Philippines Theater Reviews

BWW Reviews: SA WAKAS, The Story of Us

'Sa Wakas' has garnered mostly rave reviews since the new Filipino musical opened at PETA-PHINMA Theater two weeks ago. After finally catching the show last weekend, we were glad to see that it isn't all hype. 'Sa Wakas' is the type of show you will tell your friends about because you want to share something special with them. It is the type of show you would want people to see because they may have walked the same path once similar to one of the characters. Seeing it onstage also calls to mind gut wrenching conversations you may have had over a few rounds of beer. (more...)

BWW Reviews: SA WAKAS, A New Rock Musical

One of the hardest things when writing a review is doing our best not to be influenced by others' opinions, especially when we know something is amiss. While there is no question about how skilllfully Off-Broadway director Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan is able to fuse different theatrical elements to bring the spirit of alternative rock band Sugarfree's songs on stage, the lack of organic storytelling in Act One makes “Sa Wakas: A New Rock Musical” confusing to us. (more...)

BWW Reviews: THE GRADUATE by Repertory Philippines

During Act One of 'The Graduate,' Benjamin Braddock exclaims brattishly that his father and everyone his father knows are grotesque. We think there couldn't be a more appropriate description to what follows in the next hour of the play. (more...)

BWW Reviews: PIAF by Atlantis Productions

Piaf is Amador; Amador is Piaf. (more...)

Review Roundup: PIAF by Atlantis Productions; Show Closes 3/23

Atlantis Productions (Disney's "Aladdin," "Rock of Ages") kicks off its new theater season with British playwright Pam Gem's reworked version of her original late '70s play 'Piaf,' which is a bio-drama with music based on the life and career of Edith Piaf, one of France's most popular performers during World War II. (more...)

BWW Reviews: COLLECTION by Dulaang UP

Dulaang UP closes its 37th season with a bold and daring new play, 'Collection,' written by visionary playwright Floy Quintos. (more...)

Review Roundup: COLLECTION by Dulaang UP; Addt'l Show on 3/6

'Collection,' an original Filipino play, written by multi-awarded playwright Floy Quintos ('Shock Value,' 'Ang Bagong Harana') and directed by avant garde director Dexter Santos ('Rizal X', 'Orosman at Zafira') is DUP's final offering for its 37th season. The production runs until Wednesday, March 6 at Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, University of the Philippines. (more...)

Review Roundup: RED Enters Last Weekend, 3/1-2

American playwright and screenwriter John Logan's ('Any Given Sunday,' 'Aviator') Tony Award-winning play 'Red,' which won six awards at the 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Play, enters its last weekend at College of Saint Benilde-School of Design and Arts Theatre on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2. (more...)

BWW Reviews: SPRING AWAKENING by Blue Repertory

Until when should the truth be enshrouded with sugar-coated malice? (until it's too late to do anything?) (more...)

BWW Reviews: BOEING-BOEING by Repertory Philippines

When the play's director is all smiles on opening night, you can tell the show is off to a good start. (more...)

BWW Reviews: THE KING AND I Starring Nonie Buencamino and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo

Resorts World Manila's (RWM) Newport Performing Arts Theater recently raised its curtains for the new cast members of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The King and I," Nonie Buencamino as King Mongkut and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Anna Leonowens. (more...)

Review Roundup: Spotlight Artists Centre Presents KATY

Members of the press that attended the preview performance of the much-anticipated revival production of Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Javier Reyes's landmark musical "Katy" at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on Wednesday last week felt the production was far from technically perfect. Nevertheless, this Spotlight Artists Centre's take on the beloved original Filipino musical, based on the life and times of bodabil queen Katy dela Cruz, directed by the show's original director, Nestor U. Torre, opened last weekend, and was rewarded with extended standing ovations from the audience. (more...)

Review Roundup: LES MISERABLES Opens in the Philippines

"Les Miserables" fans in the Philippines had to wait a little longer for the Tom Hooper-helmed stage to screen adaptation of the famous musical, based on Victor Hugo's novel, because cineplexes, primarily in Metro Manila, were booked for the annual Metro Manila Film Festival, which showcases local movie productions, over the holidays. (more...)

LES MISERABLES: At the Core of It is Exposition of Christian Virtues

"To love another person is to see the face of God" - Colm Wilkinson's Bishop Myriel of Digne and Anne Hathaway's Fantine, together with Hugh Jackman's Jean Valjean, sung those arguably the most indelible lyrics by tail end in the Tom Hooper-helmed musical motion picture, "Les Miserables," a faithful film adaptation based on the 1987 Tony Award-winning musical, written by Claude-Michel Schonberg, Alain Boublil, and Herbert Kretzmer, which in turn was inspired by the French historical novel of the same name, published in 1862, by Victor Hugo, a well-known French Romantic poet and novelist who had evident antipathy toward the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church; but, interestingly, had high regard for the Church's doctrines. (more...)

