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With the critically acclaimed libretto by Jomar Fleras titled ‘Kanser’ and revisited music by Joed Balsamo, this new musical directed by Frannie Zamora attempts to give life to the characters we’ve come to know and love
With how many times Jose Rizal’s Noli me Tangere inspired storylines in theatre plays, films, and television shows, the challenge at this point is showing a whole new side to one of the most recognised Philippine readings out there—and making the already familiar plot into something new. This was, at least, Tanghalang Una Obra’s goal for Ibarra, when they named it as such to focus on the character, Crisostomo Ibarra, portrayed by Piolo Pascual.
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This is the widely known singer-actor’s return to the theatre stage after 30 years. Unlike some who tediously go through the audition process, Pascual bagged the titular role right away (and was even offered it). After all, he is still an actor—an experienced one to boot. Even with the least professional experience in the performing arts compared to his seasoned fellow cast members, he has years of music career under his belt. This, paired with his stage acting in his university years, is enough experience for vocal coaches Pablo and Camille Molina to lean on and improve upon.
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“Getting out of your comfort zone is always a challenge but quite rewarding afterwards,” says the actor in an interview prior to the premiere. “I’m up for the challenge.”
Pascual’s version of Ibarra is loyal to the material. He came back to the Philippines as a bright and optimistic man. He wanted to build a school to educate the Filipino youth (or Indios, if we’re sticking to the material) and was able to do so. The future was bright for him—until doom arrived in the form of the unfortunate dinner he hosted, with Padre Damaso coming uninvited. He pinned the priest with one hand and held a knife in the other after the latter referenced Ibarra’s father’s mysterious death.
The cast handled the famous scene quite spectacularly. First, they established the characters carefully so the audience wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the number of people on stage. Worth commending were Carla Guevara Laforteza’s Doña Victorina and Meldea Chua’s Doña Consolacion, whose portrayals were a breath of fresh air. And when Padre Damaso broke into song and was immediately pinned onto the table afterwards, where Pascual demonstrated tenacity in physical acting despite his age, the audience was caught holding their breaths.
Soon, it was as if someone snapped everyone back to reality—breaking into applause when the stage lights dimmed to signal the next act.
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Looking back, the first half of the play was slow. Introducing the characters is a must, and they did it splendidly. The second half soon started after a 20-minute break, with the townspeople entering from the entrances in the middle of the theatre. The attempt at making it an intimate musical was a welcome gesture—which sparked the energy back into watching the play.
At this moment, everything seemed to pick up its pace, from the dimming of the colours and lights to the sudden shift of the songs to darker, faster beats, leading to the climax that is Ibarra’s impending “death” and persona shift.
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Familiarity with the plot may have taken out of the surprise factor and the show’s overall impact, but dismissing it is hyperbole. It was, nevertheless, a refreshing take on the material, for the way the stage actors sang—with Pascual keeping pace—and how each act was tied seamlessly to each other by the scores and direction are worthy reasons for watching the show.
This musical and the materials it was based on are reminders of the country’s history and celebration of its 125 years of independence.
Ibarra runs from June 8 to 18 at the GSIS Theater in Pasay City. Tickets are now available at ticketworld.com.ph. Proceeds from the play will help support the Rise Against Hunger Philippines’ school feeding program.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
