A night of music and magic awaits us INTO THE WOODS, which is staged in the actual woods!
Upstart Productions invites Filipinos to the Kasalikasan Gardens in Bonifacio Global City to relish the music of Stephen Sondheim and the story of James Lapine, and to witness the artistry of our very own thespians.
Breaking from the traditional indoor setup, it was exciting to see an alternative way of staging shows, where the classic musical was re-imagined in an intimate park that is secretly tucked away a few meters from the busy streets of The Fort and under the star-lit sky on a breezy summer night.
Naturally, staging a play outdoors has its pros and cons. One of its highlights: something deeply romantic in these moments in the woods--- the majestic sun slowly setting down, the chilly wind brushing past our face, the chirping birds singing their love songs and the stars witnessing the inseparable lovers. No wonder the author and her companion saw several couples who made this their date night bonding.
The venue was not elaborately festooned with props. The audience seated on the usual white plastic chairs that were spread neatly around the venue. In fact, I thought it was effectively minimalistic.
The real downside is the acoustics. Of course, musicals are better appreciated in a room with great acoustics but since this is outdoors, noise are heard from all over: the vroom and honks of cars nearby, even the loud fireworks from up above. They consequently drown the music and distracted the audience.
There wasn't a full band or orchestra present to accompany the actors singing, which is usually the case in conventional musicals. There was a one-man band: the keyboardist. All throughout. Though he manned the musicality of the show all by himself, he was unfazed. In fact, it seemed like he knew everything by heart... which apparently showed.
The ensemble was very entertaining. It was so surreal to hear newbie Jillian Ita-as sing the lines of Red Riding Hood, because it sounds exactly like Lilla Crawford in the movie adaptation. The Prince here is nowhere the look-alike of Hollywood hearthrob Chris Pine, but he was spot-on in his comic delivery, so as with The Big Bad Wolf.
Real-life partners Lorenz Martinez and Sheila Valderrama-Martinez played The Baker and his wife respectively, so chemistry there was very evident. It's also a joy to see veteran actor Noel Trinidad, more popularly known now as the father of Sir Chief of the hit TV series Please, Be Careful With My Heart, portrayed the narrator and the mysterious character. The last time I saw him on stage was when he did the unforgettable Roger de Bris in The Producers. What a delight!
Meanwhile, Rachel Alejandro was surprising in her role as The Witch. I have never seen her -- the sexy chef--- deglamorized like this. Or anything quite as whimsical. My friend and I, who are both self-confessed Streepers (meaning: fans of Meryl Streep), was looking forward to see how she'd give life to the role which Meryl played in the movie adaptation. Hers, as with the rest of the cast members, were more comic in tone as compared to the movie. To me the movie was darker and more serious in its approach. Alejandro did well though especially after her character's transformation and during Last Midnight.
No doubt, INTO THE WOODS will entertain. The material is also a nice avenue to introduce our kids to the world out there. The park itself resonated the theme: the fertile and wild woods says so much about the richness and complexities of human relationships .
For more trivia, click here.
Upstart Productions invites Filipinos to the Kasalikasan Gardens in Bonifacio Global City to relish the music of Stephen Sondheim and the story of James Lapine, and to witness the artistry of our very own thespians.
Breaking from the traditional indoor setup, it was exciting to see an alternative way of staging shows, where the classic musical was re-imagined in an intimate park that is secretly tucked away a few meters from the busy streets of The Fort and under the star-lit sky on a breezy summer night.
Naturally, staging a play outdoors has its pros and cons. One of its highlights: something deeply romantic in these moments in the woods--- the majestic sun slowly setting down, the chilly wind brushing past our face, the chirping birds singing their love songs and the stars witnessing the inseparable lovers. No wonder the author and her companion saw several couples who made this their date night bonding.
The venue was not elaborately festooned with props. The audience seated on the usual white plastic chairs that were spread neatly around the venue. In fact, I thought it was effectively minimalistic.
The real downside is the acoustics. Of course, musicals are better appreciated in a room with great acoustics but since this is outdoors, noise are heard from all over: the vroom and honks of cars nearby, even the loud fireworks from up above. They consequently drown the music and distracted the audience.
There wasn't a full band or orchestra present to accompany the actors singing, which is usually the case in conventional musicals. There was a one-man band: the keyboardist. All throughout. Though he manned the musicality of the show all by himself, he was unfazed. In fact, it seemed like he knew everything by heart... which apparently showed.
The ensemble was very entertaining. It was so surreal to hear newbie Jillian Ita-as sing the lines of Red Riding Hood, because it sounds exactly like Lilla Crawford in the movie adaptation. The Prince here is nowhere the look-alike of Hollywood hearthrob Chris Pine, but he was spot-on in his comic delivery, so as with The Big Bad Wolf.
Real-life partners Lorenz Martinez and Sheila Valderrama-Martinez played The Baker and his wife respectively, so chemistry there was very evident. It's also a joy to see veteran actor Noel Trinidad, more popularly known now as the father of Sir Chief of the hit TV series Please, Be Careful With My Heart, portrayed the narrator and the mysterious character. The last time I saw him on stage was when he did the unforgettable Roger de Bris in The Producers. What a delight!
Meanwhile, Rachel Alejandro was surprising in her role as The Witch. I have never seen her -- the sexy chef--- deglamorized like this. Or anything quite as whimsical. My friend and I, who are both self-confessed Streepers (meaning: fans of Meryl Streep), was looking forward to see how she'd give life to the role which Meryl played in the movie adaptation. Hers, as with the rest of the cast members, were more comic in tone as compared to the movie. To me the movie was darker and more serious in its approach. Alejandro did well though especially after her character's transformation and during Last Midnight.
No doubt, INTO THE WOODS will entertain. The material is also a nice avenue to introduce our kids to the world out there. The park itself resonated the theme: the fertile and wild woods says so much about the richness and complexities of human relationships .
For more trivia, click here.
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