Standing Ovation: ‘Mula Sa Buwan,’ A Hopeful Reminder to Take Your Chances
Step into the world of live theatre with "Standing Ovation," your trusted companion for navigating Asia's vibrant performing arts scene. From the neon-lit streets of Hong Kong to the historic stages of Manila, we're scouring the region to bring you honest, engaging reviews of the most talked-about shows. Whether you're drawn to the flawless elegance of ballet, embarking on a musical journey through moving tunes, or the raw emotion of dramatic plays, let us guide you to the performances that will resonate with you. So grab your playbill and join The Beat Asia as we immerse ourselves in the region's dazzling arts & culture scene. The curtain's rising – let the review begin!
As the lights dimmed inside the Samsung Performance Arts Theatre, the sold-out crowd buzzed with excitement and burst into cheers as “Mula Sa Buwan” officially returned to the stage.
“Mula Sa Buwan” is an original Filipino musical adapted from Edmond Rostand's French classic play “Cyrano de Bergerac.” Created by Pat Valera and William Elvin Manzano in 2010, the play has been staged numerous times since 2011 and was the inaugural production of Barefoot Theatre Collaborative in 2022.
This year, the musical and its powerhouse ensemble returns to the stage to take audiences back to the moon once more. Myke Salomon, Gab Pangilinan, and MC Dela Cruz will be reprising their roles as Cyrano, Roxane, and Christian respectively.
Mikko Angeles takes the lead as Director, and joining him are Myke Salomon as Musical Director, Ohm David as Set Designer, Meliton Roxas Jr. as Lighting Designer, JM Cabling as Choreographer, and Bonsai Cielo as Costume Designer.
The show will have a limited run until Sept. 8 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theatre in Circuit Makati. The Beat Manila got to watch their exciting opening night last Aug. 16 and we’re here to tell you why we think this is one show you should add to your live stage watchlist!
When Comedy Meets Tragedy: A Love Story
The clock ticks and bright lights project patterns over the stage. As the curtain rises, a single lamp stands stage center and there walks in a woman dressed in black and a red scarf. Her lips part as she begins to sing, her voice soaring into a sweet, familiar melody reminiscent of our childhood lullabies.
“Mula Sa Buwan” is an adaptation of the timeless French romance play, “Cyrano de Bergerac” through the Filipino translation of Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo. If you haven’t heard of it, the story tells of an unrequited love affair set in mid-17th century Paris where poet and swordsman Cyrano pines for his beautiful and intellectual cousin, Roxane — who, in turn, is in love with a handsome solider named Christian. Due to his unattractive appearance (Cyrano was said to have a large, bulbous nose), Cyrano is unable to confess to Roxane and instead uses his love for poetry to write her love letters in Christian’s stead. Yeah, reading that again won’t make it any less heartbreaking.
Just knowing about the existence of handwritten love letters in the story gave us an inkling that it’s bound to meet a tragic end, especially with this adaptation set in 1940s Manila, a time when the country was on the brink of war. The story retains its themes of love, question of beauty, and sacrifice but have also successfully incorporated local culture, making it 100% Filipino.
The first act introduced us to a vibrant city filled with young dreamers singing and dancing about their passions and aspirations. We see Christian arrive in Manila from the province with a big smile, and even bigger dreams of becoming a cadet, a troupe which is led by no other than our leading man, Cyrano. Christian’s arrival stirs a new wave of interest among the troupe, especially with Cyrano’s childhood friend Roxane, who fell in love with the new cadet at first sight.
The play staged an emotional and often comical act where we witnessed Cyrano become Christian’s brain and voice as the latter courts the former’s friend. What we loved most about this show was how the script was well-balanced, providing witty banter between characters, on-point comic relief in between emotionally packed scenes, and poetic metaphors through heartfelt monologues that truly embodied the love Cyrano felt for Roxane.
Come the second act, the play took on a dark turn as war struck the city, forcing our starry-eyed dreamers to suddenly “grow up” and face reality; a world that is filled with fear, death and grief. Through the war, Cyrano remained steadfast in his love by writing and delivering love letters in Christian’s name to Roxane, risking his life every single day. The play reached fever pitch when the barracks was attacked unexpectedly by enemy forces (you’ll have to watch the show to know what happens next!).
It's not the first time that we’ve seen the ‘childhood friends-to-lovers’ trope or ‘forbidden love’ in the time of war, but “Mula Sa Buwan” proves that tropes are there for a reason, and that is to engage people with the familiar, to make it relatable and resonate with the audience.
The play’s uniqueness, however, comes from its original music, which was wonderfully sprinkled over the show, bringing a dynamic flair to each scene. The show-stopping opener “Ang Tanghalang Ito (This Show)” excitedly ushered audiences into the world of the story with vibrant music and thrilling dance choreography.
