Category Archives: Music & Theatre

Here’s where I talk concerts and musicals I’ve attended. Because the hills are alive… with the sound OF music (in a Chandler accent).

Les Misérables Singapore 2016

July 11, 2016Music & Theatreearl carpenter, esang de torres, lea salonga, les miserables, patrice tipoki, simon gleesonRenette

What a night. When we went to London in May 2015, I almost decided to leave my husband and daughter at the hotel to catch Les Misérables at West End by myself. Why? Because I’ve always wanted to see the musical. You see, I really, really loved the book. I first read it around 2004 and bawled my eyes out when Valjean died. I read it many many times after that – at least once every year.

I knew there was a musical based on the book, but I never bothered much about it. I knew “I Dreamed a Dream” and “On My Own” like everyone else, but that was it. Then my Singaporean colleague told me that the Philippines’ very own Lea Salonga was chosen to play Eponine in the Les Misérables 10th anniversary concert, and Fantine in the 25th. He said it was a really huge deal, and I felt embarrassed not knowing about it.

So I went and found the 10th and 25th anniversary online, and watched it all alone. I was in tears. Since then, I’ve watched whatever performances I could find on YouTube and kept hoping Les Mis would come to Singapore. And they did!

Here are some of my random thoughts…

MY TOP 3 FAVORITE CAST

Simon Gleeson as Jean Valjean was really the star of the show. He was raging, he was vulnerable, he was conflicted, he was honorable. In the book and in the musical, Valjean is the heart and soul of the story. Simon Gleeson gave justice to this part. Plus he had a very powerful, emotive voice.

Image from http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au

Patrice Tipoki as Fantine was heartbreaking. I started tearing up during this scene –

Valjean:
I’ve seen your face before
Show me some way to help you
How have you come to grief
In a place such as this?

Fantine:
M’sieur, don’t mock me now, I pray
It’s hard enough I’ve lost my pride
You let your foreman send me away
Yes, you were there, and turned aside
I never did no wrong

Valjean:
Is it true, what I have done?

Fantine:
My daughter’s close to dying

Valjean:
To an innocent soul?

Fantine:
If there’s a God above

Valjean:
Had I only known then…

Fantine:
He’d let me die instead.

When she sang “I Dreamed a Dream,” she didn’t belt it out – she sang it very hauntingly. Again I was in tears. By the time we got to Fantine’s Death, I was a mess. I didn’t have a tissue or a hanky, and I was wearing makeup (smoky eyes and lots of mascara no less), so I had to keep dabbing at my eyes and my cheeks and trying to stifle my sniffles. It was a good thing there were a lot of sniffles all around in the dark – not just mine.

Earl Carpenter as Inspector Javert had that dogged determination. He was able to really show another side to the character when he sang “Stars.” Perhaps my only complaint is that his voice sometimes sound a teeny bit like Simon Gleeson’s so during songs when they sing together (e.g. “Confrontation”), there are parts when it’s a bit difficult to distinguish who is who.

MY TOP 3 FAVORITE SONGS

“One Day More.” One word – goosebumps. This was the most loudly applauded song tonight, for good reason.

“Empty Chairs at Empty Tables.” I loved the part where candles were on the floor, and as Marius sang, each of his (dead) friends came and took the candle and snuffed it out.

“Stars.” I had no idea how they would show Javert jumping to his death, especially after he stepped onto a ledge (which was about 2 or 3 feet high). I was thinking if he jumps to the ground, it wouldn’t look impressive at all. But when the props went flying up and the background looked like it was flying up, you really get the sensation that Javert was falling. Then black out.

I always buy the souvenir programme (it’s my collection) and I had a pleasant surprise while looking through this one – a picture of Esang de Torres from The Voice Kids. She plays the young Cosette in Les Mis Manila.

This was definitely one of my favorite date nights ever.

