2023 show season

**updated whenever i watch a new show!

  March 11, 2023 - Ang Pag-uusig (Tanghalang Pilipino)

I'm going to be very honest.

I know I'm not the very best at Tagalog. Actually, I'm not even good at it, so I was super hesitant when our theatre director asked if we wanted to watch this fully. Tagalog. Play.

But I would be lying if I said Tanghalang Pilipino's Ang Pag-uusig wasn't one of the most powerful things I've ever watched!

Here's a little background on the play: it's the Filipino translation of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, which I know is super popular, but I'd never looked into it until after the show. Going into this play, it was all new to me and it had the added challenge of being in Tagalog.

Despite all of that, I understood the sentiment and the message perfectly clear.

Ang Pag-uusig was so raw and powerful. Every single actor portrayed their parts so well it was almost frightening. 

My favorite part was probably the end. We sat at the far left, which meant we could kind of see what was behind the giant wooden backdrop. My friend Jeanna and I gave each other a look when we saw someone walk and position himself right behind it.

And then the backdrop went crashing down, leaving space for Elizabeth, the sole person on stage.

It was absolutely haunting.

I would love to watch it again knowing what I know. Ang Pag-uusig is the first show I watched this year and it seriously set the standard!

   March 17, 2023 - Metamorphosis (PPO - Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng)

This was something I was looking forward to for practically the entire month.

The last time I watched any sort of orchestra was wayyy back before the pandemic. For my first ~orchestral~ experience since going back to normal, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's Metamorphosis (Concert VII) was everything I expected and then some!

Before anything else, can I just say -- Doc Beverly's outfit was so beautiful. With my atrocious eyesight and from the view of my actual trash seat, she looked kind of like a flame amongst the sea of instruments.

The company was, as always, absolutely amazing. Of course there is reason to why the PPO is the Philippines' leading orchestra. Listening to them always gives me goosebumps. 

The standout piece, to me, was Denise Santos' The Light of Extreme Darkness. It was just so...*chefs kiss*. I tried to look for it on Youtube or Spotify, but as of right now the only way to listen to it is on SoundCloud, so I had to make an account just so I could listen to it on loop. That's how amazing it was. The orchestra really did the piece justice!

This was genuinely such an awesome experience. I can't wait to see them again!

March 25, 2023 - The Sound of Music (GMG Productions)

I finally got to watch The Sound of Music, and it was literally perfect.

From the serenity of Maria's first solo to the very last moments before the Von Trapps escape to the hills, I was literally mesmerized.  

Jill-Christine Wiley was a phenomenal Maria, and all the Von Trapps were amazing, but to me the knockout was Karylle Tatlonghari, who wasn't even a part of the actual touring cast!

Although she only had one song -- a duet, mind you -- it was probably my most favorite part of the entire musical. It also was the very first time I'd ever listened to How Can Love Survive? As someone who had only ever watched the movie, I was sorely missing out.

The gigantic *red and black* flag really shocked me though. It was the first time I'd ever seen one in person. 

I cried all throughout the end and my friends had to comfort me. I was probably being a nuisance to other watchers, so I feel bad about it...but I was just feeling so many things, and the cast was honestly so good I bawled so hard.

This entire production was so well done. I'm so happy I got to watch it!

    October 1, 2023 - Snow White and the Prince (REP)

It's been a while!

Obviously, since I like watching musicals, there was no way I was going to miss REP's SWATP. Maybe I'm a bit biased since I love anything REP puts out, but honestly speaking, SWATP was seriously so amazing I felt like an NPC after the show. I didn't know whether I should get out of my seat after witnessing THAT...

By the way, I got Pappel as my Snow White, and she was so super good!

There were so many children in the audience. It made me so happy to see them smiling after the show. Some were even dressed up in costumes and they even had actual props! They were all so cute.

The actual musical was sooo colorful and bright. My friend, who I watched with, said to me before the musical started that his favorite song was Just One Dance (he'd already watched beforehand). I can confidently say that I share the sentiment.

The cast was so in sync. The dwarves, especially, were so cute and lovely that every time I saw them I was grinning from ear to ear. I also LOVED the Queen! She had this one scene with the mirror where her face was projected on the screen (kind of like in Sandbox Collective's Dani Girl) and she never once skipped a beat. 

