" src="http://www.philstar.com/NewPhilstar/www/image/columnistPhotos/Christopher-De-Venecia.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: red; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: red; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: red; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: red; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;" /></td><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Give us a break</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Christopher+De+Venecia" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a> <span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated January 24, 2011 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=650737&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=650737&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/682/lif2o.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">The cast of Breakups and Breakdowns — Carla Guevara-Laforteza (Nina), Reuben Uy (Derek), Joel Trinidad (Mark), and Emerita Alcid (Sandy)</span><a class="smaller" href="http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7782/lif2hires.jpg" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">It was August 1998 or 1999 when actor-comedian, SPIT (Silly People’s Improv Theater) founding member, and Awit-Award nominee Joel Trinidad had a meeting with a guy who was running 30 minutes late. Unfortunately, Joel couldn’t just “up” and leave so he decided to “Up” — start his own theater company called “Up”-start Productions.” Okay, that was a pathetic attempt to match Joel’s wit and humor — a guy I’ve known through the years as someone who always has something fascinating to say.<br />
<br />
(Quick anecdote: I remember backstage in a play we did together for Rep. He mentioned to me the term “le mot juste” which means “finding the appropriate word or expression” for what you mean because things don’t always have to boil down to being “good” or “cool.” It’s one of those random things that Joel tended to blurt out but something that stuck with me over the years. Anyway…)<br />
That’s not exactly how you connect the dots between Joel Trinidad and Manila’s newest theater company, Upstart Productions. But barreling through the wait, Joel decided to write a song, tap the musical director of Hong Kong <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=650737&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Disneyland</span></span></a>, and the rest, they say, is history. (Okay, more on Rony Fortich later, yes, the guy who composed the songs to the show).<br />
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“The first song I wrote was about a relationship. And once you start writing about relationships, you realize there’s just so much material to work with,” shares Joel Trinidad who is a 20-year (sometimes 20-year-old) veteran of the stage, having appeared in numerous productions such as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Avenue Q, The Rocky Horror Show, and the Asian premiere of Rent. He adds, “You’ve got your funny anecdotes, your dates from hell, your broken heart — it’s universal. There’s no end to it.”<br />
<br />
But beyond the countless productions and the esteem that an actor of his caliber can pride under his belt, nothing, to this writer, trumps the fact that Joel is probably the only actor in town who can manage to write his own piece of material, produce it, direct it, and take the liberties of starring in it — all in one blow. And it’s a musical for crying out loud — a segment of the performing arts which employs of its practitioners some serious, not-to-be-underestimated triple threat skills. The material? Breakups and Breakdowns.<br />
<br />
Mark (Joel Trinidad), a young playwright, is putting the finishing touches to a play about finding that one perfect girl. Derek (Reuben Uy), Mark’s roommate and best friend, thinks that Mark would be better off actually meeting women instead of just writing about them. Derek, a notorious playboy, meets gorgeous and flirtatious Sandy (Emerita Alcid Trinidad) who seems to be the female version of Derek and puts the former in distress. What he doesn’t know is that Sandy is only feigning aloofness to keep Derek interested, as she was too needy, earnest and available in a past relationship. One stormy night, Nina (Carla Guevara-Laforteza) knocks on her ex-boyfriend Mark’s door and the two soon realize that there may be something still going on between them. And then Derek and Sandy arrive unexpectedly which to everyone’s amazement, reacquaints Mark with someone he used to call by another name, back when the latter was a little too needy, a little too earnest, and a little too available.<br />
Reuben Uy, who plays Derek, reveals, “The script is basically Joel’s life. It’s been through a lot of changes but it’s still very current because it’s about everyone’s favorite topic — love.” As you know, there’s no better way to stir the love bug and put the finishing touches to a witty piece of material than to employ some fabulous, well-crafted counterpoints. Enter: Rony Fortich, the brilliant musical director of Hong Kong Disneyland.<br />
<br />
Emerita Alcid Trinidad, Joel’s real-life sweetheart who plays Sandy, shares, “Rony did such a wonderful job putting everything together and composing. Joel and Rony really talked about how they wanted their songs to be. It’s a great team.” Rony wrote Breakups and Breakdowns with Joel in 2005 before moving to Hong Kong. The former also wrote the music to Stages’ recent hit, N.O.A.H (No Ordinary Aquatic Habitat).<br />
<br />
Carla Guevara-Laforteza, who pays Nina, ends, “It’s a comedy and romantic musical. We all love a little laugh and my God, Joel Trinidad breaking into song, wouldn’t want to look forward to that, right?” (No Carla, it’s not “Right!” It’s “Up!” You know, like “Upstart!” No? I give up. There can only be one Joel Trinidad).<br />
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<div align="center">* * *</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>Breakups and Breakdowns will be showing at Teatrino, The Promenade, Greenhills on the following dates and times: Feb. 18, 19, 25 and 26, March 4, 5, 11 & 12 at 8 p.m.; Feb. 19 and 26, March 5 and 12 at 3 p.m. For ticket inquiries, contact <a href="mailto:upstarttickets@gmail.com" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;">upstarttickets@gmail.com</a> or visit <a href="http://www.upstartproductionsinc.com/" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;">www.upstartproductionsinc.com</a>.</div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-81439929190356479272010-12-20T11:07:00.002+08:002010-12-20T11:07:38.070+08:00CHASING TOFF: Something is Stirring<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="No photo" class="floatleft" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_Image1" src="http://www.philstar.com/NewPhilstar/www/image/columnistPhotos/Christopher-De-Venecia.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: red; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: red; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: red; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: red; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;" /></td><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Something is stirring</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Christopher+De+Venecia" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a> <span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated December 20, 2010 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=640813&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=640813&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7638/lif6.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">The cast of The 39 Steps — Michael Williams, Rem Zamora, Jeff Arcilla and Liza Infante</span><a class="smaller" href="http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/5956/lif6hires.jpg" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">A couple of months ago, I was privileged enough to have been invited to the grand launch of Repertory Philippines’ 2011 season at the prestigious Enderun College. Aptly titled, “Something is Stirring,” a cut from Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece and one of my personal favorites, <i>Merrily We Roll Along</i>, I was delighted to see a bevy of Philippine Theater’s finest and upcoming actors coming together to celebrate a renewed promise and excitement over some fantastical new shows from the company that started it all.<br />
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More than 40 years in the industry, Repertory Philippines is home to many of our country’s finest talents who have graced both the local and international stage. Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Michael Williams, Audie Gemora, Leo Martinez, Bernardo Bernardo, Ana Abad- Santos, Rem Zamora, Robbie Guevara, Chari Arespacochaga, Liesl Batucan, Miguel Faustmann, Baby Barredo, Joy Virata, and Bibot Amador, the household names that are part and parcel to Rep’s constellation of stars run the gamut.<br />
<br />
Rep has been a training ground for many artists who have gone on to work in London, Germany, Macau, Singapore, New York, and Hong Kong, and done our country proud. It is thus befitting that a new home in Ortigas, a new associate artistic director, and five brand new shows for 2011 deserve a seasonal launch in true theatrical fashion.<br />
<br />
It’s a known fact that not all great actors make great directors. But there are a few who manage to do both and excel as testament to their inherent talent, instinct, charisma, years of theater training and experience, and some truly great artistry. Enter Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, the “First Lady of Philippine Theater,” now a bona fide theater director, an actor’s director, and Rep’s newly minted associate artistic director. Menchu was at the directorial helm of the 2008 restaging of Stages’ <i>West Side Story</i> (her first!) and the recently concluded <i>Little Women</i> (her second, and for me, one of the best theater pieces of 2010). Both musicals have earned her accolades from amongst the local theatergoing set. Her addition to Rep’s in-house artistic team is one that truly excites.<br />
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She relates, “We’ve picked an exciting selection of shows that are sure to stimulate theatergoers.” Enter: <i>The Joy Luck Club</i> (Feb. 4 to Feb. 20). Based on the beloved book by Amy Tan, <i>The Joy Luck Club</i> is a chorus of eight voices telling scores of tightly woven stories. It tells of the lives of four Chinese immigrant women and their four American-born daughters, brought together through a single vision of rich complexity — maternal bonds, filial frustrations, native superstitions and cultural divide. <i>The Joy Luck Club</i> will be helmed by famed director, Anton Juan.<br />
<br />
<div style="float: right; width: 257px;"><img alt="" src="http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6835/lif6b257.jpg" /><span align="right" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: smaller;"><b></b></span></div><b>Enter:</b> <i>The 39 Steps</i> (March 4 to 20), a comedy thriller based on Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece. I recently saw this on Broadway, and quite frankly didn’t enjoy it. Then again, the material hadn’t yet encountered the genius of Aliw award-winning actress and director Ana Abad Santos. <i>39 Steps</i> is a fast-paced whodunit “with over 150 zany characters played by a cast of four,” says Yulo. She adds, “There will be non-stop laughs as audiences witness missing fingers, a plane crash and some good ol’ fashioned romance!”<br />
<br />
<b>Enter: </b><i>Shakespeare in Hollywood</i> (April 1 to 7). This is the play that excites me the least. There’s something about Shakespeare that is off-putting to a contemporary theatergoer, more so, the horrific title and ridiculous premise. Shakespeare’s most famous fairies, Oberon and Puck, end up on the Hollywood set of Max Reinhardt’s <i>A Midsummer Night’s Dream</i>. Smitten by the glitz and glamour of showbiz, they end up playing (who else?) themselves on the silver screen. It sounds to me like a DVD movie you can buy off the<i>tiangge</i>. Unless Rep manages to put a spin to it á la what Abad Santos did in her fabulous<i>Mad Max</i> re-imagination of <i>Hamlet</i>, I’m not so sure that this would be the best way to conclude a Rep season. Then again...<br />
<br />
<b>Off to better things:</b> <i>Seussical the Musical</i> (Aug. 13 to Dec. 11). Repertory has always had a special place for young audiences through its Children’s Theater. Conceptualized by Joy Virata, Rep’s former associate artistic director, its aim is to train the new generation to make theatergoing a regular habit. Now, if only schools would make an effort to train their students to observe proper theater etiquette as Lea Salonga has previously written about in her column. For <i>Seussical</i>, Tony Award-winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (<i>Ragtime</i>and <i>Once on this Island</i>) bring to life the colorful characters from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.<br />
<br />
<b>And finally: </b><i>Peter Pan</i> (Sept. 29 to Oct. 30), an exciting collaboration between Repertory Philippines and Stages which will be staged at the Meralco Theater. With the exception of <i>Peter Pan</i>, all Rep shows are usually staged at the Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1. With actor Sam Concepcion in the title role, joined by Tippy dos Santos as Wendy, the show will be co-directed by Jaime del Mundo and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. George Stiles and Anthony Drew (<i>Honk!</i> and Disney’s <i>Mary Poppins</i>) are composer and lyricist of the show. <i>Peter Pan</i> is a spectacular musical where the actors will fly right before the audience’s eyes.<br />
<br />
Something is indeed stirring for Repertory Philippines. With the addition of Yulo and five new shows for its 2011 season, audiences will surely realize why nobody does a show like Rep does. For ticket inquiries and other information, call Repertory Philippines at 571-6926, 571-4941, or email info@repertory-philippines.com. Tickets are also available at Ticketworld at 891-9999 or <a href="http://www.ticketworld.com.ph./" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;">www.ticketworld.com.ph.</a><br />