That’s What I Get from Paramore Live in Singapore 2011

August 22, 2011Music & Theatreconcert, paramore, set listRenette

I’m so glad I got to see Paramore again, in Singapore this time, and minus drummer Zac Farro. When I first saw them in Manila last year, Josh Farro wasn’t with them because he was too busy planning his wedding. The concert was held on 21 August 2011 at Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Here are some of the things I remember about the concert:

1) The Indoor Stadium wasn’t really packed, but maybe that’s because the venue is too huge.

2) They started with Ignorance, one of their catchiest songs.

3) They sang Decode quite early in the show, unlike in Manila where they reserved it towards the end.

4) They had an acoustic set, which included Misguided Ghosts.

5) Hayley was wearing a strange pair of black and white leggings, as in one side is black, the other is white.

6) They did not perform My Heart. Again. I’m losing hope of ever seeing them perform it live, especially with Josh-the-growler gone.

7) I thought Brick by Boring Brick was their encore, but surprisingly they closed the show with an older hit, Misery Business.

Here is the full set list.

Ignorance
Feeling Sorry
That’s What You Get
For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic
Emergency
Playing God
Decode
When It Rains
Where the Lines Overlap
Misguided Ghosts
Crushcrushcrush
Monster
Here We Go Again
Pressure
Looking Up
The Only Exception
Brick by Boring Brick
Misery Business

Complete Song List from PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

June 20, 2010Music & Theatre, TV & Moviespride and prejudice, song listRenette

This is the most difficult song list I’ve ever tried to make, since the soundtrack contained instrumental music. I had to really familiarize myself with the melodies before I could begin making the list.

1. DAWN (track 1)

– Played at the beginning of the movie while the opening credits are showing. Lizzie is walking home and we first get a glimpse of the Bennet’s household (with Mary conveniently playing on the piano).

2. MERYTOWN HALL (track 4)

– Played during the ball, with Kitty and Lydia dancing while Jane, Lizzie and Charlotte were chatting. The song suddenly stops midway at the entrance of Mr. Bingley, Ms. Bingley and of course, Mr. Darcy, and resumes once they are at the other end of the hall.

3. ANOTHER DANCE (track 11)

– Played during the same ball while Jane and Mr. Bingley were dancing.

4. STARS AND BUTTERFLIES (track 2)

– Played while Lizzie was walking to Netherfield to visit Jane.

5. THE MILITIA MARCHES IN (track 5)

– Played while Lydia, Kitty and Mrs. Bennet were watching the officers marching into Merytown.

6. ARRIVAL AT NETHERFIELD (track 7)

– Played while the Bennets are preparing for the ball at Netherfield until they get there.

7. CAN’T SLOW DOWN (track 14)

– Played while Lizzie is dancing with Mr. Collins.

8. A POSTCARD TO HENRY PURCELL (track 8)

– Played in the very intense scene where Lizzie is dancing with Mr. Darcy.

9. LEAVING NETHERFIELD (track 10)

– Played while Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley and Mr. Darcy were, well, what else… leaving Netherfield.

10. THE SECRET LIFE OF DAYDREAMS (track 12)

– Played while Lizzie is on the swing after Charlotte just told her that she was engaged to Mr. Collins, until Lizzie arrived for a visit to the newlyweds.

11. DARCY’S LETTER (track 13)

– Played when Lizzie first found out (at church) that Mr. Darcy was responsible for separating Mr. Bingley and her sister Jane, until the scene where she is running on the bridge, soon to be followed by Mr. Darcy in what has now become the famous proposal scene in the rain. After the proposal, the second part of Darcy’s Letter plays again when Mr. Darcy came over to give his letter of explanation to Lizzie. It is once more played when Lizzie and the Gardiners are on the way home after finding out about Lydia running away with Mr. Wickham (or was it “Your Hands Are Cold”?).

12. LIZ ON TOP OF THE WORLD (track 9)

– Played in the glorious shot of Lizzie standing on the cliff, looking at her surroundings, while she is traveling with the Gardiners.

13. THE LIVING SCULPTURES OF PEMBERLY (track 3)

– Played when Lizzie and the Gardiners were inside the Pemberly estate.