Of course, since this was a children's musical, the cast interacted with the audience a looot. My favorite interaction was probably at the start, with the Maid asking the children some questions. I wanted her to pick me too but I think they were only sticking to children. That was okay with me though... D:

One more thing: I LOVED THE MIRROR. He was probably my favorite character. I was really sad when I didn't get to take a picture with him after the show :(

In all seriousness though, SWATP was super fun and lively! I'd love to watch again. (rep pls give me tickets)

    October 12, 2023 - Hamilton (GMG Productions)

I waited for this. For so. Long.

Before anything else: David Park was so hot...this is probably so unprofessional but he really was. The first time I saw him on stage my mouth was legitimately wide open.

BUT! Oh my god. Of course I had a Hamilton phase. I was the annoying theatre kid who wouldn't shut up about Hamilton for the longest time. I had merch. I had friends who would sing The Schuyler Sisters (I was always Peggy) with me. I watched the proshot on Disney+ many, many, many times.

It would never compare to just how breathtaking watching it live is.

From the beginning to the end, I was at the edge of my seat. I was soaking every minute of it in. There was never a dull moment. 

The cast was absolutely phenomenal. I especially loved Rachelle Ann Go, of course, because I would adore her no matter how she did, and she did AMAZINGLY. I loved Darnell Abraham's portrayal of Washington, I loved Jason Arrow's Hamilton. I loved everybody.

I'm not even kidding when I say that I cried as soon as it started. Just hearing the opening had me in tears.

It didn't help that everyone in the cast was so good I could write all of them raving reviews. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I was in tears (happy AND sad) the entire time. Even though I'd watched it countless times on screen already, I had goosebumps from the sheer talent everyone on the cast had.

Hamilton was probably the most life-changing experience I've had...well, ever. My heart is so incredibly full. GMG Productions, you are seriously amazing. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

Sorry to all future and past entries, but Hamilton will probably never be dethroned as the best musical of 2023 for me.

    October 22, 2023 - The Last Five Years (Barefoot Collab)

If you've seen my day in a life for this day, you should know just how determined I was to watch this show.

And it was absolutely worth it!

I loved the way the stage was set. Jamie and Cathy were always on different sides of the stage, never to intersect...until they got married! It kinda reminded me of My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday -- they only intersected once in the entire duration of the musical. It was so poetic.

Can I just say though...Jamie kinda sucked. Like I know the entire point of the musical was that they both weren't good for each other, but Jamie infuriated me. 

I was really mad at him at the start but as his story unfolded, I actually kind of empathized with him. Until he cheated, of course, because how could you ever go back from that?

I love how Gab and Myke portrayed them. I had goosebumps at the end -- Cathy saying "goodbye until tomorrow" and Jamie simply saying "goodbye". I watched by myself but I would never be embarrassed to cry in public. And I was BAWLING (quietly).

The final nail in the coffin...was walking out of the theatre and seeing the RING. THE FREAKING RING on the chair. I swear my heart stopped.

But seriously speaking, I loved TLFY! Barefoot Collab really did it justice. It was super good. If it didn't sell out every single time I checked, I probably would've watched again. That's how good it was. 

I would also like to commend the way the stage was built. It was so interesting seeing it move back and forth! Also, I wish I could've brought a leaf home, but I felt bad...

    December 23, 2023 - Disney on Ice

In hindsight, Disney On Ice was always going to be good. There was just no way that it wasn't.

This year's Disney On Ice was everything I expected and more. It was so energetic and lively -- everyone was clapping to the beat, and cheering for the dancers. The energy was absolutely on fire that day. I'm so glad I caught such a great performance with an audience that truly appreciated it.

The Aladdin set, especially, was spectacular. Jasmine was literally flying. It was all-in-all just absolutely breathtaking.

Everything else was amazing too. The fire in the Incredibles set, the goosebumps I got during the Moana set, the entirety of the Frozen set -- everything was just absolutely perfect.

I can't wait for next year. I hope Isabella is there...

    December 27, 2023 - Cinderella (Ballet Manila)

I'm honestly a bit sad that I could only catch one ballet performance this year, but I absolutely had no regrets having it be this one!

Unfortunately, I did arrive pretty late so I didn't see the start. I think I only arrived right before the transformation scene.

It was amazing though.

Surprisingly, my favorite part of the ballet were the stepsisters. They were absolutely hilarious. Cinderella was really incredibly beautiful though. She and the Prince looked stunning together! 

There was this one part where the Prince is looking for Cinderella and he's in the audience section. It was super funny. They would find an audience member and check if the slipper fit. When it didn't, there was a super loud buzzer sound. Loool.

I had fun watching! I'm glad it was my last show of 2023.

See you again next year!