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</div></div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-47464926279997775732010-12-17T09:55:00.001+08:002010-12-17T09:57:15.693+08:00PRAYER FOR KCIt's been six years since you passed away. Hope wherever you are, you're well and okay. Love you very much KC =) I know I don't think about you as much anymore - but you're always in my heart =)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1sSAXycbq14qWAoN7Xj20YXyPyB_zRGg4lRDC37a0Z5wnLsULTMa35GPX4WarMypWhPDXEfAFNU6YthpmCnM81bARbjrekP1VJG4Z2ox1QTR6W362qcrASf1wkV0iZpOuVZCujnH8mU/s1600/KC-Reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1sSAXycbq14qWAoN7Xj20YXyPyB_zRGg4lRDC37a0Z5wnLsULTMa35GPX4WarMypWhPDXEfAFNU6YthpmCnM81bARbjrekP1VJG4Z2ox1QTR6W362qcrASf1wkV0iZpOuVZCujnH8mU/s400/KC-Reading.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 27px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;">PRAYER FOR KC<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By Christopher de Venecia</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></i><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">I dreamt once of a child who walked by her mother’s side,</div><div class="MsoNormal">She ran through valleys, scaled mountains, and crossed oceans far and wide.</div><div class="MsoNormal">She spoke her mind, loved adventure, and set off to conquer the world</div><div class="MsoNormal">One journey after another, her legacy unfurled…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There was a hunger in her eyes that showed so much spark,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Her insatiable passion could overthrow the dark,</div><div class="MsoNormal">She was a light that brought fondness to all of our hearts,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Until such time tragedy tore us apart.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I dreamt once of a child who spoke with so much hope,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Who, despite extraordinary circumstances, had learned to cope,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Cousin, daughter, sister, and to most, a friend,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Her unwavering loyalty transcended ‘til the end…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She was unique, in any form, shape or way</div><div class="MsoNormal">Her radiance was unlike any that had ever seen the day,</div><div class="MsoNormal">She was a ray of sunshine that always shone bright,</div><div class="MsoNormal">But the flames were overwhelming that one awful night…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I dreamt once of a child who waited for life to start,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Her future ahead of her – so much excitement in her heart</div><div class="MsoNormal">She could’ve sang a few songs, taken up fashion, or law,</div><div class="MsoNormal">She had a way of seeing things that kept us in awe…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She was everything a star had destined to become</div><div class="MsoNormal">Living life to the fullest would become her solemn psalm</div><div class="MsoNormal">She became her own woman, tore away the silver spoon,</div><div class="MsoNormal">But like a thief in the night, her life was gone too soon.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I dreamt once of a child that had simply been away</div><div class="MsoNormal">on a very long sojourn, in Paris, Rome, or Saint Tropez,</div><div class="MsoNormal">That I’d walk into a room, and she’d finally be back</div><div class="MsoNormal">as we catch up on her travels and I help her unpack…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Her absence has made my heart grow fonder,</div><div class="MsoNormal">I talk with her continuously, hug her tight, then wonder,</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Will this beautiful reverie ever come to an end?”<br />
And then I awoke, short of breath – my tears all spent.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was just another dream – happiness and then pain,</div><div class="MsoNormal">The thought of your passing is more than I can take,</div><div class="MsoNormal">KC, my dear KC who left me all too soon,</div><div class="MsoNormal">How are you? Are you happy? I look towards the moon.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Six years have passed KC since you left us here,</div><div class="MsoNormal">The wounds are less, but not completely healed,</div><div class="MsoNormal">I know that we can rendezvous in the happiest of dreams</div><div class="MsoNormal">But happiness is not always what it seems. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am happy that you are with our Maker</div><div class="MsoNormal">But I’d be happier if you left us much, much later,</div><div class="MsoNormal">When we’re all together old, and all together grey,</div><div class="MsoNormal">For now, as forever, I solemnly pray:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I look forward to the day that I’ll get back my friend,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dear Lord, strengthen me, comfort me ‘til the end.</div><div class="MsoNormal">For now, I’ll take comfort in passing butterflies,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pick up the pieces, strive to live, as my hopeful compromise,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I love you KC with all my heart,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dear Lord, through my countenance, KC will never depart.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Six years will be seven, and seven will be ten,</div><div class="MsoNormal">‘til such day, we finally will meet again.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Amen.</div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-24034096440200003242010-12-11T12:46:00.001+08:002010-12-11T12:46:33.611+08:00THE ROMANTICGrab a copy of this month's issue of STATUS Magazine =)<br />
Wrote a piece on New York-based photographer Jimmy Fontaine...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOqNCEy34CWEAOGoCqDXSd4tOOrvrTcET_NuNMgwdPzuELbW4vwOqCvHOIKSAqLqQh9qS4Xs7KzvcUvXWWlIb7arQhLAUmrtEh-yOAWEUnkwOHscC_kRpbG1cHRP9EjSlQr0okZrsvwA/s1600/STATUS16-59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOqNCEy34CWEAOGoCqDXSd4tOOrvrTcET_NuNMgwdPzuELbW4vwOqCvHOIKSAqLqQh9qS4Xs7KzvcUvXWWlIb7arQhLAUmrtEh-yOAWEUnkwOHscC_kRpbG1cHRP9EjSlQr0okZrsvwA/s320/STATUS16-59.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-68169867649596904572010-12-06T01:24:00.000+08:002010-12-06T01:24:36.728+08:00CHASING TOFF: 'COZ EVERYTHING IS RENT<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="No photo" class="floatleft" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_Image1" src="http://www.philstar.com/NewPhilstar/www/image/columnistPhotos/Christopher-De-Venecia.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: red; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: red; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: red; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: red; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;" /></td><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">'Coz everything is 'Rent'</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Christopher+De+Venecia" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a> <span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated December 06, 2010 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=636464&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=636464&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/7390/lif20.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">Fredison Lo as Mark Cohen, Mian Dimacali as Maureen Johnson, and Jenny Villegas as Joanne Jefferson in Rent, which will have a limited run of eight performances at the Power Plant Cinema 2 starting Dec. 8</span><a class="smaller" href="http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/5880/lif2hires0.jpg" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">If there’s one musical that perfectly captures the angst and essence of our generation, it’s probably Jonathan Larson’s rock opera, <i>Rent</i> — a Tony and Pulitzer award-winning neo-contemporary masterpiece based on Giacomo Puccini’s <i>La Boheme</i>. The show, which opened in Broadway back in 1996 and holds the record of being the ninth-longest-running show on Broadway before closing in 2008, tells the story of young bohemians struggling to survive in the Lower East Side boroughs of Alphabet City during the rise of a mysterious virus known as AIDS. The show is also responsible for popularizing the hit song <i>Seasons of Love</i>, which is sung by the entire cast during the opening of Act 2.<br />
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There is probably no man on earth who hasn’t heard of the popular jukebox tune. A permanent fixture on commercial sound systems and radio stations during the Holiday season,<i>Seasons of Love </i>is also a fail-safe go-to for most Valentine’s concerts and even during weddings (I recently attended one that played it during the processional). I mean, how can you not fall in love or get all fuzzy with a song that counts the many ways in which a person can measure a year in his or her life? “In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee,” the means are endless. But for Roger, Mimi, Maureen, Angel, Collins, and the bohemians of Alphabet City, audiences come to realize just this — in a year lambasted with poverty, adversity, disease, and existentialist struggle entangled with an artist’s plight for self-actualization, every minute counts.<br />
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<i>525,600</i> minutes — Jonathan Larson conceptualized the powerful numeric that follows after the momentous opening beats of <i>Seasons of Love, </i>subsequently giving rise to the many pillars through which musical theater stands today. As we’ve mentioned, there’s <i>Seasons of Love </i>that strikes a chord in the hearts of young and old alike, not to mention the many other songs that comprise the powerful score that Larson created right before his untimely death on the day that<i> Rent</i> officially opened in the Great White Way.<br />
<div style="float: right; width: 200px;"><img alt="" src="http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/8405/lif2b200.jpg" /><span align="center" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: smaller;"><b>Sheree Bautista plays Mimi Marquez</b></span></div>Also, the show, through its powerful message of love and “No Day But Today,” was able to shed light on such issues as AIDS, HIV, and homosexuality – matters that were once seen as taboo to the general populace. <i>Rent</i> also popularized “The Lottery” system, an avenue through which financially challenged theatergoers are able to afford premium tickets to go see a play on Broadway as Larson himself had dealt with financial struggle while serving as a waiter at the Moondance Diner.<br />
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Furthermore, the show was able to jumpstart the careers of Adam Pascal, Taye Diggs, and Idina Menzel who played Roger, Benny, and Maureen respectively in the original cast. Menzel would eventually play Elphaba in the hit Broadway show, <i>Wicked</i> and Rachel Berry’s mom in <i>Glee</i>.<br />
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Overall, the show’s greatest contribution to Broadway was that it was able to rehash and redefine the rules of musical theater through its rock-operatic score — eventually enabling such musicals as <i>Spring Awakening</i>, <i>Next to Normal</i> and <i>American Idiot</i> to conquer the Great White Way.<br />
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For the holiday season, 9 Works Theatrical and Power Plant Cinema proudly bring back “the musical that changed the face of Broadway forever,” <i>Rent</i> which had sold-out performances last February at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC. Due to insistent public demand, <i>Rent</i> is back for a limited run at the Power Plant Cinema 2.<br />
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<div style="float: left; width: 200px;"><img alt="" src="http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/9030/lif2c200.jpg" /><span align="center" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: smaller;"><b>Robbie Guevara directs 9 Works Theatrical and Power Plant Cinema’s Rent.</b></span></div>Returning to the show is Gian Magdangal as Roger Davis who will be sharing the stage this time around with real-life girlfriend Sheree Bautista as Mimi Marquez. Sheree, a former member of the Viva Hot Babes, will be alternating with stage veteran Amparo Sietereales who played the role of Mimi many years back in a previous staging of <i>Rent</i>. Also returning to the show are Fredison Lo as Mark Cohen, OJ Mariano as Tom Collins, AJ Bautista as Angel, Jenny Villegas as Joanne Jefferson, and Mark Tayag, Gary Junsay, Johann dela Fuente, Harold Cruz, and Peachy Atilano as part of the ensemble.<br />
For the December run, they will be joined by Mian Dimacali who bravely tackles the role of Maureen Johnson, Lorenz Martinez as Benny, Sab Jose as Alexi Darling, and Pam Imperial as the Homeless Lady who sings the powerful high note in <i>Seasons of Love</i>.<br />
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The show is directed by Robbie Guevara, with musical direction by Onyl Torres and Ricky Villante, set design by Mio Infante, lights design by Martin Esteva, sound design by Chuck Ledesma, costume styling by Bek Soriano, and additional choreography by Francis Matheu.<br />
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<i>Rent</i> will have a limited run of eight performances at the Power Plant Cinema 2, Dec. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 (8 p.m.), and Dec. 10, 11, and 12 (4 p.m.). Get your tickets now at the Power Plant Cinema ticket booth. For tickets, call 898-1440 or 898-1441, or 0908-8692988.<br />