14. GEORGIANA (track 6)

– Played while Georgiana and Mr. Darcy are waiting for Lizzie and the Gardiners to arrive. It was also played in the hilarious scene where Mr. Bingley is practicing his proposal with Mr. Darcy.

15. YOUR HANDS ARE COLD (track 15)

– Played when Mr. Darcy proposed once more to Lizzie at dawn in the meadow.

16. MRS. DARCY (track 16)

– Played while Mr. Darcy and Lizzie went to talk to Mr. Bennet about their plans to get married.

17. CREDITS (track 17)

– Played during (where else?) closing credits.

Decoding Paramore Live in Manila 2010

March 16, 2010Music & Theatreconcert, paramore, set listRenette

I don’t even remember when I first heard about Paramore. It was probably about two years ago, when my then-boyfriend (and now-husband) heard “That’s What You Get” on the radio and was intrigued by the beat used during the stanza. I listened to the song and liked it, but I didn’t become a fan until I got hold of their albums a couple of months after. Since then, my husband and I have been talking about how we wished Paramore would have a concert in Manila so that we could finally watch them perform live. Thank goodness they did! The concert was held at the Mall of Asia Grounds in Manila, Philippines on 9 March 2010.

We were actually pretty late for the concert and missed the opening act (Callalily). While we were entering the gate, people started screaming and I ran inside and was met by a huge, dense crowd and a very limited view of the stage and the big screens. But that doesn’t matter so much – just hearing them perform and singing along with the crowd was such a huge rush. Here are some of the highlights that I remember from the concert:

1) Hayley shouted “Kamustah kayow?,” much to the delight of the Filipino crowd. It turns out she wrote the greeting on her arm, probably to make sure that she’ll remember what to say.

2) Hayley explained that Josh wasn’t with them because he was busy planning his wedding. And to think they went out for a couple of years. *sigh* Perhaps that was the reason why they didn’t sing “My Heart,” my all-time favorite Paramore song, since there won’t be anyone screaming in the background.

3) Hayley called the band’s manager on stage because it was his last tour with them, and they had a picture taken with him with the crowd as the background. I guess they did that in every leg of the tour.

4) When Paramore played the intro to “Decode,” which is not really my favorite song but which I knew would probably get the most reaction from the crowd, my husband hoisted me up his shoulders so that I could see everything. It was amazing.

Here was their set list:

Ignorance
Crushcrushcrush
That’s What You Get
Looking Up
Careful
Let the Flames Begin
Never Let This Go
The Only Exception
Pressure
For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic
Where the Lines Overlap
Decode
Misery Business
Brick by Boring Brick

Photo credit – Nikki Jurado

Beat It

September 2, 2009Music & Theatremichael jackson, west side storyRenette

Beat It is one of those songs where two things I like collide – in this case, Broadway and Michael Jackson.

Once upon a time, there were two rival gangs – the Jets and the Sharks. Tony, the best friend of the leader of the Jets, fell in love with Maria, the sister of the leader of the Sharks. They try to make their relationship work despite the gang rivalry. However, during a violent rumble, Maria’s brother kills Tony’s best friend. Enraged, Tony kills Maria’s brother and runs off. To avenge their leader, a member of the Sharks shoots down Tony, who was about to run off with Maria.

That’s the plot of West Side Story, a Broadway musical which was later made into a Hollywood film. It presents the cruel consequences of violence, especially among teenagers. It was also the inspiration for the award-winning music video of Michael Jackson’s 1983 hit song “Beat It.”

Composed by Michael Jackson, the song advises the listeners to “beat it” in order to avoid violent confrontations: “You better run, you better do what you can / Don’t wanna see no blood, don’t be a macho man / You wanna be tough, better do what you can / So beat it.”

It was not a secret that Michael Jackson suffered physical abuse in the hands of his father while growing up. Being a victim of abuse caused him to develop very strong convictions against violence, which is reflected in his music.

Directed by Bob Giraldi, the music video of “Beat It” catapulted Michael Jackson into superstardom and won many awards, including Favorite Pop/Rock Video and Favorite Soul Video in the American Music Awards. It was later inducted in the Music Video Producer’s Hall of Fame.

