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So many feels in the musical ‘Mula Sa Buwan’
Remember that first love? That girl you hung out with as a child, climbing trees, playing habulan, hiding with/from in taguan? She has grown up to be a lovely woman, and your heart is beating more than ever for her.
Such is the sentiment of Cyrano, the lead in Black Box Productions' Filipino musical “Mula Sa Buwan,” which opened last Saturday at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater inside the Ateneo de Manila University campus. He loves Roxane with his whole heart, and she in turn loves him too, but only as a friend.
Ouch.
It's a tale as old as time, a story of unrequited love. But though the story is familiar and has been told a thousand times, Cyrano's story in “Mula Sa Buwan” tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you in tears with all the feels. Yes, this is despite the balagtasan, kundiman, and zarzuela elements of yesteryears employed in this production.
Based on Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac and its Filipino translation by Soc Rodrigo, the musical, set in the Philippines as the threat of World War II looms, starts off with Cyrano (played by Nicco Manalo and Boo Gabunada alternately) and his fellow ROTC batchmates squaring off in jest with the group of rich kid Maximo (MC dela Cruz). Roxane and her friends are there too. Trading patutsada at each other, the young men brim with youthful passion, and war seems so far off.
But then a new kid in town, pretty boy Christian (Fred Lo/Edward Benosa), joins the ROTC group, and instantly locks eyes with the beautiful Roxane (KL Dizon). Love blooms at first sight.
The problem though is Christian is all good looks and not much else, prompting Cyrano to whisper under his breath, “Patas din ang Diyos,” sending the audience in stitches.
Like the bride's best friend in Jollibee's “Vow”, though, Cyrano continues to love selflessly despite the pain. We felt his deep heartache as he sang, “Maiinggit ang bukang liwayway. Ang ganda niya'y nawalan ng saysay sa kulay mong tinataglay at sa mundo'y ibinibigay.” The melody in this song entitled “Ikaw” is heartbreaking; the lyrics, perfect.
The pain intensified as war inevitably came, and the characters were forced to grow up. War crushed their spirits, but they rallied on in the song “Matatapos Din.”
But this isn't just about the war. It's about love—selfless and enduring, as against a love that pretends. It's about reaching for the moon where there is no pain. As the lyrics of the song “Mula Sa Buwan” go, “Kailanman ay 'di ka iiyak sa buwan.” And everyone in the audience could somehow relate to it.
The audience last Saturday night was mostly composed of millennials out to watch the musical as a requirement for school. But past the dragging first scene, they were engaged with the music, the lyrics, the script, the acting.
For instance, when Roxane asked Cyrano coyly, “Maganda ba ako nung ako'y musmos?” and the latter retorted, “Hindi ka naman lubos na kapangitan!” the audience roared with laughter.
And when Roxane was all kilig and on landi mode talking about Christian, Cyrano admonished her, “Umayos ka!”, guffaws were heard all over the theater.
Nicco Manalo was superb in his role as Cyrano. Quick and smart yet all heart, you can't help but root for his Cyrano character with the ugly long nose a la Pinnochio. Manalo didn't seem to be acting; he owned the stage and made you feel he could walk in this day and age and converse balagtasan-style with ease.
KL Dizon's singing was just beautiful. My heart broke as she sang “Ang Sabi Nila.”
Benosa played Christian last Saturday, and he gave justice to his role as the handsome-guy-with-the-six-pack-abs-and-not-much-else in love with the most beautiful girl in the city.
The ensemble cast deserves a round of applause too for their war scenes were full of emotion that you could feel the despair yourself.
But the biggest round of applause for me should go to Pat Valera and William Elvin Manzano who both worked on the material (music and lyrics). Valera, who gets the credit for the adaptation, book, and direction, should do more works like this to enrich Philippine theater.
“Mula Sa Buwan” debuted on stage in December last year. This year's run has a better set and lighting, we learned, but somehow with much more feels. — BM, GMA News
“Mula Sa Buwan” has performances this weekend: February 24, 25, and 26, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at TicketWorld. For details, visit the “Mula Sa Buwan” Facebook page.
