An all-female cast of 'JC Superstar'
By BOY VILLASANTA, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 04/06/2009 9:35 PM
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Talk about girl power.
For this Lenten season, Taumbayan Bar, a new watering hole for artists, recently showcased classic Broadway musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” (JCS) but with a twist.
Owners of Taumbayan, located along Kamuning, Quezon City, decided to choose female artists to portray the play’s main characters. They came up with this list - Aiza Seguerra as Mary Magdalene, Bituin Escalante as Judas and Agot Isidro as Jesus Christ.
“Sabi namin, kung si Agot ang Jesus Christ at si Bituin ang Judas, dapat may lalaki rin. How about Mary Magdalene? Who would play her part?” Joel Saracho, one of the owners, said.
Saracho said he then thought of Seguerra to play Magdalene.
The presentation was not also your usual sing, act and dance variety given the limited space of Taumbayan and the amount of stage preparation it would entail.
The play was a continuous singing, scripts at hand, and nuances of characterization and internalization on given roles.
Other cast members included Kalila Aguiluz who is Escalante’s equally talented sister, stage performer Richie Chan and the actor who essayed Pops Fernandez in “Zsa Zsa Zaturnah.”
Prizewinning musical director Vincent de Jesus was asked to do the over-all musical tone of the almost street version of the play. It was de Jesus who did mostly the past adaptations of “JCS” at Bistro ‘70s along Kamias Road for many years.
De Jesus shared: “Ginagawa na namin ito sa Bistro ‘70s noon pero mga lalaki like sina Rico Puno. Ngayon lang ‘yong all-female cast.”
Taumbayan’s Lenten act was filled to the rafters.
Multimedia people were in attendance conspicuously film director Joel Lamangan and theater czar Tony Mabesa with the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino Mario A. Hernando.
PETA stalwarts came in droves in support not only of pal de Jesus but an encouragement of pop theater like this.
The whole cast was inspired and passionate about the assignment despite a “gratis et amore” setup.
According to award-winning filmmaker and forerunner of independent moviemaking in the country, Emman de la Cruz: “Babaing-babae kumanta si Aiza, nakakakilig.”
Seguerra was in her element when she dished out “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” to the admiration of the crowd.
Although Isidro had a bit of a complaint about the pitch on a certain note, she was superb as the female singing Jesus Christ.
As usual, Escalante was in her topmost form in all types of performances she’s into.
Each of Aguiluz, Lim and the “Zsa Zsa Zaturnah” actor lent a very valuable support to the total success of the almost full-production fare.
All went home heart-filled with euphoria and nostalgia. It was as if they were just jamming the night away in honor of the One who saved us from sins.
After Holy Week, would there be a jammed up version of “The Sound of Music” at Taumbayan?