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<i>Rent</i> is brought to you by Rockwell Land, Rockwell Club, Power Plant Mall, Metro Society, Velvet Channel, and Basement Salon, and is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), 421 West 54th Street, New York, New York 10019 – tel: (212) 541 4684<a href="mailto:www.mtishows.com." style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;">www.mtishows.com.</a></div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-10167561696414951392010-11-29T19:25:00.000+08:002010-11-29T19:25:05.734+08:00CHASING TOFF: FROM TV TO STAGE<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="No photo" class="floatleft" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_Image1" src="http://www.philstar.com/NewPhilstar/www/image/columnistPhotos/Christopher-De-Venecia.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: red; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: red; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: red; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: red; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;" /></td><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">From TV to stage</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Christopher+De+Venecia" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a> <span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated November 29, 2010 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=634273&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=634273&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/929/lif60.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;"><br />
</span><a class="smaller" href="http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/2175/lif6hires0.jpg" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">Writing for stage is very different from writing for TV,” quips Gilbeys Z. Sardea who has been writing for ABS-CBN drama shows such as <i>Maalaala Mo Kaya</i>, <i>Your <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=634273&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Song</span></span></a></i>, <i>Tanging Yaman</i>, and<i> Habang May Buhay </i>for more than eight years now.<br />
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“The process in writing for <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=634273&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">TV</span></span></a> is very tedious. A material needs to go through a long process before it’s produced and aired.” As opposed to writing for the stage, in which the process is not that long. In writing for TV, a script writer has to make each scene worth watching because people might easily switch channels at the touch of their remote controls; whereas when writing for the stage, the author has to give the material time and space to linger.<br />
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“I must say, the transition in writing from TV to stage wasn’t that easy,” relates Gilbeys who considers his “Postcard” <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=634273&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">episode</span></span></a> starring Cherie Gil, Perla Bautista and Armando Goyena for <i>Maalaala Mo Kaya</i> as his most personal work yet. In the process, he had to change his writing style and how he envisioned the outcome to be. He adds, “I had to go back to the basics of writing and push my guts more to let all the emotions go into the script that I write.”<br />
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On stage, each <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=634273&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">emotion</span></span></a> has to be more intense and bigger because it’s live. In stage sensibility, the story has to be larger than life — so clear and so precise such that when it’s delivered, it will reach all the way to the back of the theater, so that even the deafest and oldest of grandmas will still understand it.<br />
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Such was the feat that Gilbeys had taken upon himself to conquer when agreeing to write the full-length musical <i>Fuse</i>, a Filipino musical put together by the Economia Church of Christ (Eco). “My inspiration for writing it was the concerns of the Christian youth today,” he continues. “I am very much alarmed with the problems and challenges that the youth face today. And I want to let other kids and parents know that the youth today have different concerns.”<br />
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In writing for the stage, just like for TV, a judicious amount of <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=634273&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">research</span></span></a> is required of the writer in weaving the material together. He recalls a <i>Maalaala Mo Kaya</i> episode he wrote which starred Carlo Aquino, Emman Abeleda, Jaclyn Jose and Ricky Davao where he got to meet the mother whose sons both died one after another because of different illnesses. In <i>Fuse</i>, while Gilbeys was given some initial material to work with, he had to take it upon himself to indulge in a more personal kind of research that gave rise to each character being a composite of the different people he knew.<br />
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The <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=634273&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink5" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">musical</span></span></a> relates the story of five Christian teenagers with different problems, who like any other teens, rely on their own strengths to face their personal challenges. They soon realize that it is only with God’s grace that they can truly overcome adversity.<br />
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<i>Fuse</i> features talents from Eco’s youth ministry The show is directed by Amiel Mendoza, with Nelson Caruncho as vocal coach, Jenny Jamora, Cris Villonco, and Jean Judith Javier as acting coaches, Rycher Christian Alfonso of the Philippine All Stars teaching dance, and choreography by Nhaz Maniego<br />
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The show is set for Dec. 4, at the Adamson University, San Marcelino, St. Ermita, Manila at 8 p. m. For tickets, SMS 0917-8271218, or 0922-8175418, or e-mail <a href="mailto:fusetickets@yahoo.com." style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;">fusetickets@yahoo.com.</a><br />
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</div></div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-17786484571422142202010-10-25T02:53:00.002+08:002010-10-25T02:53:52.937+08:00CHASING TOFF: UN-DAWN-TED<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="No photo" class="floatleft" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_Image1" src="http://www.philstar.com/NewPhilstar/www/image/columnistPhotos/Christopher-De-Venecia.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: red; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: red; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: red; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: red; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;" /></td><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">'Un-Dawn-ted'</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Christopher+De+Venecia" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a> <span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated October 25, 2010 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=623865&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=623865&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/3285/lif2vass.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">Thanks to the nurturing of director Bobby Garcia who was the artistic glue that gelled everything together. This is one of Bobby’s best works to date. Bravo, Bobby!</span></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">Currently on Broadway with the talented Bernadette Peters in the role of Desiree Armfeldt, <i>A Little Night Music</i>, Sondheim’s celebrated masterpiece that features the seminal hit, <i>Send in the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=623865&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Clowns</span></span></a></i>, recently reopened in the Great White Way with a tour-de-force performance from Catherine Zeta-Jones. Her regality and candor suited the role of Desiree so much and the “quietness” that the piece demanded, acting inwards and drawing audiences towards the actor rather than doing an outward and bombastic performance ala Gyspy Rose, that she won accolades in the recent Tony Awards as Best <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=623865&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Actress</span></span></a> in a Musical.<br />
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Now I didn’t really get to catch <i>A Little Night Music</i> on my recent trip to New York — reason being that it was the in-between rehearsal period of the show from Catherine Zeta-Jones to Bernadette Peters. And I have not seen any other version of the show for that matter. But after catching Atlantis Production’s local staging, featuring showbiz scion and the very beautiful Dawn Zulueta as Desiree Armfeldt, I may as well have come face to face with Zeta-Jones and some Broadway-level caliber interpreted on our local soil. Atlantis Production’s <i>A Little Night Music</i> was nothing short of breathtaking, fascinating, and life-changing as I walked away from the theater, stunned, haunted, and a reinforced aficionado and disciple of Stephen Sondheim (who is the show’s brilliant composer).<br />
<br />
Based on Ingmar Bergman’s film, <i>Smiles of Summer Night,</i> <i>A Little Night Music</i> is a witty and urbane<a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=623865&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">musical</span></span></a> set in waltz time. The action takes place in a weekend country house in turn-of-the-century Sweden, where surprising liaisons, long-simmering passions, and a taste of love’s endless possibilities are brought to light.<br />
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There is of course Desiree Armfeldt at the center of a humorous tug-of-war between Frederik Egerman, played by the excellent Nonie Buencamino, and Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm played by the comical Jake Macapagal. Both men, contrasting in personalities, are initially betrothed, and thus become adulterous to their respective wives — conjuring a messy Melrose web that entangles the show’s primary players. Frederik Egerman is married to the young Anne Egerman, played by the wonderful and amazingly comical Cris Villonco while the Count is married to Charlotte Malcolm, played by the beautiful Jenny Jamora. Adding to the mix is Felix Rivera who plays Henrik, Frederik’s son who we discover later on, to be in love with his stepmother Anne. The Melrose web climaxes when all the primary players travel to spend a <i>Weekend in the Country</i>, upon the invatation of Desiree and her mother, Madame Armfeldt, played by Jay Glorioso — the role played in the Broadway revival by Angela Lansbury.<br />
<br />
Apart from the joyous and breathtaking performances and Mio Infante’s gorgeous chrysalis-looking set that encrusts the Carlos P. Romulo stage and paints the mood for each scene as it is transformed each time with Dong Calingacion’s lighting design, not to mention the powerful support from the likes of Teenee Chan and Raul Montesa, among other narrators in the show, accolades should be given to both Dawn Zulueta and Nonie Buencamino who, for this writer, are the luminous stars of <i>A Little Night Music</i>.<br />
<br />
Dawn delivers the performance of a lifetime, not overplaying the character to depict a caricature but rather, tempering those tender moments that pull audiences in, hook, line, and sinker. <i>Her Send in the Clowns </i>was in a whole other universe. And myself, being a sucker for middle-age people who find love again in each other’s arms, I was this close to bawling like a kid from where I sat in the second row. Think <i>The Notebook</i>. Where Dawn shines brightly, there is Nonie Buencamino fueling Dawn’s light, lyric to lyric, word for word, emotion to emotion. There was so much depth in his performance, proof of his many wonderful years onstage, that the two of them together — Dawn and Nonie — really do paint a sterling example of how acting and theater should be done. Bravo! This is of course, thanks to the nurturing of director Bobby Garcia who was the artistic glue that gelled everything together. This is one of Bobby’s best works to date. Bravo, Bobby!<br />
<br />
The show also stars Alys Serdenia as the hysterical maid Petra who sings a whopping <i>The Miller’s Son</i>, Crystal Baranda-Paras as Frederika, Gabriel Santos as Frid, and Agnes Barredo-Fenoli, Glen Llanes, Anthony Ong, and Jennie Nuyda as the other narrators. Chari Arespacochaga choreographs the show, with Ceejay Javier as musical director, Rajo Laurel as costumes designer for Desiree Armfeldt, Twinkle Zamora as costume designer, and Manman Angsico as vocal coach.</div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-38809467321630812732010-10-18T11:29:00.000+08:002010-10-18T11:29:00.340+08:00CHASING TOFF: THANK HEAVEN FOR LITTLE GIRLS<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="No photo" class="floatleft" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_Image1" src="http://www.philstar.com/NewPhilstar/www/image/columnistPhotos/Christopher-De-Venecia.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: red; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: red; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: red; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: red; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;" /></td><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Thank heaven for little girls</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Christopher+De+Venecia" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a> <span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated October 18, 2010 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=621770&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=621770&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/47/lif8vass.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">The cast of Little Women: Kelly Lati, Cara Barredo, Lora Nicolas, Caisa Borromeo with Pinky Marquez</span></div></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
Laurie is Mr. Lawrence’s grandson and has a sense of displacement from the world because both his parents died when he was young. Jo is outspoken, daring, full of ambition, and one of four sisters of the March clan. Once Jo and Laurie meet, they easily become the best of friends. Their relationship becomes very “sibling-like” as they grow fond of each other’s company, exploring and embracing new adventures together. Sound familiar? This is of course part and parcel of the timeless classic and Repertory Philippines’ wonderful offering for the holiday season, Little Women.<br />
<br />
