MANILA, Philippines - Being a senior high school scholar in Poveda, there was an unwritten rule that we could only date La Sallites (now La Sallians), Ateneans and Xavierians. And since the Xavier boys preferred the ICA girls over us, we were stuck with Ateneans and La Sallites. (Sorry, I still prefer calling them La Sallites. I guess it's the age and era, like me preferring to call clubs... discos! Arrrgh! Age giveaway!)
What I found most entertaining is that these blue-bloods and green-bloods would always delve into a pissing contest on who can piss higher. My first boyfriend was an Atenean who told me a joke about a La Sallite and an Atenean who were both inside a toilet. After relieving themselves, the Atenean hit the door but before going out, the La Sallite said while going to the lavatory, "Our school taught us to always to wash our hands after urinating."
The Atenean laughs and tells the La Sallite, "Well our school taught us never to urinate on our hands!" I was laughing my pants off with that joke but what was funnier was when I started dating a La Sallite with a different version of the joke wherein it was the Atenean that pisses on his hands! What a competition! It's a good thing us UP graduates don't have to fight and scramble for second place.
Joel Trinidad invited me to the Meralco Theater for the press night of the 4th Wall Theatre Company's first original musical. I knew I would be seeing what is known, in theater, as a preview: A work in progress that is performed in front of a live audience in order for the creative team to iron out all the kinks in the material. I would definitely have to see the show again, in its final form, to fully appreciate it. But I have to say that I found even this first draft of "Rivalry: The Ateneo-La Salle Musical" highly enjoyable.
Simply put, "Rivalry" has the makings a Broadway-type musicale. Whether you're blue or green, maroon or even polka-dotted with rainbow stripes, you would empathize with its one of its characters, like La Salle basketball star Tommy; Quito, his nerdy Atenean cousin; and Reena, the bookish Maryknoller (are they called Miriamiticons now? Gee whiz! Sounds like a name of a robot or a new iPhone 5).
The production had dialogue that was sometimes funny, sometimes profoundly moving, and sometimes both. It had gorgeously memorable music with the kind of songs that you happily find yourself humming as you leave the theater. They had clever and thought-provoking lyrics as well.
But it was, it must be said, still a preview - and, as such, the show did need a little work. A few of the characters were a bit underdeveloped. Some of the plot points needed to be streamlined. Some of the dialogue (by show director Jaime del Mundo) sounded a bit... well, like dialogue. And, perhaps most crucially, for a musical that purported to show both sides of the classic Ateneo-La Salle conflict, there seemed to be too many blue punch lines at the expense of the guys in green. Who said life was fair anyway?
But I did like the show, as I've said. So I went to see "Rivalry" again and I'm happy to report that it is better than ever. I can't really put my finger on all the changes, but I did notice one important change: The show definitely evens the score for the La Sallites by taking some new potshots at the Ateneans. My super favorite is Act Two which features a hilariously show-stopping number by the inimitable Noel Trinidad, designed for him especially by show composer Ed Gatchalian, one of his oldest friends, and his son Joel Trinidad (who also happens to be the show's lyricist).
After the show, I took the opportunity to chat with Joel. It's always worth talking theater with Joel because he is one of the local scene's most indefatigable workhorses.
Joel enthused he's staging next "Forbidden Broadway." "I'm producing and directing it for my theater company, Upstart Productions." The show, a hilarious parody of Broadway's most beloved musicals - "Les Miserables," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Rent," "Mamma Mia!," "Wicked," and "Cats," to name just a few - was something I knew quite well, having been a fan of West End in London and Broadway in New York. So naturally, I was excited.
Created by Gerard Alessandrini, "Forbidden Broadway" has received over 9,000 performances and had been seen in more than 200 US cities. It's also played in London, Tokyo, Singapore, and Sydney. And on May 11, it's finally coming here.
"It's been such a huge international hit for so long," gushed Trinidad, "and I can't believe that it's never been professionally produced here in Manila. I can't wait! I am even including celebrity guest performers in every performance: Huge artists like Aiza Seguerra, Cherie Gil, Nyoy Volante, Jett Pangan, and many more."
But what about non-theatergoers? Would they appreciate the show at all? "That's the beauty of it," declared Joel. "You don't have to be familiar with the songs or the shows or the actors that 'Forbidden Broadway' is spoofing. You don't even have to like musical theater necessarily. You just have to like... well, you just have to like to laugh."
And who doesn't?
Rivalry: "Forbidden Broadway" runs at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza at 8 p.m. on May 12 till the 27th. You can e-mail upstartproductionsinc@gmail.com for information on show buying. The Ateneo-La Salle Musical runs at the Meralco Theater until March 11. Tickets available at Ticketworld.
Giselle Sanchez is a singer, stand-up comedienne and corporate host. She will have a show in Pagcor Pan Pacific Hotel on Feb. 24. For tickets please contact Pan Pacific customer hotline 09189905574. E-mail the Gossip Girl at giselleoffice@gmail.com.
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