Similar to West Side Story, the music video of “Beat It” shows two rival gangs of different ethnicity. When the leaders of both gangs are about to start their one-on-one knife fight, Michael Jackson appears between them, singing “Beat it… / It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right / Just beat it.” He is able to stop the fight from happening, and members of both gangs join him in a group dance choreographed by Michael Peters (who is one of the leaders of the gang).

Because all street fights should end with everyone dancing together.

Gone Too Soon

July 28, 2009Music & Theatrein memoriam, michael jacksonRenette

Michael Jackson’s death in June 25, 2009 affected me more than I thought it would. I mean, I know a lot of his songs, I’ve seen his music videos, I was familiar with his story – but I wouldn’t really go and consider myself a fan. But like they say, you don’t really appreciate what you had until it’s gone.

Anyway, a lot of people have seen Usher’s emotional rendition of the Michael Jackson classic, “Gone Too Soon,” during the memorial service for the King of Pop last 7 July 2009. The song was sadly appropriate for the legendary artist’s sudden passing: “Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight / Here one day / Gone one night.” I’ve known this song before but thought I’d do some research.

Released in 6 December 1993, “Gone Too Soon” was the 9th single from the album Dangerous. It was composed by Larry Grossman and Buz Kohan, and was produced by Michael Jackson himself.

The music video of “Gone Too Soon” shows video clips of a young American teenager named Ryan White, to whom the song was dedicated. At the age of 13, Ryan White became infected with HIV due to a contaminated blood treatment used to cure his haemophilia. When the fact that he was HIV positive became publicly known, he was expelled from school. This started a prolonged legal battle to allow him to go back to school, which turned Ryan White into a national celebrity and a poster child for AIDS.

White frequently appeared in public to promote AIDS awareness with celebrities like Michael Jackson, who became his close friend. The pop star even gave him a red Mustang convertible as a gift. A few months before White’s high school graduation, he finally succumbed to AIDS after battling a lung infection. Michael Jackson attended his funeral, along with other celebrities who have become close to him throughout the years.

A few months after White’s death, Michael Jackson recorded the song “Gone Too Soon” as a tribute to his young friend. He also performed the song for President Bill Clinton’s inaugural ball on 20 January 1993, where he took the opportunity to talk about the importance of AIDS research.

Another untimely death led to the re-emergence of the song in 1997 – that of Princess Diana, who died in a car accident on 31 August 1997. “Gone Too Soon” was included in the compilation album in her honor, which was called Diana Princess of Wales Tribute.

Although the song never reached #1 in the charts, “Gone Too Soon” will always remind the world of a brilliant artist who was gone too soon.

Note: Photo on the left is from www.michaeljacksontributeportrait.com

Complete Song List from Twilight

December 1, 2008Music & Theatre, TV & Moviesmovie song list, paramore, twilightRenette

This is the complete song list from the first Twilight movie. To read the song list for New Moon, please click here.

1) Full Moon (The Black Ghosts) – track 3 in the soundtrack

– This was played when Bella left Phoenix to live with Charlie at Forks, up until she got to her room. The lyrics were particularly appropriate, since the song talked about leaving. “And I don’t know where I’ll go / And I don’t know what I’ll see / But I’ll try not to bring it back home with me…”

2) Eyes on Fire (Blue Foundation) – track 9 in the soundtrack

– This was played when Bella was waiting for Edward at the parking lot so that she could confront him about his creepy behavior the day before. Not only was the title of the song great for the scene (which opened with a close up of Edward’s flashing black eyes), but the lyrics represented Edward’s initial struggle with wanting to kill Bella. “I’ll seek you out / Slay you alive / One more word and you won’t survive…” Creepy.

3) Tremble for My Beloved (Collective Soul) – track 7 in the soundtrack

– This was played when Edward saved Bella’s life by stopping Tyler’s truck that was about to crash into her. Again, the song they picked for this scene was very well-chosen. “The hour has begun / Your eyes have now opened / To a world where madness craves / To a world where hopes enslaved / Oh, I’ll tremble for my love always…” The hour has come for Bella to realize that there was something supernatural about Edward, and for Edward to realize that he was beginning to fall in love with a human.