But seeing as that “sibling-like,” family oriented-ness, and passion for life are common between the characters and the actors that play them in real life, I may as well have just described the stories of real-life pals and two of my personal favorites, Caisa Borromeo and Jaime Barcelon. Okay, maybe not the “sense of displacement” part for Jaime.<br />
<br />
“I’ve been fortunate to have a great relationship with my mom who’s also like a friend and mentor to me,” quips Jaime who is fresh off his stint with local pop <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=621770&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">singing</span></span></a> group, The Ryan Cayabyab Singers. “I am very grateful for having had the opportunity to work with Mr. C, recording and touring with them for the past few years.” But as Jaime makes preparations for his first solo music project, he conquers the theater stage alongside real-life pal Caisa Borromeo who, herself, is no stranger to the theater world. While Jaime has essayed several roles, including Rolf in Rep’s Sound of Music and Ryan in Ateneo Blue Repertory’s High School Musical, Caisa has played dozens of roles on stage, including notable appearances for Stages’ Footloose and West Side Story, Rep’s Aladdin Jr. and Mulan Jr., and I Love You Because.<br />
<br />
“It’s a lot of pressure,” shares Caisa who considers the role of Jo to be her ultimate dream role. “It’s such a challenging role to play but it’s very exciting. I feel so lucky to have been given this opportunity.” Luckily, for the challenge that the material and the roles demand of the two, they have the amazing Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as their precious director and artistic guide.<br />
<br />
“She is very clear about her vision for the show but at the same time allows us the room for discovery and to see what feels right for us,” says Jaime. Caisa adds, “She’s an actor’s director. She trusts her actors completely.”<br />
This wouldn’t be the first time though that the classic was adapted into something other than its novel form. In 1933, Katherine Hepburn headlined a <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=621770&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">movie</span></span></a> version, followed by a 1949 “theatrical” version with June Allyson and Elizabeth Taylor as Amy, and finally an “intimate” 1994 version starring Winona Ryder. Caisa relates, “The book of course is a lot more detailed but the musical tells the story differently because it starts off in the present time, and then goes back in time when Jo remembers the time she spent with her sisters.”<br />
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Little Women is a coming of age musical about a young woman who actualizes her dream of becoming a writer and how those close to her play an integral role in helping her achieve that dream. “The show reminds us about the importance of family,” says Jaime. “It’s also an inspirational show because it reminds all of us never to give up on our dreams.”<br />
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Among the showstoppers for the show are More Than I Am, Small Umbrella Under the Rain, Some Things Are Meant To Be, and a gravity-defying piece for any female theater aficionado, Astonishing which Caisa has taken upon herself to conquer.<br />
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The show also stars Lora Nicolas as Meg, Cara Barredo as Beth, Kelly Lati as Amy, Jeff Arcilla as Professor Bhaer, Jack Salud as John Brooke, Mayen Bustamante-Cadd as Mrs. Kirk, and Rep veterans Joy Virata as Aunt March, Miguel Faustmann as Mr. Laurence, and Ms. Pinky Marquez as Marmee (who according to Caisa and Jaime, sings a very moving Days of Plenty).<br />
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Little Women marks Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo’s sophomoric undertaking as director. Her last piece was Stages’ West Side Story starring Christian Bautista and Karylle. For Little Women, she is joined by assistant director Rem Zamora, conductor Gerard Salonga for the FILharmoniKA orchestra, set designer Joey Mendoza, costume designer Tuxqs Rutaquio, and John Batalla for the lighting design.<br />
<div align="center">* * *</div>The show will run from Nov. 20 to Dec. 12, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. with matinees at 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at Onstage, second floor, Greenbelt 1, Ayala Center, Makati.<br />
For ticket inquiries and further information, call Repertory Philippines at 571-6926, 571-4941, or e-mail <a href="mailto:info@repertory-philippines.com." style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;">info@repertory-philippines.com.</a>Tickets are also available at Ticketworld at 891-9999 or <a href="mailto:www.ticketworld.com.ph." style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;">www.ticketworld.com.ph.</a></span></span>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-31299092912026320102010-10-16T02:02:00.000+08:002010-10-16T02:02:13.493+08:00SLACK IS CUTApparently, a busy guy is capable of some downtime. And that's exactly what I had today. I mean besides the usual morning to mid-afternoon stress, I had pretty light day today... and most importantly some semblance of normalcy in my life. Today was my pal Rina's birthday. She was one of my sister and mother figures in SM and it's so nice that we've managed to stay in touch. Of course, the whole kooky and zany bunch of the marketing group was there to belt their hearts out to MUSIC 21... but more importantly, it's the company that you keep, even after your time with a company is over, that really just sticks with you. I love my SM family... I'll forever be a part of them, even if technically, I don't work for Men's Fashion anymore...<br />
<br />
And then, I headed to Tata's surprise birthday party where Kirk, Deb, and some of her other friends prepared a carnival-themed party for her - replete with cotton candy, sorbetes, nachos, a candy buffet, and drinking games where you can possibly win a stuffed toy if you get luck. How cool right? It was just fun and good vibes all throughout the evening, and I guess I just really missed my friends. With my schedule for Wedding Singer, and the work that follows me 'til the wee hours of the morning, sometimes I can't catch a breath anymore. Thankfully today, I did =) And I feel reenergized moving forward to the hell week that is this week. Goodbye social life, hello prod week for Wedding Singer which opens in October 23 =)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAV0ellwZrLmAWMlEg72jpR1iRnvhxkpzMrHKgDsBHgY71tmRa5vQ6KazPwsZsum6tt0HEj879WByOLVP5-j-0onS8Ys0KrdXa4Dc-5qsebQg_IZljjW_OvmnMPCSFlfmY6fzIydycSc/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAV0ellwZrLmAWMlEg72jpR1iRnvhxkpzMrHKgDsBHgY71tmRa5vQ6KazPwsZsum6tt0HEj879WByOLVP5-j-0onS8Ys0KrdXa4Dc-5qsebQg_IZljjW_OvmnMPCSFlfmY6fzIydycSc/s400/IMG_0078.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Cheers to one of the cutest couples in the world, and congrats Kirk on the championship =)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">WHAT I ATE TODAY:</span><br />
Breakfast:<br />
none<br />
<br />
Lunch:<br />
none<br />
<br />
Merienda:<br />
Venti Creme Brulee Macchiato<br />
3-Cheese and Ham Sandwich<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDL79oGgGIOQ4UszDuhARMQ5ZqHziH0o5NBMgcZV1H-ospV2AFv21c2sVVj4xVKcoBa4BCQO77KLzKAgDa1B-OXVWAGeeWuZhMAPqIKolu-pBCIPvIEjL-fnWYuOiU8fq0L4yNmCj4gKY/s1600/IMG_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDL79oGgGIOQ4UszDuhARMQ5ZqHziH0o5NBMgcZV1H-ospV2AFv21c2sVVj4xVKcoBa4BCQO77KLzKAgDa1B-OXVWAGeeWuZhMAPqIKolu-pBCIPvIEjL-fnWYuOiU8fq0L4yNmCj4gKY/s320/IMG_0074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dinner:<br />
Watermelon Shake<br />
Lemonade<br />
Pasta Telefono<br />
3 slices of Bread<br />
Mozarella Dip<br />
<br />
Rina's Birthday:<br />
Yakimeshi Rice<br />
Fish Fillet<br />
Fries<br />
2 Chicken Wings<br />
1 serving of pancit<br />
1 glass of iced tea<br />
<br />
Tata's Birthday:<br />
1 pc. hotdog<br />
Nachos w/ Beef and Cheese<br />
Cotton Candy<br />
1/2 bottle of beer<br />
1 shot of brandy<br />
Sour Tape<br />
Gummi Bears<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">EXERCISE:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">none</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">WEIGHT:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">191.5 pounds</span><br />
(gained three pounds... oh nyo)<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><br />
</span>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-24262144363819357522010-10-15T03:20:00.000+08:002010-10-15T03:20:03.136+08:00HIGHER AND HIGHEROn to the next one... Just finished successful shows at the Venice Piazza at the McKinley Hill. Now pulling an all-nighter working on the souvenir program for WEDDING SINGER THE MUSICAL. Ika nga ni mareng Nikki Valdez who message me on Facebook, ang hirap nga naman kumayod but we love what we're doing so we keep doing it...<br />
<br />
All I know is, it took me a lifetime to get to this point. And now that my folks are finally supportive of what I wanna do, then I gotta do everything it takes to safeguard and protect this. Higher and higher... yep. Indeed.<br />
<br />
Saw the cutest chow-chow by the way the other day while having lunch with my pal Caisa... How cute is this. I wanna have one, trained and all, with instant affinity and liking towards me, without the burden and hassle of having to raise it. AKA. Robo-Chow-Chow.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9EC_iWfrvx-fO7KBPQG0l5oSMJGEdNCWC6rP6NDmDOV7qj2ppGx5CkfO-9ack8qoUqKu73FxIMnxKodZW7iku7w9EEIbPokayVp0fHZEHNFLObSzhuJgCclUgUV7y21q8YySMq0Dcd4/s1600/IMG_0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9EC_iWfrvx-fO7KBPQG0l5oSMJGEdNCWC6rP6NDmDOV7qj2ppGx5CkfO-9ack8qoUqKu73FxIMnxKodZW7iku7w9EEIbPokayVp0fHZEHNFLObSzhuJgCclUgUV7y21q8YySMq0Dcd4/s320/IMG_0071.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">WHAT I ATE TODAY:</span><br />
Breakfast:<br />
none<br />
<br />
Lunch:<br />
none<br />
<br />
Merienda:<br />
4 pcs. takoyaki.. right next to our ad for Wedding Singer which came out in Inquirer today. woot woot!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IjD1rH-SKQxyathp53ydnVHdcHqFEqkXn89v7OUwHNmmFg1DZ8FXdu5nrZ36g0p3bHOHOiOm2h2VghLA23dd3s6-7drDSmS-VklqdeyF2PrlBBp19ySMoUYzYJ5JihvFvQptdv9V-8c/s1600/IMG_0073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IjD1rH-SKQxyathp53ydnVHdcHqFEqkXn89v7OUwHNmmFg1DZ8FXdu5nrZ36g0p3bHOHOiOm2h2VghLA23dd3s6-7drDSmS-VklqdeyF2PrlBBp19ySMoUYzYJ5JihvFvQptdv9V-8c/s320/IMG_0073.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Dinner:<br />
5 pcs. mozarella sticks with dip<br />
5 pcs. chicken fingers with gravy<br />
1/2 fried chicken from Mc Do<br />
3 spoons of rice<br />
5 sips of coffee<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">EXERCISE:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">none</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">WEIGHT:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">189.5 pounds</span>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-61790510646515613222010-10-14T01:43:00.000+08:002010-10-14T01:43:06.514+08:00MISERYYou can be riding on top of the world yet still feel the full weight of the universe on your shoulder. Sometimes, seriously, a guy just needs a break. Thank God for my passion - it's my new security blanket. It's the new Energizer that keeps me going. On to the next one =)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFnQkIRArL_NdnnOhJlcJJq3GAu-KoRCA69H6GPnTEPO9ZS8IGdEEDHdv9qyLhU8VeHwue56Q5A8dlAxkf_NCzPF3VNvkn9D6L9YI_WF3y2_pYm8p1mmgFXWS4KBXBEfBAP4mjhiWmr8/s1600/depression.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFnQkIRArL_NdnnOhJlcJJq3GAu-KoRCA69H6GPnTEPO9ZS8IGdEEDHdv9qyLhU8VeHwue56Q5A8dlAxkf_NCzPF3VNvkn9D6L9YI_WF3y2_pYm8p1mmgFXWS4KBXBEfBAP4mjhiWmr8/s320/depression.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20nvtYWflTy6GYcIqQ4_vmN2zDaTwr4Fbrk3Zu5Rdo2HGB2Fyp_5BAKjqLeK6Q-0lgLboACDAo1n6PS9yC4Ffwh5ps_bups4SNgLnKetRz9MFbR_7XkaoD5LsYJ8xWzsu3BMdZuZvUjg/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20nvtYWflTy6GYcIqQ4_vmN2zDaTwr4Fbrk3Zu5Rdo2HGB2Fyp_5BAKjqLeK6Q-0lgLboACDAo1n6PS9yC4Ffwh5ps_bups4SNgLnKetRz9MFbR_7XkaoD5LsYJ8xWzsu3BMdZuZvUjg/s320/IMG_0034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's something that does cheer me up: BON CHON. Oh god, I'd kill for a dozen of these right now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">WHAT I ATE TODAY:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Breakfast:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">none</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lunch:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3 cups Corned Beef Rice </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sunny Side Up Egg</div>3 pcs. hotdog<br />
<br />
Dinner:<br />
1/2 Bacon Pasta (which sucked by the way)<br />
Nachos w/ Beef and Cheese<br />
Some of Anna and Shelyn's pasta<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">EXERCISE:</span><br />
none<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">WEIGHT:</span><br />
