I was given the privilege to cover a rehearsal and run through of Fullblast Production’s Hercules The Musical at RT Studios in Quezon City. But prior to witnessing the rehearsal, I was already in contact with it’s director and a good theater friend Riki Benedicto.
Mounting a musical production is no joke (mostly for the part of the producers) for it entails challenging aspects in both costumes, production design plus the songs and choreography that puts extra challenge to its director and artistic team as a whole.
That is why I highly salute productions who dare take the risks in such endeavor.
I am also excited for Hercules The Musical since I have friends in the cast including the director. Shout out goes to Natasha Cabrera, Fatima Cadiz and direk Riki.
I was also able to let direk Riki share some of his insights regarding his latest prod. Continue reading on please?
During that rehearsal night, so glad to have met up with my in demand choreographer-friend PJ Rebulida whom I had a pleasure watching instruct a choreographed scene. He’s the type who doesn’t shout or throws out stuff to dancers. I also admire his vast experience with dancing most of which he learned from living abroad (in Germany) for a good number of years.
How were you able to get hold of Polo Ravales to play the lead? – I was given a call by one of the producers, who informed me it’s Polo Ravales in the lead.
How good is he as a singer? – He can sing.
2) What is the relevance of Hercules The Musical to our trying times?
For one thing, in their written form myths are often magnificent literature. Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Plato, and Vergil are among the foremost literary geniuses of all time. Yet even lesser authors and works like Gilgamesh, the Indian classics, Pindar, Horace, Ovid, Apuleius, Beowulf, the Eddas, and Malory make enjoyable reading.
For another, classical mythology formed the basis of a humanistic education throughout the ancient world and from the late Middle Ages down to the twentieth century.
The anthropologist and the archeologist study the myths of a people as a means of grasping the culture.
But beyond these advantages a sympathetic reading of the myths of other peoples and ages can keep us from becoming provincial in outlook, locked in the narrow worlds of our own immediate concerns. Myths can show us the marvels that existed long before scientific reasoning shed its progressive light on our perceptions.
3) Who’s your fave Greek god and why?
Honestly wala ako favorite, but fascinating manuod at magbasa ng kwento nila… cultural kasi kaya masarap matutunan. I don’t know kung paano sila kinukwento before or kung anu ang objective ng mga matatanda nila, but one is for sure, it’s timeless, and up to now we’re still hearing yung mga tales of bravery and courage.
4) How many is your cast and ensemble? And how many songs at stake? -It started 17, now we are down to 12, … I think we have 15 songs. the show will run for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
I particularly like this part of the play where it looked like the cast were just playing a Nintendo Game. Personal observation!
Hercules, The Musical opens on September 15 with a 10AM show and September 16 at 7PM Gala Show.
For tickets, contact Ticketworld.
Break a leg guys and gals! ☺☺