4) I Caught Myself (Paramore) – track 8 in the soundtrack

– This was played while Jessica and Angela were trying on prom dresses at Port Angeles, with a disinterested Bella looking on. The lyrics didn’t really match the scene per se, but it reflected the mental and emotional climate of Bella at that time. “You got it, you got it / Some kind of magic / Hypnotic, hypnotic / You’re leaving me breathless…”

5) Never Think (Robert Pattinson) – track 10 in the soundtrack

– This was played during Edward and Bella’s conversation over dinner at Port Angeles, after he saved her life again from the men who were about to attack her. This is one of my favorite scenes because Edward was beginning to open up to Bella about who he is and how he feels. I also loved the fact that the song was composed and sung by Robert Pattinson (the actor playing the role of Edward Cullen) himself. “Girl save your soul / Go on save your soul / Before it’s too far gone / And before nothing can be done / Cause without me / You got it all…”

6) Spotlight – Twilight Mix (Mute Math) – track 5 in the soundtrack

– This was played during the scene where Edward and Bella came to school together for the first time. “The spotlight is on…”

7) La Traviata (The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) – included in the bonus tracks

– This was played when Bella first visited Edward’s house, while the Cullens were making dinner for her.

8) Clair de Lune (The APM Orchestra) – included in the bonus tracks

– This was played when Bella turned on the CD player at Edward’s room, and they danced for a while.

9) Bella’s Lullaby (Carter Burwell) – track 12 in the soundtrack

– This was played when Edward carried Bella to the top of the trees to show her the sights, and continued to the scene where he was playing the piano for her. I really like the fact that Robert Pattinson was really the one playing the piano in the scene. There’s another “fake” version of Bella’s Lullaby which is actually “River Flows in You” by Yiruma. I wonder why they didn’t go for that one.

10) Supermassive Black Hole (Muse) – track 1 in the soundtrack

– This was played during the baseball game at the field right until James, Victoria and Laurent came to spoil everything. The lyrics doesn’t exactly fit the scene, but the rhythm and the music did.

11) Let Me Sign (Robert Pattinson) – included in the bonus tracks

– This was played when a pained Edward decided to suck the venom out of Bella’s wound himself, not knowing if he can find the will to stop, in order to save her from becoming a vampire like him. The song runs throughout Bella’s dream sequence during her near-death experience. This was a very haunting, painful song, and again, it’s by Robert Pattinson. I’m not exactly sure what the phrase “let me sign” means though. Let me sign in the petition to become a vampire?

12) Go All the Way [Into the Twilight] (Perry Farrell) – track 6 in the soundtrack

– This was played during the prom, when Edward led Bella to say hi to her old friends Jessica and Mike, and Angela and Eric. “Tonight / Lightning strikes / Let’s go into twilight!”

13) Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Iron & Wine) – track 11 in the soundtrack

– This was played during the prom, when Edward and Bella were dancing alone at a gazebo. She wanted to know why he didn’t let her become a vampire too, and couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t end her life. The song captures Edward’s dilemma – he wanted to have Bella with him for eternity, but he didn’t want to end her life as a human. “Have I found you / Flightless bird / Jealous, weeping / Or lost you / American mouth…” I don’t exactly get what the American mouth is about, but anyway it turns out that the song was Kristen Stewart’s suggestion.