BWW Reviews: UMAARAW, UMUULAN, KINAKASAL ANG TIKBALANG by UP Playwrights Theater

UP Playwright's Theater's restaging of the children's play "Umuulan, Umaaraw, Kinakasal ang Tikbalang," based on the short story by Gilda Cordero Fernando, is more akin to film auteur Akira Kurosawa's first segment in his film "Dreams," and to Mexican filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and Alfonso Cuaron's El laberinto del fauno ("Pan's Labyrinth") than to English author Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland." (more...)

BWW Review: Disney’s CAMP ROCK by Repertory Philippines

Repertory Philippines' latest offering, Disney's "Camp Rock," is a stage adaptation of the popular Disney TV movie, which starred The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. As expected, "Camp Rock" is a lightweight romantic comedy targeted at teens and those that want to relive the happiness of their innocent youth. (more...)

BWW Review: Mario O’Hara’s STAGESHOW

STAGESHOW, the last masterpiece of the late television, film, and theater icon Mario O'Hara, has managed to present a poignant and emotionally-charged story that focuses on the twilight years of a small group of dedicated Filipino artists - "Tres Dahlias," and "Tirso and the Bandits," among others - during the vaudeville era in the late 1940s. These artists, torn between their love for the arts and economic survival, unfortunately represent parallel realities that performing artists still face today. (more...)

BWW Review: THE SEAGULL by Dulaang UP

Dulaang UP has recently presented the English and Filipino translations of Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull," which evokes thoughtful discussions about life, ambition, love, and art in a manner devoid of melodrama. (more...)

BWW REVIEW: Kids Acts Philippines’ PETER PAN

When a four-year-old kid, who has a short attention span, watches his very first children's play, and nicely tells you,'Please be quiet," when you were trying to explain some of the play's scenes and characters to him, it is a good sign that the production may have succeeded to engage its desired age group. (more...)

BWW Review: THE WOMAN IN BLACK; Show Returns 10/19-20

Imagine this if you will: you are watching two stage actors playing a myriad of dreary characters on an almost bare stage inside a small, nearly pitch-black theater. Suddenly, a malevolent ghost pops up on stage. (more...)

Review Roundup: Atlantis Productions' NINE, Now thru Oct 7

Prolific theater company Atlantis Productions Inc.'s VIPs, Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga, have been running in the fast lane lately: Both had to fly out to Singapore to direct and prepare to open Tony-winning musical AVENUE Q at Marina Bay Sands over the weekend, just a few days after they premiered another Tony-winning musical, NINE, last friday night at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium. (more...)

Review Roundup: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in Manila; Show Must Close 10/14

After several previous run extension announcements, the international touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega musical THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, playing at the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), must finally close on Sunday, October 14. (more...)

Review Roundup: I DO BIDOO BIDOO, Starring Sam Concepcion, Tippy dos Santos

Feature film production companies Unitel Productions ("Crying Ladies"), Studio 5 ("Rosario"), multi-award winning screenwriter, film director Chris Martinez ("The Woman in the Septic Tank," "100"), and prolific stage, television, and film music composer, arranger Vincent de Jesus ("Care Divas," "Crying Ladies") join forces to create the groundbreaking movie musical "I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila," which explores four interwoven love stories inspired by 17 songs popularized by the APO Hiking Society, a trio made up of Original Pilipino Music (OPM)luminaries Jim Paredes, Boboy Garovillo, and Danny Javier. (more...)

BWW Reviews: I DO BIDOO BIDOO: Filipino Version of MAMMA MIA!

Among the most memorable musical films that have featured international music icons's discography, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE(2007), which showcases the popular songs of The Beatles, and MAMMA MIA!(2008), which features the hit songs of ABBA, were instant favorites. On the local front, the Philippines has I DO BIDOO BIDOO: HETO nAPO SILA, which headlines the immortal songs of the legendary trio of the APO Hiking Society, comprised of Jim Paredes, Boboy Garovillo, and Danny Javier. Produced by film outfits Studio 5 and Unitel, and directed by Chris Martinez, I DO BIDOO BIDOO opened last Wednesday, August 29. (more...)

Review Roundup: POTTED POTTER in Manila

How time flies! "Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience," a hit parody, starring British sitcom actors Gary Trainor and Jesse Briton, that condenses all seven "Harry Potter" books in 70 minutes, which opened last Tuesday, is closing today, September 2 at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati City. So hurry up and catch the last two trains to "Hogwarts" at 5 and 7 p.m. (more...)