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Anthony Rosaldo soars in ‘Ang Huling El Bimbo’ the musical
Playing Young Hector in “Ang Huling El Bimbo” the musical, Kapuso pop rocker Anthony Rosaldo has achieved what many popular actors are challenged to do at some point in their lives, theater.
What’s wonderful and admirable in Rosaldo’s case is that he made it in a major theatrical production.
Everybody knows the discipline is entirely different from acting in teleseryes and the movies. In theater, there is no second take. Once on stage, you have to give your best.
In the previous runs of “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” Young Hector was essayed by acclaimed theater actors: Reb Atadero originated Young Hector in the 2018 maiden run and then eventually it was given life by musical theater heartthrob Bibo Reyes as Atadero’s alternate in the 2019 run.
The comparison can be overwhelming.
In an earlier interview, Rosaldo said he saw “AHEB” when it was streamed in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and was so moved by the story he can’t help but cry. He also admitted he didn’t know what musical theater was, or theater in general.
Prior to joining show business via GMA’s “The Clash,” Rosaldo was a vocalist for a band that covered a lot of hits by the Eraserheads. He felt he can do it, he can be a theater actor and join “AHEB.”
When live shows returned and the theaters opened again to audiences, he learned there’s an audition for the “AHEB” run in 2023. He sent a video of him singing and got a call back. Another round of auditions took place and he got the script. It has been a dream come true.
Young Hector is a college student from a wealthy family living in a posh village in Makati City. He goes to college and falls in love with a carinderia lady helper named Joy (Gab Pangilinan).
The plot may sound like a primetime teleserye narrative but that is just the first part of Young Hector and Joy’s ill-fated love story.
Their meeting is set in the 1990s at a state university much like UP Diliman, the same milieu when band members Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro formed the Eraserheads and became one of the torchbearers of what was dubbed “alternative band boom” or the second golden age of Pinoy rock bands.
Young Hector has two roommates in a dorm for boys who would be his closest friends in college. There’s Emman the Batangueño kid (Paw Castillo) representing the naïve probinsyano sent to study in a big city and the gay Anthony (Topper Fabregas) from a middle-class family in the heart of Manila.
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Their friendship would be put to test because of a traumatic incident that would scar them for life. In the second half of the play, they are middle-aged men still trying to rebuild their lives.
The older Hector has become a successful, playboy TV director, now played by Gian Magdangal. Anthony and Emman have families of their own, careers to keep as they strive for a happy life. The older Anthony is played by new cast member Nino Alejandro. The older Emman is essayed by folk artist Bullet Dumas, with OJ Mariano as cover actor.
Among the male lead characters, we see Hector as the most troubled and scarred, unable to maintain an intimate relationship with anyone.
Encouraging words for Rosaldo
On April 19, Rosaldo expressed on his social media accounts what he felt in doing “AHEB,” his journey from television to theater. He shared he was still in disbelief that after starting with rehearsals on March 1, they were just three days before opening night.
“Alam ko mahaba pa ang pagdadaanan ko sa journey na ito, pero ngayon pa lang nagpapasalamat na ako sa inyo. Una kay God na main source ko ng strength. Araw araw kita kausap Lord God at alam mo lahat ng pinagdadaanan ko. Salamat sa pagsagot ng mga prayers ko. Family ko has been super supportive!” Rosaldo shared.
“AHEB” director and choreographer Dexter Martinez Santos said the first four shows, not including the two technical dress rehearsals, on the first weekend, April 21 to April 23, gathered 6,500 audience members.
During the gala night on the second weekend run, Rosaldo again shared on his socials: "Grabe our first four shows were all full house! Sobrang happy ko pa my whole family watched our show today! My heart is so full! Thanks to everyone who rooted for us! And super big thanks to those who helped me step up my game. Sobrang grateful ko sa opportunity na ito! Aalagaan at mamahalin ko ito ng buong puso. Love kayo ni Hector!”
Santos said on the second weekend had a total of 8,000 audience members.
During the cast party after the gala show, in an interview with Aaron Brent Eusebio for GMA Entertainment, Rosaldo simply quoted an Eraserheads song, “Para akong nasa alapaap.” He added, “Finally, I can say, theater actor na ako."
Santos told GMA News Online that “AHEB” enjoyed by 5,900 audience members at the 1,500-seat NPAT on its third weekend.
Since opening on April 21, “AHEB” has reached 20,400 people.
Those who’ve seen the pre-COVID 19 pandemic “AHEB” would know how powerful this original Filipino musical has always been. A subtle critique of the previous administration’s war on drugs and using the songs of the Eraserheads, the artistic team composed of Santos, playwright Dingdong Novenario, dramaturg Floy Quintos, costume designer Marlon Rivera, lights designer Monino Duque, projection designer GA Fallarme, scenic designer Gino Gonzales, associate choreographers Stephen Viñas and Ernest Fritz Esase, and musical director-arranger Myke Salomon were able to create an engaging, well-patronized musical that tackles betrayal, rape, abuse of authority, murder, drug addiction and other topics that one wouldn’t like to hear at the dinner table.
Rosaldo got excellent feedback from his “AHEB” family.
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From the point of view of Rosaldo’s co-actor, Castillo tells GMA News Online: “Anthony's presence is undeniable when I am with him on stage. Stepping into something he has never done before, he is very patient and I really commend his willingness to learn and improve.”
Castillo joined “AHEB” in 2019 as part of the ensemble and as Young Anthony now, he shares almost all his scenes with Rosaldo.
Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, co-artistic director of Full House Theater Company (FHTC) of Newport World Resorts, tells GMA News Online in a follow-up interview, “What I particularly like about Anthony [Rosaldo] is his dedication to doing his best. He works really hard and always gives his 100 percent. It was a joy to coach him.”
Meanwhile, her FHTC co-artistic director, Michael Williams tells GMA News Online, “I recognize in Anthony a deep desire and commitment to always do the best he can. I see him pushing himself in rehearsals, testing his limits and then pushing way beyond them.”
“It isn’t easy. It is a baptism of fire for anyone with little theater experience to be doing such a demanding role as this and in a theater the size of the Newport Performing Arts Theater to boot. But you only have to watch him in this show to see him win his battles and watch him fly,” Williams adds.
Santos, who’s been directing “AHEB” since 2018, said “Theatre employs a strict discipline. It is nice to witness that Anthony is embracing and accepting the challenge. It is important that in every performance, he grows into the role and owns the character.”
For now, Rosaldo’s new legion of fans from “AHEB” could only hope he would continue to embrace theater once he eventually returns to television.
A few senior Kapuso stars once in a while take a break from network shows, the movies and the concert scenes to have their “theater fix.”
Perhaps the only “AHEB” essential that is lacking in Rosaldo is the back-stage selfie with Ely Buendia. — LA, GMA Integrated News