14) 15 Step (Radiohead) – not included in the soundtrack

– This was the first song used for the credits, when Victoria was walking down the stairs after watching Edward and Bella dancing. I suppose the lyrics are appropriate for Victoria – “How come I end up where I started…”

15) Leave Out All the Rest (Linkin Park) – track 4 in the soundtrack

– This was the second song used for the credits. I’ve always liked Linkin Park, so I was glad that they have a song in the soundtrack. “When my time comes / Forget the wrong that I’ve done / Help me leave behind some / Reasons to be missed / Don’t resent me / And when you’re feeling empty / Keep me in your memory / Leave out all the rest…”

16) Decode (Paramore) – track 2 in the soundtrack

– This was the third song used for the credits, and is the first single released for Twilight. This is the song with the most appropriate lyrics for the story, since the composer actually wrote this about Edward and Bella. “But you think that I can’t see / What kind of man that you are / If you’re a man at all / Well, I will figure this one out / On my own (I’m screaming, ‘I love you so.’) / On my own (My thoughts you can’t decode)…”

Rocking with Michael Johns Live in Manila 2008

November 21, 2008Music & Theatreamerican idol, concert, michael johnsRenette

Wow. I just came back from Greenbelt 3 Park, where Michael Johns did his last show here in Manila (21 November 2008). I was so torn up that I couldn’t go to his show at Glorietta two days ago, but I had stuff to do. For some strange reason, I forgot to call to reserve a ticket beforehand – I guess I was sort of hoping that there weren’t that many people who would show up. At any rate, when I got there at around 6:30 pm, the tickets were sold out. Too bad. I had to find a spot at the balcony to see him.

I couldn’t believe it when he went on stage, because I was finally seeing him in person (albeit from quite a distance). He was my favorite Idol last season and I was torn up when he was eliminated so early in the game. I’m such a huge fan of American Idol, and he’s the first Idol I’ve seen (“not the Idol, just… an” as he once said about himself).

The problem was that my parents borrowed my camera yesterday, so I had no choice but to bring my old camera, which suddenly died on me even though the batteries were new. There’s something wrong about it but I haven’t bothered to have it checked yet. Sheesh. And to top it all off, both my mobile phones died on me too, so I wasn’t able to take one single picture or video.

I also forgot to list down the songs he performed, but I really loved his song choice! Here are some of the songs I remember (not in any particular order). These are all classics.

Yellow by Coldplay
Wonderwall by Oasis
Plush by Stone Temple Pilots
Come Together by The Beatles
Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day
Purple Rain by Prince (encore)

These were the songs he performed which he also did in American Idol:

Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds
It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right by Dolly Parton
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions by Queen

He also performed his original song, “Feelin’ Alright” which I think will be released as a single next year.

It’s weird though, when I checked YouTube for songs uploaded from his other perfomances here in Manila (in Trinoma, Alabang Center and Glorietta), it seems he sang The Doors’ “Light My Fire” and Pearl Jam’s “Daughter,” which I don’t remember him singing in Greenbelt earlier. I could be wrong though…

I do remember that he was a bit hoarse and his voice was strained. He’s probably not used either to the climate (he kept mentioning that it was very hot on stage) or to performing for four nights in a row. But he still did remarkably well, and you’d never think that he was tired. I was very much amused by the way he dances and how he moves around the stage.

My favorite performance were “Bohemian Rhapsody” (he only did the first part, until “Nothing really matters…”) and “It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right.” Those two were my favorites in American Idol, and they were my favorites live too.

Anyway, here’s a pretty good video of MJ in Glorietta singing “Wonderwall,” which he said is one of his favorite songs.

More on Lea Salonga in Cinderella 2008

August 20, 2008Music & Theatre, TV & Moviescinderella, lea salonga, theatreRenette

As I mentioned in my previous blog entry, I saw Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella last August 10. I must admit, I only saw it because my mom wanted to, and since it was her birthday, I had to agree. Of course I’ve always wanted to see Lea Salonga perform live, but I would have preferred to see her in Les Miserables or Miss Saigon. In fact, I foolishly asked if Cinderella was the one with the song that goes “I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream…” (I found out later it was actually Disney’s Sleeping Beauty).

I bought the tickets pretty late, so what we got were at the row farthest from the stage. It was seriously waaaay back so that we couldn’t see their faces at the finale because Cinderella and the Prince got married at a raised platform. In fact, during the entire performance (when they weren’t in a raised platform yet), if we wanted to see their faces, we had to use an object called the “eye-max,” which was sold outside the theater for Php50.00. As the name suggests, it’s supposed to maximize your eyesight, like disposable binoculars, and it gave me a headache because my hands were shaky.

