Nyoy explores theater

MANILA, Philippines - Nyoy Volante became known as the acoustic pop prince but he has found another successful career as an actor in theater musicals. We’ve seen him play various roles in the Philippine adaptation of In the Heights (where he went hip-hop), Legally Blonde the Musical, Rent, Hairspray, Rock of Ages and in the local production Kanser (based on Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere). Needless to say, he’s very good in all of them.

He now plays the role of Donkey in Shrek, The Musical and it’s his first time to play a talking and singing animal. “This is my 10th musical and it’s the most challenging so far,” he says. “The pressure is huge because the role was played by Eddie Murphy in the original movie and he was very effective. So dapat, yung own interpretation ko, makuha ko yun but hindi dapat magtapos lang sa ganoon, that’s why I have to give my own contribution to the character. So, I speak like a noisy black guy, very fast and with a distinct accent. Even the singing, (ganun din) ang dating. I have to really prepare and practice a lot. And so far, when the musical was first staged in September, very positive naman ang reaction ng audience. The feedback is good. They just love Donkey as Shrek’s best friend and ever loyal sidekick.”

Playing the title role of Shrek is British actor Rycharde Everley (who did a great job in Avenue Q), Shiela Valderrama as character Princess Fiona, Lorenz Martinez as Lord Farquaad, Nel Gomez as Pinocchio and Carla Guevara-Laforteza as the Dragon. The show is perfect entertainment for the whole family during this holiday season, expertly directed by Atlantis Productions top honcho, Bobby Garcia. It will be restaged on a limited run at the Meralco Theater from Dec. 26 to Jan. 4, 2015.

Shrek is really amazing as it gives fairy tales a twist, turning an ogre, usually a scary villain, into a hero and leading man. Even the princess turns out to be not the usual beautiful Disney princess. And the audience just loves it, making it a blockbuster and producing two hit sequels plus the Broadway musical, where lots of new songs and jokes are added, with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori.

How many songs do Nyoy get to sing in the play? “There are many ensemble numbers but my solos are Don’t Le Me Go, The Travel Song and Make a Move. Our finale number is I’m a Believer and it’s so rousing the audience usually ends up singing and dancing with the cast.”

He’s such an effective stage actor. Does this mean that he’ll now focus on theater acting, especially now that Manila has so many outlets for theatrical productions like Resorts World and Solaire? “No, my first love is still singing. I’ve released my eighth album last year, Tuloy Pa Rin, and I am now writing new songs for my next album to be released next year.”

In the love department, Nyoy is now engaged to theater actress Mikkie Bradshaw, who played the lead role in Carrie. “Three years na kami. When I proposed last July, I made a fairy tale book about us and attached an engagement ring to it. But late next year pa kami pakakasal.”

He’s hoping he will be included in the next projects of Atlantis Productions for 2015, like the musical version of Saturday Night Fever featuring the songs of the Bee Gees.