189.5 poundsimcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-45955165471127605222010-10-13T19:21:00.000+08:002010-10-13T19:21:36.251+08:00TARGETS UNACHIEVED<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">REPOSTING FROM MONDAY...</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">TOMORROW'S TARGET (Monday Oct.11):</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">- eat breakfast</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">- eat less</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">- jog in the Polo Field before rehearsals</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">- no ice cream and late dinner</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Eat Breakfast? Nope. I still skipped it. Because the minute I got up, I started working. </div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Eat less? I think so. Well I didn't eat as much as Monday. </div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Jog in the polo field? Nope. because work got in the way.</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">No Icream? Well, yes, I didn't have ice cream.</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Late Dinner? Well, I had a late snack.</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">WHAT I ATE TODAY:</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Breakfast:</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">none</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Lunch:</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Spaghetti Vongole</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">3-cheese Ensaymada</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Queso de Bola dip</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1 glass of Apple Cinnamon Iced Tea</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Dinner:</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">2 pc. Combo Kebab w/ Rice</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">2 glasses of Dalandan Sangria</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">2 pcs. sticky rice</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1/2 serving of nachos</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I'm getting busier and busier by the day. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Let's go! I have to regain my social life back though. haha. =)</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjea9q6gZXyVmRhSIQ9_FLKbVubhfI38aSSXOujj3nOqDASjRbjOZlj5WEA9d4HIz4rOyZIyimIJ91mN8IFoLI7NCO3Ty_2_VyKbqUPJreBiTD-8fShIS6dtLdTNyfliZEkudVNSDCUU4E/s1600/rollmeover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjea9q6gZXyVmRhSIQ9_FLKbVubhfI38aSSXOujj3nOqDASjRbjOZlj5WEA9d4HIz4rOyZIyimIJ91mN8IFoLI7NCO3Ty_2_VyKbqUPJreBiTD-8fShIS6dtLdTNyfliZEkudVNSDCUU4E/s400/rollmeover2.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">WEIGHT</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">188.5 pounds</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">- 2000 and THIN</div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-13556788148030643622010-10-11T02:14:00.001+08:002010-10-11T02:20:38.140+08:00THEATER IS LIKE A DRUGTheater is like a drug. Imagine having a meeting from 2pm to 2am on a Saturday... yet loving every single minute of it. You feel like you can go on and on, discussing things because well, it's your passion. And what's better is that it's a shared passion by people whose passion are definitely overflowing. I feel driven to go from day to day because I love what I'm doing. I love it so much that it becomes me, it becomes who I am. I am what I do, and I love every single minute of it.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>It took me a lifetime to get to this point - and now that I'm here, well, I just gotta do my best and God will do the rest. Lord, thank you for this opportunity to do something that will carve a mark in people's lives, for allowing me to enable people to grow in their own crafts, and for enabling me to grow with people who are willing to entrust me with the kind of responsibilities that people would have to work all their lives for. Help me protect them and nurture them and embrace them wholeheartedly that I emerge a better person who made a difference in people's lives.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhr7UyBX2g-OI_tlPfixV1TF1fIloW-Pb3uHPTVpDL80ZHHvjtTUZB8Ss6FfYfuZy212Wk_9XT2UPbrjAwccOXr9k4-a-8Ooo1mZbeuiOyHKeUXMiyZc1bcPMSXp-1UNBYM598XWj7c0/s1600/41085_432674068671_54741993671_4831267_4097080_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhr7UyBX2g-OI_tlPfixV1TF1fIloW-Pb3uHPTVpDL80ZHHvjtTUZB8Ss6FfYfuZy212Wk_9XT2UPbrjAwccOXr9k4-a-8Ooo1mZbeuiOyHKeUXMiyZc1bcPMSXp-1UNBYM598XWj7c0/s320/41085_432674068671_54741993671_4831267_4097080_n.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT I ATE TODAY:</span></div><div>Breakfast:</div><div>none</div><div><br />
</div><div>Lunch:</div><div>6 pcs. Crazy Maki</div><div>Watermelon Shake</div><div>Fillet Mignon Tips with Mushroom Penne</div><div><br />
</div><div>Dinner:</div><div>Shabu-Shabu</div><div>1 serving of fried rice</div><div>1 serving of fish with tofu</div><div>1 glass of pineapple juice</div><div><br />
</div><div>Late Dinner:</div><div>1 Large Fries</div><div>1 Oreo McFlurry</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">WEIGHT:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">193.5 pounds</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">EXERCISE:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">none</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">TOMORROW'S TARGET:</span></div><div>- eat breakfast</div><div>- eat less</div><div>- jog in the Polo Field before rehearsals</div><div>- no ice cream and late dinner</div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-57784018860932991402010-09-06T00:44:00.002+08:002010-09-06T00:44:27.922+08:00CHASING TOFF: It's Your Wedding Day<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="No photo" class="floatleft" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_Image1" src="http://www.philstar.com/NewPhilstar/www/image/columnistPhotos/Christopher-De-Venecia.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: red; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: red; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: red; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: red; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;" /></td><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">This is your wedding day</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Christopher+De+Venecia" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a> <span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated September 06, 2010 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=609349&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=609349&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://a.imageshack.us/img530/3255/lif5vass.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">All I wanna do is grow old with you: Iya Villania as Julia and Gian Magdangal as Robbie in 9 Works Theatrical’s The Wedding Singer</span><a class="smaller" href="http://a.imageshack.us/img697/5463/lif5hiresn.jpg" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">New Jersey. 1985. When Robbie, a charismatic wedding singer, is dumped in the altar by his longtime girlfriend Linda, the protagonist becomes a casualty of love and plunges into the depths of “dumpster-level” despair. But with the help of his friend Julia, a sweet and caring waitress who is oddly engaged to a smug of a guy and Wall Street type named Glen, Robbie rediscovers why he was all about the “love” and not so much the “green” in the first place.<br />
The premise is simple. Guy gets dumped. Guy meets Girl. Girl gets engaged. Guy and Girl, though star-crossed, fall in love. Girl dumps annoying Fiancé. While in Vegas, Guy and Girl get married and live happily ever after. Nothing fancy. Just your typical love story, except for the Vegas part — unless you’re <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=609349&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Demi </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Moore</span></span></a> or Britney Spears, and just about everybody else in Hollywood. But when I saw the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=609349&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Broadway</span></span></a>adaptation of the New Line Cinema film starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore a while back, incidentally on the night of its final performance before the show was slated to close and go on tour, my mind and my heart were literally blown away.<br />
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Amidst the scores of The Wedding <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=609349&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink6" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Singer</span></span></a> aficionados, bedazzled in actual wedding gowns and tuxedos, sore from camping out within the vicinity of the theater the night before the show (flashback on the diehards camping outside Manhattan’s AMC Theater for days in anticipation of Star Wars Episode One), there I sat and excitedly stood as early as the denouement of the first musical number, “It’s Your Wedding Day!” The energy, quirkiness, and passion of the cast, and specifically the show, were so infectious that it summoned an unprecedented standing ovation from everyone in the audience — a feat I had never quite experienced on Broadway before.<br />
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That was my most vivid memory of The Wedding Singer, sans the guy who played Robbie Hart who snuck out some other exit to avoid giving <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=609349&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">autographs</span></span></a> and getting his picture taken with the fans. I mean, come on, it was the last performance! But that’s a story to tell for another day. One story though that is worth telling is that this celebrated musical, having won the hearts of everyone in America for its mind-blowing tribute to the ’80s, is finally coming to Manila, under the creative reigns of director Robbie Guevara and his company, 9 Works Theatrical.<br />
Hot on the heels of <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=609349&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Rent</span></span></a> the Musical in RCBC, Guevara with executive producer Santi Santamaria, have taken on the challenge of bringing the neon, fun, and riotous spirit of the ’80s into the mishmash, forward-thinking melting pot of 2010. Hello Lady Gaga and an ’80s revival in just about anywhere. “When we encountered the material, we knew that we had to do it,” relates artistic director Guevara. Santamaria adds, “Wedding Singer is a crazy and energetic musical, and audiences will surely enjoy,” to which Guevara interjects, “One word to describe Wedding Singer? Fun!”<br />
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Melting the hearts of many, especially with the show’s jukebox song, Grow Old With You, is Party Pilipinas’ Gian Magdangal who will play the role of Robbie Hart. Here, he is reunited with pals Iya Villania and Nikki Valdez who he previously shared the stage with in Stages’ Footloose the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=609349&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink5" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Musical</span></span></a> back in 2005. TV personality and MYX VJ Iya Villania will play the role of waitress Julia Sullivan, alternating with Hong Kong Disneyland alumna and stage veteran Shiela Valderrama Martinez. Meanwhile TV and movie personality Nikki Valdez will play the role of Holly, Julia’s polar opposite and lovable cousin. Valdez will be alternating with Analin Bantug who once played the role of Kim in Miss Saigon.<br />
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Also joining the cast are Jeremy Aguado as Julia’s fiancé Glen Guglia (Yes, if Julia married him, she would degenerate to Julia Guglia), Lorenz Martinez as Sammy, Johann dela Fuente as the flamboyantly eccentric George, Myrene Santos as Robbie’s ex-girlfriend from hell Linda, and Enchang Kaimo as the kooky grandmamma, Rosie.<br />
The show will be directed by Robbie Guevara, accompanied by musical director Rodel Colmenar conducting the Manila <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=609349&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink8" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Philharmonic</span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Orchestra</span></span></a>, choreographer Francis Matheu, vocal coach Onyl Torres, scenographer Mio Infante, lighting designer Martin Esteva, sound designer Chuck Ledesma, and costume stylist Rosanna Aranaz.<br />
<div align="center">* * *</div>The Wedding Singer will open at the Meralco Theater on October 23, 2010 and will run until November 14, 2010. There will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows at 8pm, with Saturday matinees at 330pm and Sunday matinees at 4pm. For details, you may call 586.71.05, 557.58.60, 0917.554.5560, or visit <a href="mailto:www.9workstheatrical.com" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;">www.9workstheatrical.com</a> or Ticketworld at 891.9999.</div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-83339712501001387632010-08-23T23:30:00.000+08:002010-08-23T23:30:58.667+08:00STATUS: Bone Thug + Tokyo DriftGrab a copy of this month's issue of Status Magazine... Wrote two articles.<br />
The first: about Tokyo-lite Verbal of the Teriyaki Boyz, and LA-based street artist Verbal...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5C4dmC12XVWxjwirHIxGQBu0KcD8KO9TEmyc9Z8YZFnwgqUra1OqkGbwSggqfbk5fSXKmW4OD1Qm0GokLXdT1DpHJ5ixpU8QFWjFYQJjlhMq-UfcDfpOpX9hL-LvUWP-BiFMDFOH9OQ/s1600/STATUS+14-new33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5C4dmC12XVWxjwirHIxGQBu0KcD8KO9TEmyc9Z8YZFnwgqUra1OqkGbwSggqfbk5fSXKmW4OD1Qm0GokLXdT1DpHJ5ixpU8QFWjFYQJjlhMq-UfcDfpOpX9hL-LvUWP-BiFMDFOH9OQ/s400/STATUS+14-new33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-58692537483398405512010-08-23T00:13:00.000+08:002010-08-23T00:13:17.625+08:00CHASING TOFF: It's The War Scenes That Really Get to Me<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">It's the war scenes that really get to me</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Christopher+De+Venecia" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a> <span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated August 23, 2010 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=605158&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=605158&publicationSubCategoryId=79#comments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://a.imageshack.us/img844/25/art4can.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">Orosman at Zafira, featuring Jay Gonzaga as Orosman, makes for a powerful social commentary on human nature and society, here imagined through a primitive lens of animalistic dances and tribal aestheticism.</span></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">Last week-end, upon my friend Kakki’s passionate prodding, I found myself in UP anxious, curious, and doubly excited to watch Dulaang UP’s restaging of its hit <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=605158&publicationSubCategoryId=79#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">musical</span></span></a>, Orosman at Zafira at the esteemed Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater. Reminiscing on the last time I watched the show, I prepped myself for two and a half hours of heart-pounding madness and neo-Filipino artistry — calling to mind Carol Bello’s haunting world music and the brilliant contemporary choreography that enveloped the two-act piece.<br />
