Theater Review: Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady

Since it has been more or less a year since the last time I've seen a stage musical; there was a feeling of excitement and anticipation when we went to see Kung Paano ako Naging Leadung Lady at Onstage Greenbelt 1

With a powerhouse cast led by Ms. Bituin Escalante [Frenchy Dy] along with Markki Stroem [Hans Ecktein], this perennial story of the struggle from poverty of Filipinos in a backdrop of a battle between superheroes (Fuwerza Filipinas) and supervillains (Kayumanggilas) was very entertaining and amusing.

The play follows the struggle of Merly (Bituin Escalante/Frenchy Dy) and Viva (Kim Molina) who struggle to make ends meet. The older sister Merly confronted by the fact that she lacks the necessary education was eventually recruited by a group of superheroes called Fuwerza Filipinas to be their maid. This leads to her sister who was led to believe that Fuwerza Filipinas are not heroes after all, by a group of supervillains who call themselves Kayumanggilas to infiltrate the superheroes' headquarters and breach their security.

The story was good in weaving a seemingly-straightforward storyline but the undertones of social commentary about how we gratify anything that is foreign to us from the concept of superheroes that are a mirror of western culture and how we think that verbosity equates better command of the English Language is subtle yet the audience will get it. There is so much to see in this play and I think everyone will see a part of themselves in the characters especially who go about with their struggles - because who doesn't have one, right?

It was very entertaining and I could not describe how great Bituin Escalante is on stage with her amazing voice. The stage was simple and the lighting added some intensity especially to the action sequences.

Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady projects a bit of everything in our daily struggles in life and we could learn a thing or two about the characters in terms of familial love, forgiveness, trust and hope. At the same time it also gives us something to think about especially our false sense of pride and the rigors of forgiving ourselves with our mistakes.

This is a must watch musical and I hope people will support these kinds of locally produced gems which is still considered a niche market in the Philippines.

Produced by Dalanghita Productions and based on a graphic novel by Carlo Vergara, Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady is staged at Onstage Greenbelt 1, Makati City.

This original Filipino musical features a musical score by Vincent De Jesus which I have known through his melancholic album Songs to Slash Your Wrist by and under the direction of Chris Martinez.