ANGELES CITY –“A superb performance!” was how most of the audience rated the matinee presentation of the Kapampangan-produced stage musical “I Love (expressed in the symbol of a heart) Pope Francis – The Musical” at the Holy Angel University Theater here on Friday.
This was also the reaction of the members of the Capampangan in Media, Inc. (CAMI), who were invited to the show by the production’s creator and director Andy Alviz. CAMI Vice President Ernie Tolentino said he was awed by what he described as a topnotch musical on the life of Pope Francis that has the potentials of becoming a blockbuster not only in the Philippines but overseas as well because of its global appeal.
Tolentino also praised Alviz and the cast, who were mostly amateur (volunteer) thespians of Pampanga, on how they carried out the musical. Most of the audience was captivated by the 24 original songs of the musical as well as the near flawless performance of the cast – a mixture of mature and young actors, with two actors barely in their teens, despite technical glitzes such as the unpleasant sound system.
It was learned that even the audience that attended its maiden staging on Nov. 29 at the same venue was wowed by the play.
The production touched on the life of the Pope, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, from his young days in Argentina, where he even worked as a bouncer before entering the priesthood, to the time when he became knownas a bishop of the street for identifying with the poor, to his rise to the papacy, and the Filipinos’ “joyful” anticipation and his visit to the country (fictionally named San Felipe in the play) in January.
It was this essence – the character of the Pope, the circumstances of his rise to the Vatican hierarchy and the “surprising” manner by which he’s carrying out his job as a leader of the more than a billion Catholics in the world and the people’s positive reaction to all he what he says and does – that this stage production captured vividly which explains the audience’s ecstatic reaction to the musical.
This excited air of anticipation, even before the doors to the theater were opened to let the crowd in, was clearly felt among the prospective Kapampangan audience, many of whom may have been told of the “happy experience” by those that watched the musical’s maiden staging on Nov. 29.
That “happy experience” felt by those who have viewed the musical may be attributed to the seamless progression of the play scene after scene marked by the interplay of humor, wit and kindness.
It was obvious, especially during the early scenes of the musical’s first part, those in the audience were so enthralled by what they’re viewing they were, initially, at a loss on how to react: whether to applause or not at the end of each scene, laugh loudly at the witty repartee, or even respond tothe call for public participation in some parts of the play.
But it did not take long for the crowd to catch on and let their hair down, so to speak, in expressing their feelings throughout the play that, not surprisingly, gave the musical and the actors a standing ovation. They, too, obviously had the “happy experience” felt by those who watched the musical earlier.
Last Friday’s crowd apparently felt proud that an all-Filipino group, made up mostly of amateur thespians consisting of students, priests, lay leaders and society matrons, could produce such a musical that could equal those that have been churned out on Broadway in the US or even London and other theater capitals in the world.
“It definitely is an experience to watch this musical on Pope Francis and everyone in this country must see it and they will definitely fall in love with it,” CAMI’s Abel Cruz said. Alviz had earlier told CAMI members that he collaborated on the musical with writer-lyricist Randy del Rosario with the Arti.Sta Rita and the Teatru Kapampangan.
Another play is set on Jan. 10, 2015, also at he HAU Theater. Alviz said plans are now being worked out for the musical’s presentation at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) next year, in cooperation with the Rotary International.
Bookings are also now being arranged for the musical’s run next year in Cebu, Iloilo and other key cities in the country and, hopefully, in London and finally, Rome, Alviz said. Part of the proceeds of the musical’s presentation will go to Teatru Kapampangan’s beneficiary – the AeTahanan, a dormitory in Sta. Rita that houses Aetas taking up college.