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I didn’t know what to expect of the show then, but after witnessing stunning performances from Cris Villonco, Felix Rivera, Judith Javier, JC Santos, and Red Concepcion among other exceptional stars from the previous run, and more than anything, first time director and movement master Dexter Santos’ unparalleled genius, I found myself judiciously craving more. It was those intense war scenes that really got to me; and true to form with artistic enhancement where I didn’t think it possible, it’s the intense war scenes that still get to me now. I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed; heart in my throat with emotions, insanity and passion runneth over, all I could really say while sitting at the edge of my seat was, “Holy S**t!”<br />
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<img align="right" alt="" border="0" hspace="5" src="http://a.imageshack.us/img163/3344/art4b.jpg" vspace="5" />Orosman at Zafira, penned by Francisco Baltazar or Balagtas, is an exposition of the life and times of three kingdoms: Marueccos, Tedenst, and Duquela, here contextualized by thematic elements, dances, and ritualistic iconography from Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Provoked by conflict that almost always, in the tradition of a komedya, starts from the vicissitudes of both familial and romantic love, thoughtfully interspersed with an insatiable power struggle to the likes of a Shakespearean piece of literature, the play centers on star-crossed protagonists Orosman and Zafira who hail from two opposing kingdoms. When creeping doubt overcomes Boulasem, sovereign of Tedenst and Orosman’s father, on the prospect that his contemporary Mahamud could rally for power and seize control, he orders that the latter, sovereign of the Marueccos who also happens to be Zafira’s father, be killed. This consequently sparks a series of skirmishes among the contrasting kingdoms, ironically taken up first by the feminine in the person of Zafira as the play is replete with feministic undertones.<br />
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Of shifting alliances, bloodlust, and the human capital requisitioned by the necessity of war, Orosman at Zafira makes for a powerful social commentary on human nature and society, here imagined through a primitive lens of animalistic dances and tribal aestheticism rendered by the magnificent Tuxqs Rutaquio, where love and power seem religiously intertwined. Blinded or overcome by love, the truth of it all is that man will proceed at any cost – even if it is to the destruction or demise of a kingdom or civilization. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.<br />
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Where Dexter succeeds in modernizing Balagtas’ powerful komedya while maintaining key elements that are essential to its artistic form, it’s also striking to note the play’s references to pagan ritualism in portraying the casualties of war – wherein a little boy is sitting on a bangka that drifts from stage-right to stage-left, followed by a cryptic march of fallen characters crossing over to the vast unknown. Accompanied by a haunting aria sung by the character of Zelima, the show’s narrator who will join the march at some point to illustrate how absolutely no one was spared by war, water falls continuously into a basin from atop the stage that, when lit, becomes a powerful metaphor connoting insatiable bloodshed, and possibly, a delubyo that engulfs and destroys the three kingdoms. Pieced together, the show reaches its indelible climax.<br />
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For the rerun, Dexter manages to inject some astounding new-blood to the piece, and much praise and shout-outs should be given to Delphine Buencamino who is a revelation in the role of Zafira. She is fierce as fierce can get, hailing from a family of actors that includes parents Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino who are themselves theater vets. Her eyes soared with both strength and vulnerability, accompanied by an understanding of the vocal technicality employed by Carol Bello’s world music. Delphine is joined here by Jay Gonzaga who plays a chiseled Orosman, Reuben Uy as the treacherous Abdalap, Natasha Cabrera as Zelima, Jacinta Remulla and Gabs Santos who also play star-crossed lovers Gulnara and Aldervesin, Roeder Camang as Boulasem, JM de Guzman as Zelim, and Neil Tolentino and Ronnie Martinez as Mahamud and Ben-Asar.<br />
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Comprising the artistic team are production designer Tuxqs Rutaquio who, lights designer John Batalla, dramaturges Anril Tiatco, Katte Sabate, and Pat Valera, accessories designer Paolo Rodriguez, assistant director Mara Marasigan, associate choreographer Via Antonio, and assistant musical director Irish Pangilinan.<br />
<div align="center">* * *</div>Orosman at Zafira will run until August 29 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City from Wednesdays to Fridays at 7 p.m. and at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. during weekends. For tickets, call Cherry at 09177500107, or the Dulaang UP Office at 926-1349, 981-8500 local 2449 or 433-7840.</div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-78638421410039273142010-08-16T00:34:00.000+08:002010-08-16T00:34:38.588+08:00CHASING TOFF: Cherie Gil, Who Are You?<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="No photo" class="floatleft" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_Image1" src="http://www.philstar.com/NewPhilstar/www/image/columnistPhotos/Christopher-De-Venecia.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-right: 2px; vertical-align: top;" /></td><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Cherie Gil, who are you?</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Christopher+De+Venecia" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated August 16, 2010 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=603008#comments" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=603008#comments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://a.imageshack.us/img198/6581/lif7l.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">Cherie Gil in Master Class is sort of like Alfred Molina in the Broadway play Red, or Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. You’d hate to be in Eddie Redmayne’s or Anne Hathaway’s shoes.</span></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">After catching the preview night of Philippine Opera Company’s Master Class many weeks ago, those were literally the only thoughts running through my head with each goose bump, art lesson, and tear that ran down my cheek. “Cherie Gil, who are you?”<br />
A magnum opus in its own right, this marks the nth inception of POC’s Master Class starring the TV, film and stage diva, which has merited standing ovation upon standing ovation for its lead actress’ haunting portrayal of opera diva Maria Callas at a time when she was giving a series of master classes at the Juilliard school of <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=603008#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">music</span></span></a> in the 1970s.<br />
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Gil is widely known for her kontrabida performances. I mean who can forget the “second-rate, trying-hard, copycat” bit that has immortalized her in the annals of showbiz and pop-cultural history? The role of Maria Callas seemed to fit Cherie like a glove. And was she good at it. Damn good, as, in the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=603008#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">course</span></span></a> of the two-act show and under the guidance of director Michael Williams, she becomes a lovable caricature of someone who you’d very much love to hate but in that she’s so unbelievably bitchy, quirky, and convincingly caught up in her own world, you end up loving her instead.<br />
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She’s sort of like Alfred Molina in the Broadway play Red, or Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. You’d hate to be in Eddie Redmayne’s or Anne Hathaway’s shoes or in the case of Master Class, the shoes of her students played by the likes of the slapstick Juan Alberto Gaerlan, the haunting Florence Aguilar, and the riotous Ana Feleo. But given the chance to learn under the tutelage of one of the greatest women ever to grace the opera circuit, you’d bravely grab yourself in the balls and enter the lion’s den. All you really have is the moment — and it’s up to you, as a student of life, to seize it.<br />
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Sitting towards the front row of the intimate RCBC Theater, that is exactly how I felt — like I was inside the lion’s den waiting to be devoured. But there I was, ready to seize the opportunity that had been robbed of me all those times I never bothered to catch POC’s Master Class before.<br />
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Being a theater and art aficionado myself, I found myself, not only transfixed with Cherie’s soaring and beautifully engaging performance, and mesmerized by her eyes that watered with painstaking conviction every time she took to a soliloquy while her students barreled through the last ounces of their arias, but taking down notes as well, as though I was in an actual class and she had been my teacher. I was getting schooled, literally. And I found myself getting a master class of my own, though probably not on the astounding operatic technicality that Feleo and her contemporaries had shown after being shattered and sundered by Cherie’s religious monstrosity then being asked to sing with all honesty and truth right after, but the theatricality of it — the very essence of life.<br />
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“Don’t act, just be!” “When you stop, it’s class. When you quit, it’s depressing.” “A performance is a struggle. You have to win!” “An entrance is everything. That’s how we present ourselves to an audience. That’s how we present ourselves in life.” “Art is about transition. There is entrance. There is exit.” “There are no shortcuts in art.” Her rhetoric was running through my head and somehow made its way to my notebook as I was taking down notes for this piece. Somehow, I learned more about life in two hours than I would in years — a triumph in itself for POC’s Master Class.<br />
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Though at some point, I just couldn’t keep up with Callas. anymore. I closed my notebook, in the same way that Florence had forgotten to take down notes from her fiery interactions with Callas, and instead, sat back, breathed, seized the moment, and watched in astonishment. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. There was no fluff. And there certainly were no traces of Cherie Gil. Fierce. Oppressive. Pedantic. Cruel. Self-Absorbed. Mind-blowing. Ambitious. And never to be defeated. There was only Maria Callas. Bravo!</div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-38810258440798435532010-08-16T00:31:00.000+08:002010-08-16T00:31:09.838+08:00CHASING TOFF: The Other Side of Allan Strang<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="No photo" class="floatleft" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_Image1" src="http://www.philstar.com/NewPhilstar/www/image/columnistPhotos/Christopher-De-Venecia.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: red; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: red; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: red; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: red; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;" /></td><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">The other side of Allan Strang</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Christopher+De+Venecia" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">CHASING TOFF By Christopher De Venecia</a> <span id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated August 02, 2010 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=598778#comments" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=598778#comments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://a.imageshack.us/img507/9094/lif6canvass.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">Stark raving mad: Red Concepcion, joined by Jaimedel Mundo, Tami Monsod, and Miguel Faustmann<br />
</span><a class="smaller" href="http://a.imageshack.us/img832/5644/lif6hiresz.jpg" id="ctl00_cph1_Article1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">At 25, Red Concepcion has achieved for his age what others have simply dreamed of at the onset of their theater careers. Having played a bevy of fascinating roles on the legitimate repertory stage, Red has played a willing and gracious host to the likes of Dino del Canto in Repertory Philippines’ Romeo and Bernadette, Mark in Altar Boyz for which he was nominated for a Philstage Gawad Buhay Award; A-Rab in Stages’ West Side Story that top-billed the likes of Joanna Ampil, Karylle and Christian Bautista; and Aldervesin in Dulaang UP’s celebrated masterpiece, Orosman and Zafira.<br />
“Every play I’ve ever done has a special place in my heart,” quips Red, who is currently playing the lead, Allan Strang, in Repertory Philippines’ Equus.<br />
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“Cheesy but true! It’s like asking me to choose between my left and right eye,” he stresses when faced with the possibility of having to choose just one role to sum up the totality of his blossoming theater career.<br />
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For Red’s latest endeavor, he plays Allan Strang, a curious young boy and a role played by Daniel Radcliffe on the Great White Way. A troubled young man who blinds six horses, Allan is forced to meet with a psychiatrist, masterfully portrayed in the Philippine version by Miguel Faustmann.<br />
“He’s so much fun to be around — very instinctive and generous as an actor. I’m literally in awe of the guy,” shares Red of the stage veteran.<br />
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<img align="right" alt="" border="0" hspace="5" src="http://a.imageshack.us/img842/4782/lif6bcanvass.jpg" vspace="5" /><br />
A psychological drama-slash-thriller, Equus pits Red, whose <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=598778#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; font-variant: normal; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;" target="undefined"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">acting</span></span></a> credits also include Hairspray, Into the Woods and Hamlet, against the complexity of Allan’s character, to the point that it compels the psychiatrist to question his own existence in the end. Though Red eventually found himself comfortably filling the shoes of Allan, of course, under the tutelage of the talented Audie Gemora, according to him, it was no picnic getting to the end result.<br />
