Gaga over Zsazsa Zaturnnah (the full review)

For the past few days (since February 26) it seems that the only thing in my head and coming out of my mouth are the words ZSAZSA ZATURNNAH. I guess that should tell you how much I really enjoyed the show. And now that I've had time to assimilate and calm down I think I can give a more objective review:

The Author
Carlo Vergara (or Carver) is the author of the graphic novel ANG KAGILA-GILALAS NA PAKIKIPAGSAPALARAN NI ZSAZSA ZATURNNAH. I met him before the show and it was surprising to find that this bodacious comic is actually a shy and unassuming guy. With his irreverent humor I suppose I was expecting him to be more … more … what's the word? I know — ECCENTRIC!

It seemed that quite a few people who watched the show didn't know who he was and would pass him by. I was actually expecting a sign in front of his desk that said, CARLO VERGARA, CREATOR OF ZSAZSA ZATURNNAH. This, of course, worked to the advantage of the fans that read the graphic novel before watching the play. They had ample time to chat with their hero!

Zsazsa Zaturnnah, the graphic novel
If you are familiar with the local superhero Darna you will find the opponents (giant frog, zombies, and aliens) unoriginal. Definitely this is something that Darna (and other superheroes) have tackled. Even the idea of Ada swallowing a rock/stone is an idea taken from Darna. What makes this story interesting is the fact that Ada (the alter ego of Zsazsa Zaturnnah) and "sidekick" Didi are gay beauticians.

Didi's wisecracks and bitchin' comments are bound to make you smile and laugh. Add into the mix hunky boy-next-door Dodong and you have the makings of an interesting gay love story.

Even the villains are interesting — enter a superhuman feminist alien race from Planet X … x … x … with plans of taking over the land. Even I am confused why Queen Femina would choose to invade Ada's little barrio. I guess they'd never heard of the world super-powers, of which the Philippines is anything but!

Ultimately, though, the story is really about Ada and how he deals with suddenly becoming a superhero one day and coming to terms with how he feels for Dodong.

Zsazsa Zaturnnah (Ze Muzikal)
Riding on the wave of popularity of the multi-awarded Ang Lee film, Brokeback Mountain (starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as two cowboys who fell in love), Zsazsa Zaturnnah (Ze Muzikal) could not have come out at a better time.

Adapted by Chris Martinez and directed by Chris Millado (we seem to have a name shortage here, hehehe), the musical version of this graphic novel was a sucess! Kudos to both for staying faithful to the book and not disappointing the Zaturnnah fans. Some of the scenes were, of course, rearranged to adapt to the different format, but whatever changes were made were well done and hardly noticeable. I don't think any of Carl's fans are complaining. It was interesting to hear music and song to those familiar words.

Having a phenomenal cast is another feather in their cap.

Actors that caught my eye and interest:

