‘All Out of Love: The Musical’ could use a little less neon, a lot more glam

Let it be known that belting out an Air Supply song is one of life's best pleasures. It's fun to do sober and even more fun drunk, because wailing the high notes is guaranteed to release whatever it is that your keeping in. 

Of course, not too many Filipinos need the aid of alcohol to sing these songs brilliantly. Every barrio here has two or three divas waiting to be discovered. 

The cast of "All Out of Love: The Musical" performed as expected. Mig Ayesa proved once again that he's an accomplished singer and Tanya Manalang held her own, glowing brighter than the neon behind her. 

That's quite a feat, considering the stage was beaming with neon lights the entire show. At one point, they even wheeled in a car made of neon. There's something to be gleaned about a flashy set perhaps filling a gap in other parts of the show.

Shiny, shiny set.

To be clear, the story playing out on stage is perfectly adequate. There's a big shot record producer and a daughter eager to be recognized. There's a rock star trying to make amends with a partner he did wrong years ago. 

Any feeling of dissatisfaction stems from grand expectation. The songs are big, as everything was at the height of Air Supply's fame. The lyrics are soaked in extravagance.

Take a moment to ponder what it means for a man to say "you're every woman in the world to me." Listen to the sorrowful crooning of Russell Hitchcock. The helpless begging in "the one that you love" demands a translation to the stage that's over-the-top dramatic.

The musical lacks conflict to warrant the wailing and the vulnerable confessions that one is "all out of love" and "lost without you." Whatever struggle the characters face is so hastily resolved that the sentiment of "Two Less Lonely People" is watered down. 

Something as hyperbolic like "in my life where everything was wrong, something finally went right" deserves an epic story. Sadly, the musical has a story that's a little too simple. 

"All Out of Love: The Musical" assembles all the parts required to entertain the most avid fans. But it has to compete with the joy of wailing these songs out in the comfort of your home or a videoke room while your intoxicated and swimming in your memories. That's why it falls short. — GMA News

"All Out of Love: The Musical" runs until October 28 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila.