This year’s musical is quite different.
Amidst the lights, sounds and ambience of SM Aura in Taguig, I noticed that everyone was just happily smiling after the musical.
I wonder whether we will get an actual production in the years to come. While it is true that there are challenges involved in making a full-scale production, I think that the elementary department of my current school can do a mini-play – while its high school department can pretty much continue on their way.
Win-win, no?
Or maybe not.
On another note, there was no standing ovation after the elementary performance. Instead, it was graced instead by Bong Go, who is currently a senatorial candidate. Thankfully, he got the cue and did not go into too much politics during his speech. It was so weird that some parents reacted very differently after seeing someone talking in Filipino (or so I heard).
Assuming that it is true, there’s one question to ask: Aren’t you residing in the Republic of the Philippines? Is it too much for you to hear someone use the vernacular? Why aren’t you proud of this country’s language?
Unless you are currently holding a passport from another country. In this case, there’s nothing to be talked about.
Nahiya ako. Grabe naman.
Going on to this year’s musical, here are the three expected storylines:
Will someone slip?
Luckily, no one from the elementary slipped during the actual performance. SM Aura’s stage being made of glass never helped in these matters, so the fact that everyone survived intact made me happy.
During practice though, it occurred quite a lot. I guess that was all the warning this year’s students needed to be careful when performing on the stage.
I do really hope that we go back to the Maybank Theater next time around. Maybe someone could look at March 2020 starting tomorrow?
Will there be new surprises?
There were indeed surprises. Choi and Jamel from Grade 1, along with Dimakuta from Grade 2, were the highlights of the show this year. Meanwhile, among the males, everyone expected Smigielski and Acuna to do their job.
The other surprise was that the transition was too bright. Everyone could see the changing of the props. I could not help but laugh at that fact.
Will the graduating batch be able to get the three-peat before they leave for college?
Part of me wants them to do the three-peat; part of me does not want it to happen.
They’ve won the Senior Category (or the Open Category) for the past two years. Back in Grade 10, everyone and their dog saw the seniors win in a convincing fashion, while their time in Grade 11 almost saw them dethroned – if not for their use of powder.
They’re back at it. Guess what? They’ve got the three-peat!
Awards
I will just post the other awards tomorrow. Content pacing is a must.
For now, here are the best performers of this year’s musical – as far as the elementary is concerned:
Best Female Performer = Aeesha Dimakuta
Before you all raise your pitchforks and ask why I gave it to a Grade 2 student, I’ll tell you my reasons why she deserved the award, in my opinion.
In a production that has been technically smooth and comparably coherent in direction, Dimakuta stood out from the rest of her classmates…and schoolmates. From 0:00 until the end of the performance, her aura, expressions, smile, movement and mastery of the role she was given just gave her enough momentum to get this nod.
I don’t want to compare her to other students, but the thing is that she stood above the rest – just enough for her to get this one.
It does not matter whether you win by a blowout or by 0.001 percent – winning is enough. And Dimakuta did just enough to earn that.
For those of you who are curious, here are the other performances which left a mark in my mind: Grade 1 (Jamel/Choi), Grade 6 (Coquiero).
Best Male Performer = Jan Wladyslaw Smigielski
Need I say more?
But since we are in the business of giving reasons why this guy won over the rest, I’ll give a quick dossier on this guy.
Last year’s performer of the year was his classmate. He came in a close second place, but just like Dimakuta, she did just enough to win.
So he decided that this year, he’d turn the tables so hard that it would not be even funny to watch. This he did – and then some.
His moves, timing, steps, projection and presence just dominated the performance.
In a post-musical talk, he even mentioned that he could replicate the choreography of the high school students – as long as he could practice them.
Read. It. Slowly.
As long as he could practice them.
Need I say more?
The rest of the performances in my list were as follows: (Grade 2: All the boys, Grade 6: Salvador/Acuna, Grade 4: Ang/Salcepuedes/Tabaroki)