1. Eula Valdez (Zsazsa Zaturnnah) - Note: Thank you, Mark Cerbo, for the pic of Eula. - The first time I watched the play I thought that she didn't fit into the costume properly 'cause her generous breasts (that Zsazsa Zaturnnah is supposed to have) were missing. On my second viewing they appear. So definitely a costume adjustment had been made. I was pleasantly surprised to find that she sang so well. Sadly, nowadays moviestars who can sing and sing well are rare. It was very ambitious of her to play this role given that this is her first musical and I am please to report that the role did not suffer with her in it. She LIVED Zsazsa Zaturnnah on that stage!
2. Tuxqs Rutaquio (Ada) - His portrayal of the role was so natural you forget that he is an actor playing a part. Of course, the fact that he IS gay helps in characterization of the role. Tuxqs' singing was passable, his acting — PHENOMENAL! Now that I think about it, Ada's being gay seemed to be more of an accident of birth. In my opinion, Ada is more womanly than most women — but that is just my opinion.
3. Ricci Chan (Didi) - As the saucy, scene-stealing sidekick of Ada/Zsazsa Zaturnnah, Ricci was perfect! Great acting, great singing, great everything! If only to watch him perform again I would watch Zsazsa Zaturnnah over and over again. Worth every centavo to watch Ricci perform.
4. Arnold Reyes (Dodong) - Note: photo taken on March 4, 2006 - As hunky boy-next-door, Arnold had a credible and touching (touchable!) performance. At first glance I thought he was too slim for the role, but when he took his shirt off my eyes just popped out of my head! I felt like the wolf in cartoons (eye-popping, drooling, jaw-dropping, and howling!) Who would have thought he was hiding all that yumminess under that shirt? Very good actor indeed. As a singer, he wasn't bad … not fantabulous like Ricci, but pretty ok. Arnold's rendition of Ikaw Ang Superhero Ng Buhay Ko was very beautiful. I found that particular scene in the play extremely touching and downright romantic. I couldn't help but think that he and Tuxqs looked good together. His alternate in the role was Lauren Novero. Unfortunately I was not able to catch Lauren's performances so I really could not compare.
5. Agot Isidro (Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux) - Agot Isidro as a villainess … unheard of! Until now, that is. As the high-fallutin', English-speaking super-feminist alien Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux of Planet X … x … x … Agot came across as imposing and dominant. Truly a queen! The role of Queen Femina is also played by actress Kalila Aguilos. Again, I was never able to catch her performance so I cannot compare that. However, in the soundtrack, I found that Kalila did a better job of emoting the character of Queen Femina than Agot did. Agot's performance and the recording were quite different.
6. Bong Cabrera (Tanghalang Pilipino cast member - played the role of Ada's/Zsazsa's dead father) - Bong played many varied roles in the play. But the one that really struck me was his role as Ada's/Zsazsa's dead father. His rejection of Ada was so painful. My throat closed up as I watched the scene. He was very effective in the role. Even the seeming rigor mortis of his face was excellently executed.
7. Carl Virtudazo (Tanghalang Pilipino cast member - played the role of Father Bernie) - Carl played several roles but the most memorable to me was his role as Father Bernie. Oh, who am I kidding? I just think he is a hottie! Ok, ok. I have this thing for shirtless men so … Waaah! I admit it! I liked him best as one of the towel clad angels in Nakikita Ko Na Ang Nakakasilaw Na Ilaw.

Zsazsa Zaturnnah (Ze Musikal) Original Soundtrack (Original Cast Recording)
Vince de Jesus was the composer, lyricist, and musical director of the show. The music he created for this story fit the bill to a T and are quite catchy. The music is absolutely beautiful and has a very filipino flavor to it. I must confess, I play the soundtrack the people here must be sick of it already, hehehe.

Of the songs he wrote, the following are the ones that I enjoyed the most. I made an effort to translate the titles into English so that those of you who do not understand Tagalog can at least know the titles of the songs. I must beg your forgiveness, though, since my Tagalog is not that good either, hehehe.

1. Babae Na Ako! (Zsazsa Zaturnnah) - I'm A Woman!
2. Walang Ibang Pangarap Kundi Siya (Didi, Ada, & Dodong) - No Other Dream But Him
3. Multo Ng Nakaraan (Zsazsa & Ada) - Ghost of the Past
4. Nakikita Ko Na Ang Nakakasilaw Na Ilaw (Didi) - I Can Already See The Bright Light
5. Ang Pagmumuni-muni Ni Zsazsa - The Ponderings of Zsazsa
6. Ikaw Ang Superhero Ng Buhay Ko (Dodong) - You Are The Superhero Of My Life
7. Ayoko Nang Mabuhay Nang Ganito (Ada) - I Don't Want To Live This Way Anymore
8. Ikaw Ang Superhero Ng Buhay Ko Finale (Ada, Dodong, & Cast)

See lyrics of some of the songs below. I hope Sir Vince won't mind me posting some of them here.