I really, really wish I saw the 1957 movie version (starring Julie Andrews) or even the 1997 version (starring Brandy) or at least listened to the soundtrack before watching the show so that I would be more familiar with the story line and the songs. Since I haven’t seen the previous versions, the following things surprised me about the story:

1. In the fairy tale version I read when I was a kid, I don’t remember Cinderella talking that much with her stepsisters, or even her stepmother. I was surprised in this version that she not only talks with them, she even sings with them. I liked it better this way though, because it adds more chances for humorous interaction.

2. I always thought Cinderella knew from the start that her godmother was a fairy godmother. That was why I was so surprised when she kept talking about her dreams to her godmother, and I wondered why she won’t just go and ask her fairy godmother directly to turn her into a princess. It only dawned on me later that Cinderella only found out about the magical powers when her godmother made her dreams come true.

3. I’ve always assumed since I was a kid that it was the fairy godmother’s idea to turn the squash into a golden carriage, and the mice into horses, and so on. I thought she did it as a gift to Cinderella, to make up for all the injustices she had to suffer. In this version, it was Cinderella who thought and dreamed of going to the ball and all the other details. The godmother even discouraged her at the beginning, saying that it was “impossible for a plain yellow pumpkin to become a golden carriage.”

4. I was surprised why the godmother sent the soldiers who were trying on the glass slippers to the cellar, when Cinderella had left the house earlier. Didn’t she know Cinderella wasn’t there?

5. I was rather taken aback when Cinderella went to the Prince’s garden without, uh, getting caught by any guards. I suppose security was lax around castles during those times.

6. In this version, I was shocked that the Prince conversed with the “kitchen-maid” Cinderella without even recognizing that it was the “princess” he was looking for, even when she repeated lines she used when they first met. In the 1957 movie version, when the Prince saw Cinderella dressed in her ordinary clothes, he immediately recognized her and said, “I have found you at last!” or something like that. It makes more sense that way. Of course, having him not recognize her immediately got a couple of laughs from the appreciative crowd, like when:

– she was about to leave, and he shouted, “Stop! I command you!” Cinderella asked, “Why?” and he replied, “I don’t know.”

– the fairy godmother turned Cinderella to the opposite direction. She had her head down and thought she was walking away from the Prince, but since the direction got changed, she ended up walking towards the Prince, and he said in surprise, “I thought you were leaving.”

The show was really breath-taking – the costumes were very bright and colorful and exactly how I imagined fairy tale outfits would look. The backdrop and stage design were amazing – even the round door which looked a bit too much like that in Bilbo Baggins’ home in The Lord of the Rings. I also liked how some of the other dancers would be left in the stage dancing while the others were moving props around, so that there was never a dull moment on stage.

Here are some of the things I really really loved about the show:

1. When Cinderella was singing, “In My Own Little Corner” and there was a shadow play in the background. For example, when she sung “I’m a mermaid dancing upon the sea,” you could clearly see the shadow of a mermaid.

2. When the herald came out, announcing that his name was Hark. There was dead silence, until he said, “Hark, the herald,” then everyone burst out laughing.

3. When the “healthy” stepsister (I forgot her name) came out in various outfits that all made her look like a pineapple. Even her bridesmaid gown was shaped like a pineapple, which was so hilarious and added a comic touch to her already comical character.

4. When the King was complaining about how much the party was going to cost, he said something about today’s high prices, which got a sympathetic chuckle from everyone in the audience.

5. When the squash turned into a golden carriage. I kept wondering how they’d do it, and I was not disappointed. It looked very magical and was very nicely done.

6. When the kitchen-maid Cinderella was standing near her godmother, then walked towards the back of the carriage, and emerged seconds later dressed in a billowing gown. I was shocked, and only figured out later on that they must have put in another kitchen-maid Cinderella while Lea Salonga was hiding behind the carriage.

