Magnificat, musicale para sa mga Marian devotee

 “I’M not seeing it as religious, believe it or not. I’m seeing it as a musical of humanity, a musical about strength, and love, and perseverance, and connection. That’s Magnificat for me.” Ito ang tinuran ng actress-singer na si Ana Feleo na gumaganap na Mama Mary sa musicale na Magnificat.

Ang Magnificat ay isang “sung-through religious musicale ukol sa buhay ni Jesus as seen through the eyes of his mother, Mama Mary,” dagdag pa ni Ana.

Una itong napanood noong 1996 at naka-200 beses na ito ng pagtatanghal sa ilang unconventional venue,  tulad ng simbahan,  gymnasium, garden, at ospitals,  gayundin sa mga commercial place tulad sa Araneta Coliseum, Meralco Theater, at Cuneta Astrodome.

Unang idinirehe ang Magnificat ni Nestor Torre at sa pagbabalik nito sa entablado, ang veteran actress-director namang si Laurice Guillen ang naatasang magdirehe. Bibida sa muling pagbubukas ng Magnificat sina Alyssa Evangelista bilang Young Mary, Kelvin Galano bilang Young Joseph, Ana Feleo at Pinky Marquez-Cancio  bilang Mama Mary, at Al Gatmaitan bilang si Jesus Christ.

Ang Magnificat ay tribute ni Torre kay Blessed Virgin Mary.

Kaya magandang balita ito para sa mga Marian devotee na muling maisasakatuparan ang pagpapalabas ng Magnificat sa pamamagitan ng LyrOpera (Lyric Opera of the Philippines),  na collaboration nina Torre (playwright) at Ryan Cayabyab (composer), itong stage musicale.  .

Ani Sherwin Sozon, co-founder ng LyrOpera, matapos nilang mag-produce ng mga opera at concert sa loob ng maraming taon, napagdesisyonan nilang gumawa ng original Filipino musical.

“Of course, being an opera company, it had to be a sung-through musical. In the treasure trove that is the catalogue of Philippine plays, zarzuelas and musicals, we chose ‘Magnificat’. ‘Magnificat’ has beautiful music, wonderful lyrics, and a great message,” aniya pa.

Sinabi naman ni Ana, ang Magnificat ay may magagandang musika, magagandang lyrics, at may magandang mensahe. “We first got the permission of Mr. C (Ryan Cayabyab, the composer). We journeyed to Marikina, where Direk Nes (Nestor Torre, the playwright) is recuperating, to get his permission. We were very happy when Direk Nestor gave his blessings and instructed us to get the materials from Andy (Bais),” paliwanag ni Ana.

At pagkatapos nilang makuha ang permiso ng composer at playwright ang sumunod na tanong ay kung sino ang magdidirehe?

“Direk Laurice Guillen’s name came up and we immediately knew that she, a Marian devotee, is the ideal director for this new staging of Magnificat. But would she agree? Our doubts were unfounded because her answer was, ‘How can I say no to Mamma Mary?’ pagkukuwento ni Ana sa isang lunch presscon na isinagawa sa After Twelve Restaurant sa Fisher Parkway.

Tiniyak naman ni Direk Laurice na makare-relate ang lahat kapag pinanood nila ang religious musicale. “It’s not important to me to show it as if it happened, in the costuming in the staging; that it’s in Jerusalem, or Nazareth,” sambit ng magaling na direktor. “Ang importante, you can empathize with the circumstances of the characters, no matter how small.

“Ultimately, I think the point is to make this viewable by everybody. The actors have to connect with the audience,” aniya pa.

Bahagi ng creative team ng Magnificat sina Joey Nombres (lighting designer), Leslie Centeno (production designer), Erwin Flores (costume designer), Jomelle “Pipay” Era (movement designer), at Randy Gilongo (musical director).

Mapapanood ang Magnificat sa Music Museum, Greenhills sa Sept. 27, 28, Oct. 4-5, 11-12. Para sa ticket, maaaring tumawag sa Ticketworld (891-9999) o bisitahin ang Facebook page ng Lyric Opera of the Philippines (www.LyrOperaPH.com).

Ang Magnificat ay handog ng LyrOpera katulong ang %Arabica, Hearts and Arrows, Healthy Soybean Commercial, www.AlphaOneA1.com, Montage Skin Science and Aesthetics, Sir Warren of CUT Encarnacion Group of Salons, Green Pin, CSunPower, GoSan, Kurganstalmost, ShenLing Elevators and Escalators and Vietnam Dragon; also partners Working Hands Foundation, St. Paul College Manila High School Batch 1975, Secular Male Institute of the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Rotary Club of Manila Archangel at InnerWheel Club Foundation of the Philippines.

SHOWBIZ KONEK
ni Maricris Valdez Nicasio