WALANG IBANG PANGARAP KUNDI SIYA
Music and lyrics by: Vince de Jesus
Performed by: Ricci Chan, Tuxqs Rutaquio, and Arnold Reyes

DIDI: delicious! braso pa lang ay ulam na bigyan mo 'kong tinidor at ng kutsara ang lalaking ito'y pinapaikot at ikot ang bahay bata ko nakakatunaw ng laman, ay! nakakainit ng ulo ang nais kong asawa ay katulad niya malaki, matigas, magaspang ako'y yayakapin niya sa kanyang mga braso heto na lang kung madurog ako siya lang ang panaginip ko walang iba siya lang laman ng puso buksan mo pa siya lang walang ibang pangarap kundi siya ADA: sa ngiti pa lang ako'y nanginginig ako'y natatameme at namamanhid parang merong tsunami at earthquake at typhoon dito sa aking dibdib hindi pa yata ako handang makadama ng pag-ibig ang nais kong asawa ay katulad niya matino, mabait, malambing

hindi niya 'ko ikahihiya, ako'y ipaglalaban di niya ako iiwan kahit pagtawanan siya lang ang panaginip ko walang iba siya lang laman ng puso buksan mo pa siya lang walang ibang pangarap kundi siya DODONG: iniisip ko pa lang ako'y napapangiti pangarap kong kasintahan mahinhin at kimi tahimik at minsan ay matapang din di pupuwedeng lalampa lampa ibibigay ko ang lahat mula ulo hanggang paa ang nais kong asawa ay yung kakaiba kahit na kahit sino pa siya maniniwala siya sa mga pangarap ko na ligaw kapag nasa dilim siya ang aking ilaw siya lang ang panaginip ko walang iba siya lang kailan kaya darating kailan pa siya lang walang ibang pangarap siya lang ang panaginip ko walang iba siya lang laman ng puso buksan mo pa siya lang walang ibang pangarap kundi ang hanaphanap walang ibang pangarap kundi … siya

NAKIKITA KO NA ANG NAKAKASILAW NA ILAW
Music and lyrics by: Vince de Jesus
Performed by: Ricci Chan

Ada, bakit ka lumuluha? Hindi naman bagay sa yo ngumiti ka na lang kahit may lamat ang puso mo Mula noong pagkabata hanggang tayo ay nagdalaga nilulunok na natin ang kirot siguro naman ngayon ay sanay ka na nakikita ko na ang nakakasilaw na ilaw sing init ng araw ako'y sinusundo patungo sa isang tahimik na lugar kung saan walang pangalan ang pagmamahal, ooh ooh Ada, bakit pati sila ay lumuluha? dahil ba pagpumanaw ako ay wala na silang pagtatawanan

Ni minsan ay 'di nila ako kinilala Maliban sa pagiging bayot ko Sa akin ay wala na silang nalalaman pa nakikita ko na ang nakakasilaw na ilaw sing init ng araw ako'y sinusundo patungo sa isang tahimik na lugar kung saan walang pangalan ang pagmamahal nakikita ko na ang nakakasilaw na ilaw Kailangan kong dumungaw machugi man ako aking nakita Ang tunay mong pagmamahal aking mahal na kaibigan ako sana'y huwag kalimutan, ooh

IKAW ANG SUPERHERO NG BUHAY KO
Music and lyrics by: Vince de Jesus
Performed by: Arnold Reyes

Ano ba ang sukatan ng pagkalalaki, Sa lalim ba ng boses o sa tibay ng tindig? Nasusukat ba ito sa dami ng pinangakuan ng pag-ibig? Sa lahat ng nakilala, sa iyo lamang humanga Sa tapang at lambot ng iyong puso Ang kaligtasan ng lahat Ay tinanganan mo sa palad mo Ikaw ang superhero ng buhay ko, ikaw Hindi ka man lumilipad Napakalayo ng iyong narating Nais kong sumama, saan ka man magpunta Hawakan mo ako, maglalakbay tayo INSTRUMENTAL

Napakita mo sa akin, mayroon pang hihigit Sa katahimikang nakasanayan ko Tulad mo'y nagsimula akong managinip Ang bugnot kong mundo'y binuhay mo Ikaw ang superhero ng buhay ko, ikaw Pagod ka man ngayon Ako naman ang pumapasan sa iyo Halika na sa piling ko kita'y iuuwi, Dito sa bisig ko ika'y mahimbing Ikaw ang superhero ng buhay ko, ik