'Mula Sa Buwan': Philippine Theater’s return to form

The pandemic has rendered a lot of theater fans wondering what play they will see first in the theater, if they haven't yet. Or what is next? What will happen after such a consequential event?

This is the premise of the captivating and gut-wrenching “Mula Sa Buwan” ("From the Moon"), a Filipino musical in its fourth iteration at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati.

A lot of things are expected of this production. For one, the musical has a bigger venue, bigger production, a more polished story, and a bigger cast than its initial runs.

For another, this is one of the first major musicals running at the tail-end of the pandemic. Its success is a must for the local theater scene, an industry ravaged by the pandemic, to be revitalized.

The musical certainly has a lot to prove. And at this junction of our time, it did with much success.

Based on the classic “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Edmond Rostand and Filipino translation by Soc Rodrigo, “Mula Sa Buwan” follows Cyrano, a quick-witted, long-nosed soldier in war-torn 1940s Manila.

With the titular character are a ragtag of friends and colleagues coming of age at the height and end of World War II.

Their experiences are cut into two halves. The first is filled with youthful reminisces of local life: lazy cadet training in the afternoon, funding drives for the local zarzuela group, young loves, and hidden crushes.

The second half is something more abrupt. The echoes of emergency sirens fill the stage and the sound of bombardment stun the characters. The entire hall is blackened then suddenly returns to light with the flag of Imperial Japan being waved affront. World War II reached the shores and nothing will be the same. What will happen after such an event?

The musical was created by Pat Valera with original lyrics by him and William Elvin Manzano. "Mula Sa Buwan" was initially Valera’s thesis project, from more than a decade earlier and saw a lot of iterations before its current version.

What stands out is Valera’s dedication to the story and this production. His vision to mount a Filipino tale of defiance is akin to his drive to push this production to its final form. Revisions and pandemic be damned.

Leading the cast as the fabled Cyrano is Myke Salomon, who also serves as the play's musical director. From the get-go, Salomon stood out above the rest. His mastery of the music enhanced the emotional turmoil of the character in a way that made his idealism more realistic.

Gab Pangilinan plays Roxane, Cyrano’s childhood friend and unrequited love. Markki Stroem plays Christian, a new cadet who is also after Roxane’s heart. Both Pangilinan and Stroem performed their roles with a dedication that complemented Salomon’s bombastic take.

Rounding out the main cast MC dela Cruz as Maximo, Jon Abella as Tato, Jillian Ita-as as Gabriel, and Phi Palmos in a memorable take of Rosanna.

Another star of the production is its mise-en-scene. Its mounting of an idyllic, pre-war Manila, oozes with innocence reminiscent of an Amorsolo painting. Juxtaposing that are the dark trenches of the second half.

Then there is the short, trippy imagining of the characters escaping their earthly troubles to live on the moon (hence the title). And the post-War autumn signals the start of rebirth at the story’s denouement.

These shifts prove powerful that even without context, the timeline moves forward.

Of note too are the set design by Ohm David and the lighting design by Meliton Roxas.

“Mula Sa Buwan” carries a punctuation that allows the audience to linger into a future of what could become. The musical is a tale of defiance, yes.

Idealism won't not triumph in the end, though. Instead, it will linger even after the story reaches its heavy conclusion.

As the pandemic winds down, we are reaching another punctuation of sorts. The type that welcomes a rebirth of things that were lost in the past two years or so. “Mula Sa Buwan” gives live theater back its form, and not a moment too late.

The musical is running its last week of shows. Visit the website for more details. — LA, GMA News