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“One of the problems I had was that I was too settled (in the role). They kept telling me that madness has a certain electricity that I needed to get in order to play Allan. So there was little physical adjustment.” More than that, Audie asked him to appear more impulsive and unpredictable each time — something that compelled Red to consistently up his game.<br />
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The actor adds, “I like to challenge myself in every way. West Side was a challenge because of the choreography, Sweeney was a musical one, and Hairspray was a test of stamina and focus. When I got wind that Rep was doing Equus, I knew I had to try out. I knew that it was going to stretch me as an actor.”<br />
Of course, mass media would put it that Equus became all about the famous nude scene that kept the World Wide Web atwitter when Daniel Radcliffe a.k.a. Harry Potter agreed to shed his clothes on Broadway. Was there any such trepidation on Red’s part? He retorts, “Of course, it’s a given. But I just kept thinking I would cross the bridge when I get there. When I finally had to strip, there really was nothing to worry about after all. The scene is done very tastefully,” he adds.<br />
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On the prospect of being compared to his alternate, newcomer Marco Manalac, he says, “Marco and I both worked really hard on this play. We came up with quite distinct Allans, filtered through our own experiences and truths. It’s like comparing apples and oranges.” He is quite proud of what they had both created in synergy with director Audie Gemora. Red says, “Audie encourages creativity. He knew what he wanted but he was open enough to let you create on your own.”<br />
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In five years, Red sees himself still doing theater, and would someday like to play the lead player in Pippin, Bobby in Company, and Sweeney in Sweeney Todd. But for curiosity’s sake, as Allan has obviously this weird relationship going on with horses, I had to ask. How would you describe your perfect horse?<br />
“As a kid, I used to watch this TV series based on the classic book The Black Beauty. There was a sleek black stallion and the image of that horse galloping through the field, mane whipping in the wind, has stuck with me all these years.” Neigh- sayer, years later, who would have known?</div>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-71535085976677251282010-07-20T15:47:00.000+08:002010-07-20T15:47:54.932+08:00176-186: MONTAGEOkay... I haven't been able to blog in weeks. I meant to when I got back from the States last, last Saturday but unfortunately, my net has been down in the house since then and I've had to go to other places to use it. Well, if anything, my trip to US proved to be very useful to me. I got my well-deserved R&R before it's back to reality and back to the real world of Manila.<br />
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If I were to sum up where I am at this point in my life, it would have to be that I'm very happy that I'm doing what I love to be doing, and I'm very happy to be accomplishing what I set out to do for myself. It's not stuff that piles up in my things-to-do, and I play catch up to my own procrastination... rather, I am able to actually accomplish things, big things, huge things, and that's one under my belt.<br />
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I am definitely seriously about resurrecting my writing career because I put it on hold for the last five months. So now, I'm seriously doing something about it. I will write and write because I am a writer. I know I'm a good writer so I can't allow myself to be rusty. And of course, my duties to 9 Works Theatrical, I will keep at it because we're on a roll... we have momentum, so we have to ride it and play our cards right, and hopefully find and secure a place in the Philippine Entertainment scene.<br />
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I also started already with my obligations with Blue Rep. I'm directing the newbie prod and I have the most amazing team behind me. This is the first time I'm directing something... on my own. I'm calling the shots. So it was weird and nerve-wracking at first... but now I'm settling into. I'm more excited now than scared. And I think that's a good thing.<br />
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I'm very happy with MY life right now. And I should continuously thank God for all the blessings and graces he continues to shower me. Without him, I am nothing...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BROADWAY REVIEW</b></span><br />
Rock of Ages<br />
RATING: 5 / 5<br />
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At first, I was like... ummm... okay lang. And then I started to get really into it. The songs are great. The story is great. And it's so friggin' hilarious. I'm so excited for my friend Chari to direct it for Atlantis next year. I got her a shirt fitting for next directorial endeavor after Legally Blonde. Anyway, the musical features songs from the 80s. So think Journey and the token Don't Stop Believing capping everything off in the end.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7YVcQ1Qn6p9OyYqX3u1Q3A3FcXKt0TTWpYGZ0Qf4Ny8hbpfUv2pZ7y-l7wE4lizm37R76uPqw3WjIbn3loq7fxw4dK4305A7EF9Fjq_KjsA5du3tVb9U39BCdjAW5M0eGYHYz6ShW2w/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-20+at+3.29.02+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7YVcQ1Qn6p9OyYqX3u1Q3A3FcXKt0TTWpYGZ0Qf4Ny8hbpfUv2pZ7y-l7wE4lizm37R76uPqw3WjIbn3loq7fxw4dK4305A7EF9Fjq_KjsA5du3tVb9U39BCdjAW5M0eGYHYz6ShW2w/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-20+at+3.29.02+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:</b></span><br />
<b><i><br />
</i></b><br />
<b><i>IN NEW YORK CITY</i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixi78RccPA3F9HKPYvHimrtfor9GzHSvJ73TPvwdsehwi6ukOHB5PAG22vDuXfcWwkqS6Y_xfOZI91aSTkfesU9H5JVpK18bzDoo6Jv1N1hgUMKcYw0YEHlvnQRs1CbtHpuE4jnn6TQo/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixi78RccPA3F9HKPYvHimrtfor9GzHSvJ73TPvwdsehwi6ukOHB5PAG22vDuXfcWwkqS6Y_xfOZI91aSTkfesU9H5JVpK18bzDoo6Jv1N1hgUMKcYw0YEHlvnQRs1CbtHpuE4jnn6TQo/s320/IMG_0039.JPG" /></a></div>Me putting unlimited butter on my popcorn<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgl7O-obawDO-T7zzPFQ3tHpc02buZyDhxv4UFA6sIDPHW1-qmq4s31lU88rrqzBiCAWgC2H6BIrIHQF71Z-wHtsUpBWwu6GL8Ab5sQHDKWTi8khl7qZmdhgyJJBfZFmxa7loUijMwT4/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgl7O-obawDO-T7zzPFQ3tHpc02buZyDhxv4UFA6sIDPHW1-qmq4s31lU88rrqzBiCAWgC2H6BIrIHQF71Z-wHtsUpBWwu6GL8Ab5sQHDKWTi8khl7qZmdhgyJJBfZFmxa7loUijMwT4/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" /></a></div>Last Supper with Jared and EJ in the Big Apple<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d4J4Gp2wD5YQNXCsNFT2a8qqdK_eWEYVNEbiNlwqaVkZNQP0uxjcHTrRHtGCQhR2HlnZmXgH2cq7hX8DyKPPlP9WtBBl_28nApwzZzIzB_ZqdKAIUtME7MZ97Dp4wJlNAzvKrSr1loM/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d4J4Gp2wD5YQNXCsNFT2a8qqdK_eWEYVNEbiNlwqaVkZNQP0uxjcHTrRHtGCQhR2HlnZmXgH2cq7hX8DyKPPlP9WtBBl_28nApwzZzIzB_ZqdKAIUtME7MZ97Dp4wJlNAzvKrSr1loM/s320/IMG_0051.JPG" /></a></div>Dinner with Tita Josie on our last night in town<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2elnH4ZBmvVy_leNobIIVFY4d4yOmiEPntcHhZuel0Vo9I71NUcoxMOQ4R3PJi3dchnK6pR6GYf2Fm8vsA5dCFr5D2bM7Pdk9pQLaFSoyhxhHCwsGsYWbhUxcaWNoOVW-lsueYcFtjMg/s1600/IMG_0057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2elnH4ZBmvVy_leNobIIVFY4d4yOmiEPntcHhZuel0Vo9I71NUcoxMOQ4R3PJi3dchnK6pR6GYf2Fm8vsA5dCFr5D2bM7Pdk9pQLaFSoyhxhHCwsGsYWbhUxcaWNoOVW-lsueYcFtjMg/s320/IMG_0057.jpg" /></a></div>Mememoy attacking his steak<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATTAOgtriDmbZeW8hqelWpHfpltGs43j7ph7xtv1LhImMn75iT-YHTZPwVs9xkcEa1ZMwihdOhv16rh97ve-RtNTgbO_0dANi4HJVYhWBYuRViviXENP-gq343zeRj7qpofUx7mpUlMY/s1600/IMG_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATTAOgtriDmbZeW8hqelWpHfpltGs43j7ph7xtv1LhImMn75iT-YHTZPwVs9xkcEa1ZMwihdOhv16rh97ve-RtNTgbO_0dANi4HJVYhWBYuRViviXENP-gq343zeRj7qpofUx7mpUlMY/s320/IMG_0062.jpg" /></a></div>I love Mia and Joe<br />
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<b><i>BACK HOME</i></b><br />
<b><i>RECENT SM VISIT</i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjwj0mzIPz89o1quWd9vT3Dl8JK2OScU7okhyphenhyphen75HDWGiwMEfO6PKM4rheSq1ffCUsOMUdf-xvygr6ojXNKmKH_fa3FJhBFF8LtX0vC1OwakxkjjZHkbHoSVtWT_9hlDHnQo1JWEAOCCs/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjwj0mzIPz89o1quWd9vT3Dl8JK2OScU7okhyphenhyphen75HDWGiwMEfO6PKM4rheSq1ffCUsOMUdf-xvygr6ojXNKmKH_fa3FJhBFF8LtX0vC1OwakxkjjZHkbHoSVtWT_9hlDHnQo1JWEAOCCs/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" /></a></div>Pearl and Sam<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbo_H9BENV3i_lJb6wEjyEXXLXX0oPyhIoo4vmByvK-y3LoHYHZvFnA4zVMQUsNd0xkmFPIlzgggMctcc8s5RSyFpaGDO-_VYzVxRO1K2s7hwAwJRxWMFDm5dnSb5pN2sFWB2xDUpGPY/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbo_H9BENV3i_lJb6wEjyEXXLXX0oPyhIoo4vmByvK-y3LoHYHZvFnA4zVMQUsNd0xkmFPIlzgggMctcc8s5RSyFpaGDO-_VYzVxRO1K2s7hwAwJRxWMFDm5dnSb5pN2sFWB2xDUpGPY/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ghed, Pat and Ninoy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKw3QdyITudNSjfljiiNhtl_QR6au-FY4NZGEp7pBBfEbO_Xkopmr8QNdUeQydfsgNPAGbKQAc-8K-aqnrRf3toD1vD0GRyGd0vQvM18dmoF-reHedyZgE0IVn_6Ty4pdaojsePkJP6U/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKw3QdyITudNSjfljiiNhtl_QR6au-FY4NZGEp7pBBfEbO_Xkopmr8QNdUeQydfsgNPAGbKQAc-8K-aqnrRf3toD1vD0GRyGd0vQvM18dmoF-reHedyZgE0IVn_6Ty4pdaojsePkJP6U/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" /></a></div>SM Family<br />
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<b><i>RECENT DINNER WITH HARVS, CHRIS, AND MICHO</i></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1zCU5UZO1zCFdOEfDCKqnew5DmoU6foBTPsffM4aVCURwcEj7hFTOABswhojDr6R_dhPa-yDrD-C3eI9RtE8MGZfUYM_aWhCI5dDQsLcC4i-OfaS9_Gi8fxLyo0Ntz55cWT1bMMNxl4/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1zCU5UZO1zCFdOEfDCKqnew5DmoU6foBTPsffM4aVCURwcEj7hFTOABswhojDr6R_dhPa-yDrD-C3eI9RtE8MGZfUYM_aWhCI5dDQsLcC4i-OfaS9_Gi8fxLyo0Ntz55cWT1bMMNxl4/s320/IMG_0016.JPG" /></a></div>Frank and Harvey<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxw-qNeX_iC2w6AAgtf_-VeY1QKUv1HCyuLHXWs1Nccx5UYU6yDWBib-uiuJujkVlrDk3KJFtrDkc9fl6sV5nJxaJYgmtBvOaIoqfXyNoByv5zCQThX-98LY6QaCVNwJvCkSzNVcW6WKg/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxw-qNeX_iC2w6AAgtf_-VeY1QKUv1HCyuLHXWs1Nccx5UYU6yDWBib-uiuJujkVlrDk3KJFtrDkc9fl6sV5nJxaJYgmtBvOaIoqfXyNoByv5zCQThX-98LY6QaCVNwJvCkSzNVcW6WKg/s320/IMG_0017.JPG" /></a></div>Chris and Micho<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><b>WEIGHT UPDATE:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">183.5 pounds...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">woah... I can't believe. After a month without exercise... and all that In n' Out, Cold Stone, Bonchon, et al... I think it's from all the walking...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">- 2000 and Thin ... yey :)</span><br />
<b><span id="goog_177263516"></span><span id="goog_177263517"></span></b>imcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123228716765473809.post-42744667329514240342010-07-06T14:11:00.003+08:002010-07-20T15:20:51.558+08:00173-175: Modern FamilyI just realized how damn lucky I am to have a family like mine. Our stories are just out of this world. How we are is really out of this world. And I wouldn't really have it any other way. It's funny how I always try to recreate the stories in the dinner table to friends and loved ones but it's not quite the same as when you sit through a bona fide Vera Perez lunch or get together. It's what keeps us afloat all these years - looking back and moving forward. Is there any other way really?<br />
<br />
You have family, then you have friends. Here's to hanging out with fellow Pinoys on 4th of July :)<br />
<b>4th of July</b><br />
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</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uYsGbifvyp52n1QPqODeHn7RTK7OwA9NqQBurxXnIp25nDc4ZiqO5Nw0Fz-dK-VInw0VFySfmbu00FqL7ZQpDZQQJF9AAQ7GOFdhlx1_gxYbaw_lBfah13VHy4s3V8cj31RtwdLcvRA/s1600/IMG_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uYsGbifvyp52n1QPqODeHn7RTK7OwA9NqQBurxXnIp25nDc4ZiqO5Nw0Fz-dK-VInw0VFySfmbu00FqL7ZQpDZQQJF9AAQ7GOFdhlx1_gxYbaw_lBfah13VHy4s3V8cj31RtwdLcvRA/s320/IMG_0032.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BROADWAY REVIEWS</b></span><br />
<b>Friday (Day 173)</b><br />
<b>8pm: La Cage Aux Folles</b><br />
<b>RATING: 5/5</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Wow! Fantastic is all I can say. I'm so happy to have caught this despite my initial hesitations. I was smiling and laughing all throughout. It also has enough emotional punch to take you through a riveting rollercoaster ride. The leads are amazing, especially Kelsey Grammar and that British Shakespearean actor Douglas Hodge who plays one heck of an amazing Zaza. It was a scaled down version where the name of the game was the tackier, the better. The production meant to deconstruct the glamour and the shimmy of the show's previous incarnations to expose a rather pathetic yet heartfelt and spirited attempt at portraying the inglorious Riviera nightclub where drag queens reign supreme.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTsoxf_87wKN6XDij__iREab4qjvUbbTEUMQKObQfAWS4RHsk6FT2rLXHLj_F0aaSwhpDqct7v0MxlY7ugYIVbKbUFcT0202Cnvg_cfMy2PzR6AMXwrnJ6CdfNlLcsM_wgr2WspK-wlQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-06+at+2.00.36+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTsoxf_87wKN6XDij__iREab4qjvUbbTEUMQKObQfAWS4RHsk6FT2rLXHLj_F0aaSwhpDqct7v0MxlY7ugYIVbKbUFcT0202Cnvg_cfMy2PzR6AMXwrnJ6CdfNlLcsM_wgr2WspK-wlQ/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-06+at+2.00.36+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLBFeUU3VVZBF1hkWPl-nU-Aoe-ixjwriSiRvxnX74bNJTVfZ9ChTQdXGzV4VSk1IMN5qI-zqx0ZgCQzQmL8EvmaO3WeOJtAkjJVnXUdnYYT7FoiFhoDzgY5AQ00RZrcsbhiY6jDbSks/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLBFeUU3VVZBF1hkWPl-nU-Aoe-ixjwriSiRvxnX74bNJTVfZ9ChTQdXGzV4VSk1IMN5qI-zqx0ZgCQzQmL8EvmaO3WeOJtAkjJVnXUdnYYT7FoiFhoDzgY5AQ00RZrcsbhiY6jDbSks/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Curtain Call</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdr_TYRPgpSIo6SAay8X0cY03hZtOvz193JU9NawHXlYWv1JXGB6CuZQaZjsIj7LswEIEgURDxiY7Rtp3YW0HuDKkc7YG889InLfLgd39wtHdAaLTg8faPHPgSU33Mc52rouoUES6KSU/s1600/IMG_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdr_TYRPgpSIo6SAay8X0cY03hZtOvz193JU9NawHXlYWv1JXGB6CuZQaZjsIj7LswEIEgURDxiY7Rtp3YW0HuDKkc7YG889InLfLgd39wtHdAaLTg8faPHPgSU33Mc52rouoUES6KSU/s320/IMG_0005.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Saturday (Day 174)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2pm: Addams Family</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>RATING: 3.5 / 5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay so I heard nothing but bad reviews about this show. But I just had to check it out. It was an idea that popped up in a sibling lunch that I attended previously. What better way to watch Addams Family than to watch it with the real Addams Family! Hilarious! My siblings and I kept looking at each other everytime a pass was made at being normal, either through dialogue or song. Haha. I loved the moving curtains that framed each scene. I also liked how brilliant the set changes were managed that my brother Ipe and I would stare in awe. Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth seemed hammy for the roles. But maybe that was the intention. Overall, the show didn't change my life. But it makes for good entertainment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRP1COpAVTYtWmLB_uon622l_A_QXrnZevEsB0IVhdXC-t2UW6pSHJDFg2cCeGKURaa1enB1xbZ52SZAQ6vYJcOLxsHrl8Wnz-l2NnUSA8vwQYekSWXqkZNLueT1LcuFnArMKYGgj4cI/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-06+at+2.11.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRP1COpAVTYtWmLB_uon622l_A_QXrnZevEsB0IVhdXC-t2UW6pSHJDFg2cCeGKURaa1enB1xbZ52SZAQ6vYJcOLxsHrl8Wnz-l2NnUSA8vwQYekSWXqkZNLueT1LcuFnArMKYGgj4cI/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-06+at+2.11.58+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Sunday (Day 175)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>3pm: 39 Steps</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>RATING: 2 / 5</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would've given it a 1 if not for the saving grace of Act 2. And I was actually surprised because this was a huge success on Broadway before it moved to Off-Broadway and it won the Tony Award for Best Play. Sadly, I had half the mind to walk out in the middle of Act 1. And it didn't help that I was sleepy. I dunno. The overacting (that was supposedly the intention of the show) didn't really work for me. I liked how elementary the stage effects were as it illustrated the pre-Wicked way of painting a theatrical picture. Witty. Clever. Especially the shadow play and the bare bones set that actually made for a convincing setting reminiscent of the original film. I also liked that the show was carried through with only four actors playing multiple roles. And there was even one scene where the two sidekicks were playing 2-3 roles each simultaneous within split seconds. Those parts were hilarious. Then again, maybe I should've caught Lend Me a Tenor instead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>WHAT I ATE TODAY:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>DAY 173</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Breakfast:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">None</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Lunch:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">White Cheese Pizza</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bottled Water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg112Jmd-1K3hfAitTCMnv_k_nk0TGkpVbPnRjPyrlINEcWVXGv1fdYtlJU3dV5NoU-LEok_LcTevVQvE6cquZfUZOVh7Q-iZuQUCKuPiQ_wu-RyFyggBKSU3YY327cZJs_ZzUhrs14Zvs/s1600/IMG_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg112Jmd-1K3hfAitTCMnv_k_nk0TGkpVbPnRjPyrlINEcWVXGv1fdYtlJU3dV5NoU-LEok_LcTevVQvE6cquZfUZOVh7Q-iZuQUCKuPiQ_wu-RyFyggBKSU3YY327cZJs_ZzUhrs14Zvs/s320/IMG_0041.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Dinner:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bacon Cheese Burger w/ Fries</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hot Chocolate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cheesecake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjls85j9no5Om-9-TzQxAOJp5dW0mFTRaxchDSUDkUumnsRLyymfU7eorPn0-ZIn4H__nvia889EFrBqBre812-5gqB2lPopq3PMXxuPCbk_WJbXRnxuOnnmPMYKufcPeH3fyZORWBq8rA/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjls85j9no5Om-9-TzQxAOJp5dW0mFTRaxchDSUDkUumnsRLyymfU7eorPn0-ZIn4H__nvia889EFrBqBre812-5gqB2lPopq3PMXxuPCbk_WJbXRnxuOnnmPMYKufcPeH3fyZORWBq8rA/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3uYul3Dlu11dGcwwyR7TNC54VWTMOak1Uomu3mdByQnPg9QMIwXoWxu9AxkRtLbjMYE-pEOgF7SEfTIplnVt2Jjy1MLqHT9_DS7KYPCvEak56OMsaYGIcJKRnrFTaEsbsz5h1Ne0NQc/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3uYul3Dlu11dGcwwyR7TNC54VWTMOak1Uomu3mdByQnPg9QMIwXoWxu9AxkRtLbjMYE-pEOgF7SEfTIplnVt2Jjy1MLqHT9_DS7KYPCvEak56OMsaYGIcJKRnrFTaEsbsz5h1Ne0NQc/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>DAY 174:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Breakfast:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">none</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Brunch: 44 1/2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hanger Steak</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2 Sunny Side-up Eggs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fries Galore</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hot Chocolate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2 pcs. cornbread</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMO2iWowWvOkyk_x4ZLLzq5dZjfmsW2rFB5W2kcrjETYKWQ8ZnBHc1x_Q9E560BmM_hWsTBuKj2nUJWnY4N-R3Tn685FLbEJxxKD4SDAvUzIKjKdnm79FaXhyxJB3yO5cf5lCGVo3B2Y/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMO2iWowWvOkyk_x4ZLLzq5dZjfmsW2rFB5W2kcrjETYKWQ8ZnBHc1x_Q9E560BmM_hWsTBuKj2nUJWnY4N-R3Tn685FLbEJxxKD4SDAvUzIKjKdnm79FaXhyxJB3yO5cf5lCGVo3B2Y/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9j2mpGGoXMYXZWULhMEyGlEG27_pXaa6IrCs8Vc5Sfb-ABKY6OFzylQvtCQU3EVSI08ncmyJLpTapVv9fWJrfUdVA_5wQtKrNRIiHNovMEX3Z2WFXWnl2ghEWEyRFLu_KIqNb8bVm1CQ/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9j2mpGGoXMYXZWULhMEyGlEG27_pXaa6IrCs8Vc5Sfb-ABKY6OFzylQvtCQU3EVSI08ncmyJLpTapVv9fWJrfUdVA_5wQtKrNRIiHNovMEX3Z2WFXWnl2ghEWEyRFLu_KIqNb8bVm1CQ/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVyiZZ7fdgnSszNHGhcL1C5-yC2w4MQCSeeLVTzubFzYyzqRwBOiwIGULFSGKLqt8wrock6g3u2AY9Md6d0eVW4juSM4DG1U6FwPo6ZaFOcErn1nzQJ-4F6M8611qBFD4T2h9wUrRDpw/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVyiZZ7fdgnSszNHGhcL1C5-yC2w4MQCSeeLVTzubFzYyzqRwBOiwIGULFSGKLqt8wrock6g3u2AY9Md6d0eVW4juSM4DG1U6FwPo6ZaFOcErn1nzQJ-4F6M8611qBFD4T2h9wUrRDpw/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_hlVSr7IMajPaKwugZHzLws-rkahCUhJd71YKXWs3erF9ojYTkVphfoD34xvTyhS47aozicf-wQ9OWvmrzSNhYf_-IftjZkNj0NjGWCr3tOJ57SpuV_DSYFmf2KciumJ1uzMKV0X0w4/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_hlVSr7IMajPaKwugZHzLws-rkahCUhJd71YKXWs3erF9ojYTkVphfoD34xvTyhS47aozicf-wQ9OWvmrzSNhYf_-IftjZkNj0NjGWCr3tOJ57SpuV_DSYFmf2KciumJ1uzMKV0X0w4/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Merienda:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Coffee Shake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mac and Cheese w/ Sloppy Joe</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fries</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjyutlF_l8OgPNtfOz-G4LFzUZV5_CO_4mJJZoOoW9_c1zLKSAkl3N536U4CqCj7eFe82MT6jf_gHcWDYJWo4Zx5vxBubDozs1mtNoTRFUVjboU79gtCmbVj4OsY6Qgh4Ec-CTK437Tw/s1600/IMG_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjyutlF_l8OgPNtfOz-G4LFzUZV5_CO_4mJJZoOoW9_c1zLKSAkl3N536U4CqCj7eFe82MT6jf_gHcWDYJWo4Zx5vxBubDozs1mtNoTRFUVjboU79gtCmbVj4OsY6Qgh4Ec-CTK437Tw/s320/IMG_0012.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvN8MAagmglwSjZN9mvOGepUOyacKw6OwYZ1eC58uztVjq9-TiqbbghgVNV7nKBBEp-MvwEx68xQL9wx4PkUEFnVbC2ScTrFJvQMdmeFKBM4tDGPXF0MT3yjodJV3KGXLRmLqP5bB4j8/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvN8MAagmglwSjZN9mvOGepUOyacKw6OwYZ1eC58uztVjq9-TiqbbghgVNV7nKBBEp-MvwEx68xQL9wx4PkUEFnVbC2ScTrFJvQMdmeFKBM4tDGPXF0MT3yjodJV3KGXLRmLqP5bB4j8/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxUU-JIvIi6qZEoRIGMBOWVn-WIPYsxyEcAgslVNnebU9cbGgbOwjEhIjU8sOWANtshxA_5Bp1ZDjpsvikgKUFkBYHkzKn3YPEGjbFUqp9qGnOBX1MyDtTUU3e9wfJwFsRGVVZ3BiyPE/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxUU-JIvIi6qZEoRIGMBOWVn-WIPYsxyEcAgslVNnebU9cbGgbOwjEhIjU8sOWANtshxA_5Bp1ZDjpsvikgKUFkBYHkzKn3YPEGjbFUqp9qGnOBX1MyDtTUU3e9wfJwFsRGVVZ3BiyPE/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Dinner:<br />
2 pcs. Mad for Chicken Wings<br />
Rice<br />
Bulgogi<br />
<br />
<b>DAY 175:</b><br />
Breakfast:<br />
none<br />
<br />
Lunch:<br />
4 Chicken Wings<br />
3 cups of Yang Chow Fried Rice<br />
Fish<br />
Beef w/ Taosi<br />
5 pcs. Sweet and Sour Pork<br />
1/2 Mango Slushie<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrg0owOnmyt562qsHJgZmOxrOE2STMkdv5kDyo8Gt8bYvNlAe0HvGo3IYVNqZTvQhNNY4yCGKQB2-ivH4nkll65Xl-fdmedo0_Xwjh_YnMRH6RAbE7_0p8HBqPOo25uUEbfnR2hdDk5Q/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrg0owOnmyt562qsHJgZmOxrOE2STMkdv5kDyo8Gt8bYvNlAe0HvGo3IYVNqZTvQhNNY4yCGKQB2-ivH4nkll65Xl-fdmedo0_Xwjh_YnMRH6RAbE7_0p8HBqPOo25uUEbfnR2hdDk5Q/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Merienda:<br />
Chocolate Mouse w/ Cheese Cake<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1RX4eKosm4nEHP1hWAc8QEZg8ON8IFd0lMOTM8KyiOVHYNNzxnvyLgSlcNucjM0SnP2SM1dkmcREHD1gzwAa6JW16AnkCbV_Xt9AYYMulLtbaDzcnl87zAAGIRB6IDDV4rioCeX8Asw/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1RX4eKosm4nEHP1hWAc8QEZg8ON8IFd0lMOTM8KyiOVHYNNzxnvyLgSlcNucjM0SnP2SM1dkmcREHD1gzwAa6JW16AnkCbV_Xt9AYYMulLtbaDzcnl87zAAGIRB6IDDV4rioCeX8Asw/s320/IMG_0025.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Dinner:<br />
Hotdog on a Bun<br />
2 slices of bread w/ chicken spread<br />
1 glass of milk<br />
Leftover Chinese Food (Yang Chow Fried Rice + Wings + Beef)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>EXERCISE:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>none</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95w-6Yp2UK-nIa-8w0nt_74jA5ur7C7isldpoFBfjeLZj6XXmJAkhBsRoNvDRa9aSzHnaL07guxuGLG-Bh29i2tznBl9_zqt6I7AEuW4nAAb5wPD3VXbgbvQFYZA_nXynrZxknckZC_Y/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95w-6Yp2UK-nIa-8w0nt_74jA5ur7C7isldpoFBfjeLZj6XXmJAkhBsRoNvDRa9aSzHnaL07guxuGLG-Bh29i2tznBl9_zqt6I7AEuW4nAAb5wPD3VXbgbvQFYZA_nXynrZxknckZC_Y/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" /></a></div> Me and Mememoy<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zskYy6faQg1q5XuLJyF2JSJNuoKzPZXLURDpl59LGhjmMtMRUX6K-CKzPCkydqXJ_Of6O9gvnVmZqmHn4mevoAeBjIPF6kI3hVeHtkMskCpjmh1ykMHHNa6RqbcazjukaVLldi0ckcg/s1600/IMG_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zskYy6faQg1q5XuLJyF2JSJNuoKzPZXLURDpl59LGhjmMtMRUX6K-CKzPCkydqXJ_Of6O9gvnVmZqmHn4mevoAeBjIPF6kI3hVeHtkMskCpjmh1ykMHHNa6RqbcazjukaVLldi0ckcg/s320/IMG_0016.jpg" /></a></div>Ate Leslie<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_nZRlbv271DGRNNDggNGqgu3vsa3iPU1TXsIazwJrEcclPDZHGvAoU9SVEvCuING12TkLOYTzVOiqruc5xtJwDkNIH-GW-HMnVJlykx7bqsIjQOIR-avso0cza4WyUnLxnpDjGL0JjI/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_nZRlbv271DGRNNDggNGqgu3vsa3iPU1TXsIazwJrEcclPDZHGvAoU9SVEvCuING12TkLOYTzVOiqruc5xtJwDkNIH-GW-HMnVJlykx7bqsIjQOIR-avso0cza4WyUnLxnpDjGL0JjI/s320/IMG_0017.JPG" /></a></div>Bumped into Krista and her cousin at Mad for Chicken<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASu2hPg0-lVM8SB7cwFL4QUKoQgUsfCXhsErJsiVU_vU-08jysLNN0TXQ0vxK8EDKYN5Jm9iRy0YvJ6_KlkHuuheUbOxCSbCHmP_62deKQajnBJZZ9KmjyZeRmG46bwYOUa4LXcFIWBk/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASu2hPg0-lVM8SB7cwFL4QUKoQgUsfCXhsErJsiVU_vU-08jysLNN0TXQ0vxK8EDKYN5Jm9iRy0YvJ6_KlkHuuheUbOxCSbCHmP_62deKQajnBJZZ9KmjyZeRmG46bwYOUa4LXcFIWBk/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" /></a></div>Mom and Tita Bernie<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DWSZCYCL5T-3LPy7uR3uD5imnThgWo4K5F8f3PmI93y71cXmatbFvMJYjT0V0WFBvhZ0aRtItdtRGjk2Q9fJneHpQo8dsP5BXUZqq484eU1JxOIlbdo-oSrABmJt4ISgZFLkrRH5YnU/s1600/IMG_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DWSZCYCL5T-3LPy7uR3uD5imnThgWo4K5F8f3PmI93y71cXmatbFvMJYjT0V0WFBvhZ0aRtItdtRGjk2Q9fJneHpQo8dsP5BXUZqq484eU1JxOIlbdo-oSrABmJt4ISgZFLkrRH5YnU/s320/IMG_0021.JPG" /></a></div>Me and Ate Leslie<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vmVNWB0JvnHDfOpyw0cEVIQQu0LfYEO-WELePqZaz7xq-dmMaeS3aYr7iVRrERU4n7oTnRtwoKaeeSgltpfT51AGQqBjI14N2nc_jw8pYvkD2qjPGFb7oiEDIbp7k_dF7SoQ8Ua8YHc/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vmVNWB0JvnHDfOpyw0cEVIQQu0LfYEO-WELePqZaz7xq-dmMaeS3aYr7iVRrERU4n7oTnRtwoKaeeSgltpfT51AGQqBjI14N2nc_jw8pYvkD2qjPGFb7oiEDIbp7k_dF7SoQ8Ua8YHc/s320/IMG_0022.JPG" /></a></div>Mark and Ate Sandra<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszHJZ8ZKGuzO0iV2xZAx2L2HT8AGpPQ7EjHI9O6nyfYvMXrXYwHoLwUU8tz3i_lEBBD3t2OLUACZCfc4NeLIiOBN2b_aGyk-sDWWZQf__q4wbuwaci8RmmN0g3hPX561kVPWiUpDEsWM/s1600/IMG_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszHJZ8ZKGuzO0iV2xZAx2L2HT8AGpPQ7EjHI9O6nyfYvMXrXYwHoLwUU8tz3i_lEBBD3t2OLUACZCfc4NeLIiOBN2b_aGyk-sDWWZQf__q4wbuwaci8RmmN0g3hPX561kVPWiUpDEsWM/s320/IMG_0024.JPG" /></a></div>Group Shot<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3p9O8QyGvv8nmTn-ItLCeVz3zfF_gVfstXn_pjiw4si8yhz_h27rdTAUMNAQu8bH0GQkXfarI3fUl50DJ2wnb12s_buOROSfpNH3xUtaOirPVQgV7TnmwcZV1vfBf7FI-WWg-Q3vDJM/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3p9O8QyGvv8nmTn-ItLCeVz3zfF_gVfstXn_pjiw4si8yhz_h27rdTAUMNAQu8bH0GQkXfarI3fUl50DJ2wnb12s_buOROSfpNH3xUtaOirPVQgV7TnmwcZV1vfBf7FI-WWg-Q3vDJM/s320/IMG_0028.JPG" /></a></div>Krista and Francis<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAVjzMKLNNFFUJ8vZjd9QGF8bvxVwCcMhyJ6fsONPSLzU5Ocydj-sMvSQTFp6A2eGdGHmNgnHvI3In287WATZ32G2MJAaTTdN3zZ0FRKCCR7EtnJ4ywqi9F-uTbsYzjdA83g50X9Uoow/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAVjzMKLNNFFUJ8vZjd9QGF8bvxVwCcMhyJ6fsONPSLzU5Ocydj-sMvSQTFp6A2eGdGHmNgnHvI3In287WATZ32G2MJAaTTdN3zZ0FRKCCR7EtnJ4ywqi9F-uTbsYzjdA83g50X9Uoow/s320/IMG_0029.JPG" /></a></div>Jed and EJ<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWBk-zVmmmsw3V72kd99B7rxYBF1z6nZ1TFwG3bFgqYrtjGWVKN5xDQMcTma0RabdK-TDNPJ3aUvH7iLv_4FR_OCblRGtB24Ux74YvZkQmwWMO7rIkkQVoMlScNFlISCca07p0zx4o0A/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWBk-zVmmmsw3V72kd99B7rxYBF1z6nZ1TFwG3bFgqYrtjGWVKN5xDQMcTma0RabdK-TDNPJ3aUvH7iLv_4FR_OCblRGtB24Ux74YvZkQmwWMO7rIkkQVoMlScNFlISCca07p0zx4o0A/s320/IMG_0033.JPG" /></a></div>Storytelling<br />
<br />
- 2000 and Obeseimcalledtoffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06724791425433070729noreply@blogger.com0