The songs also added emotional depth to certain scenes such as Cyrano’s soaring ballad “Ikaw (You)” as he compared Roxane to a rose like no other on this earth; and Christian’s “Matatapos Din (It Will Soon Be Over)” as he reminded the soldiers to hold on to love and that better days will come after the war.
Although there were moments when the music transitioned in a way that came up short or made us want more, it was a delightful musical experience worthy of recognition, and definitely breathed new life to this adaptation.
A Shining Ensemble from the Moon
We sat down for this show with an open and curious heart, expecting entertaining musical performance mostly due to raving reviews from people who watched its last run in 2022. Although Filipino talent was already a given, we didn’t expect to be hooked by an electrifying ensemble performing musical numbers that could be categorized as the same level as those we’ve seen on international stages.
The true stars of this show and what truly makes it a standout are the actors. The performers on stage embodied each character with dignity and passion, delivering a show to be remembered by every single theatregoer present that night.
Paw Castillo, who was originally the understudy for Cyrano, stepped into the role for the opening night and owned it! The contradictions his character embodied were reflected clearly through his upbeat and emotional dialogue delivery and dynamic interactions, making us laugh and empathize with the charismatic leader who was also an insecure and broken man secretly pining for his best friend.
The original story portrayed Cyrano with a bulbous nose, and the play emphasized this by making Cyrano’s nose longer, which looked more like the character Pinocchio’s nose. It may have been a comical and deliberate way to emphasize his insecurity with his looks, but after watching the show, we also believe it may be a symbol of his self-deception, having hidden his feelings for Roxane through those love letters.
Gab Pangilinan’s Roxane was captivating to watch and caused shivers down our spine at her soaring notes and impressive vocal range, while MC Dela Cruz’s Christian was charming and also vulnerable. It was a delight seeing his character develop from being this carefree cadet at the start of the show to a stronger and braver persona in the second act.
The ensemble of dancers and actors portraying the troupe of dreamers who call themselves “Kabataang Makulay (Colorful Youth)," had impeccable chemistry despite their diverse personas that we wished we had seen more of their individual stories too!
We also thought Phi Palmos as Rosanna was a standout and truly enjoyed every single moment they were on stage. Their comical dialogues as well as the motherly approach to their character brought the band of young dreamers tighter together.
The fact that we wanted to see more proves just how well-cast this group was and how beautifully they portrayed their roles.
Taking You Back in Time and Beyond
Another element that exceeded our expectations are the polished set pieces that graced the stage. At the start, the stage had a more minimalist look with only a couple of set pieces here and there, but as the show went on, they became larger and more dynamic, enhancing not only the authenticity of the 1940s setting but also providing an incredible background that completed the mood of each scene.
One of our favorite sets includes the Romeo and Juliet-esque two-story balcony and the gorgeous hanging red leaves near the end of the second act. The falling leaves while Cyrano laid bear his truth to Roxane added a dramatic effect, and that pop of color provided a beautiful contrast to what’s supposedly a melancholic scene.
Lights and visual effects were also used well, and properly showcased colors and textures that portrayed the emotional requirements of each scene. In act one, we saw bright hues of yellow and orange that reflected the joy found among friends and that fluttering feeling of falling in love for the first time, while the second act showed a more muted color palette, portraying the somber atmosphere within a war setting.
The show was successful in holding the audience’s attention judging from the way they reacted to their joking spiels and witty lines. Cyrano’s pining resonated with the crowd, and you could really feel that they empathized with him during scenes when he would be called a “good friend” by Roxane. His “Nawa’y Lahat” made everyone burst into giggles, as it was a translation of the popular slang expression “Sana all.”
The audience was visibly moved in the second act, sniffles and quiet gasps bouncing off the theatre’s walls during the climax and emotional scenes. It’s one thing to perform a role well and another thing to completely embody it that it makes people believe in your character and relate to them.
For a few hours, we weren’t just inside a theatre watching a show, we were right there in 1940s Manila, laughing, dancing, and crying along with them.
Overall Thoughts
“Mula Sa Buwan” is a musical brought to life by an ensemble of talented performers brimming with excellent showmanship and national pride. Although it regaled us with familiar storylines, its music and script delivery made these tropes seem brand new, breathing new life to a classic story that taught us significant life lessons on love and the importance of taking one’s chances.
The play perfectly encapsulates the wonders of human life: how true friendships are irreplaceable; how big our hearts can expand to take in emotions that are beyond what we thought we could feel; and how incredibly fleeting life can be.
It’s a beautiful reminder that unlike the unreachable moon, the people you love are just right there in front of you... And all you have to do is reach out.
10/10, a show you shouldn’t miss!
Catch “Mula Sa Buwan” at the Samsung Performing Arts Theatre in Circuit Makati from Aug. 16 to Sept. 8. Buy your tickets here.
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