7. When the “horses” – who were actually dancers with horse headgears – galloped away with synchronized dance steps. It was so funny and brilliant at the same time.

8. When Cinderella was about to recite the Prince’s complete name, and he stopped her by saying, “You can call me Christopher,” and she said something like, “Oh, but I can’t call you that until after we’re married.” That was a really funny faux pas, and I could almost feel Cinderella blushing after she said it.

9. When the Prince sung “Do I love you because you’re beautiful, or are you beautiful because I love you?” That is probably the most beautiful line ever written.

At first I thought that Lea Salonga was too old to play Cinderella – a role I always imagined for someone younger. I thought it should have been about Brandy’s age when she did her version of Cinderella, although I didn’t really like that one as much as I liked the Julie Andrews or the Lea Salonga version.

So anyway, to conclude this rather lengthy piece containing my memories of the show (and some side-comments about the other versions), I have to ask myself: Did I like it because it was beautiful, or was it beautiful because I liked it?

I suppose the answer is a combination of both.

Watching Lea Salonga in Cinderella 2008

August 12, 2008Music & Theatre, TV & Moviescinderella, lea salonga, theatreRenette

To celebrate my mother’s birthday last 11 August 2008, we watched Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella along with my boyfriend, Sidney, and my grandmother, Lola Nanding, who was here for her yearly visit from Australia.

It was everybody’s first time to watch a production at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the first time to see our very own Lea Salonga live. Sadly though, I had to leave my camera at the entrance of the CCP, so I wasn’t able to get any good photos.

Cinderella will always be a popular story, and although I like various adaptations of the rags to riches story, it’s great to see a retelling of the original story through music. I now understand why tickets are so expensive – the costumes and set designs were breathtaking! Actually, everything about it was magical – the orchestra, the choreography, the acting, the singing. It was worth every single centavo. I left the show incessantly singing, “Impossible things are happening evv-ryyy-daaaaaay!” (complete with falsetto at the end).

Funny but I never even knew before I saw Lea Salonga’s Cinderella that this was based on the 1957 movie version, starring Julie Andrews, no less – one of my favorite actresses of all time! And I thank heavens once more for YouTube because I was able to watch the entire movie and listen to the songs again.

Here are my favorite lines from Cinderella, which I got from watching the Julie Andrews version, although I remember that these were also said (or sung) in the musical.

Queen (talking about the Prince): If he’s happy, why won’t he get married?
King: If he’s happy, why should he get married?

King: (muttering the lines of the song being sung outside) The prince is giving a ball… (to his wife) You got us into this!
Queen: We had to do something to celebrate the 21st birthday of our son… (breaks out into a song) his Royal Highness… Christopher Rupert …
King (interrupting) Mazie…
Queen: Vwindemier… Vlandamier…
King: Mazie! I know all his names! I’m his father!

King (talking to the chef and the steward about the menu for the ball): What about the marshmallows?
Queen: Who wants marshmallows?
King: I do.
Queen: Why?
King: For toasting!

King (talking to the chef and the steward about the wine to be served at the ball): I want the wine of my country.
Queen: Hush, my dear.
King: I want the wine of my country, I want the wine of my country, I want the wine of my country. The wine of my country is… beer.
Queen (with a pointed look at the king’s protruding belly) Obviously.

Cinderella: Godmother, do dreams never, never come true?
Fairy Godmother: Well I wouldn’t say never… Just seldom.

Cinderella: Oh Godmother, what a beautiful dress!
Fairy Godmother: This old thing? I’ve had it for eight hundred and thirty-two years.

Prince (to Cinderella): Do I love you because you’re beautiful, or are you beautiful because I love you?

Prince: (holding the glass slipper) May I have your Royal Guards to send to the kingdom in search of the owner?
King: (emphatically) Of course you may!
Prince: And the Secret Service?
King: Well of course my boy! They never find out anything, but you can try.

And there’s a line from the musical (which wasn’t in the movie) that got the most reaction from the crowd:

Herald: My name is Hark… Hark the Herald.

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