Mark as Marcos shines in Here Lies Love

LONDON — Did you know that Gloria Romero plays a prominent “role” in the rock-disco musical Here Lies Love which has been drawing record crowds since it opened at the Dorfman Theatre (at the sprawling National Theatre) in London first week of October?

No, Gloria doesn’t appear personally on the stage of the venue that is actually a disco but she does bigger than life in the film clips flashed on the monitors showing her as former First Lady Imelda Marcos, with the late Luis Gonzales as Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, from the Marcos propaganda biopic Pinagbuklod ng Langit which chronicled the whirlwind courtship of the former First Couple.

The film clips (including those showing Sen. Ninoy Aquino delivering a passionate speech prior to his assassination at the tarmac upon his arrival from exile in the US, Imelda partying back home and in the US as if there were no tomorrows, etc.) helped in recreating the period in Philippine history that served as backdrop of Imelda’s long night’s journey into day, from her humble beginnings in Leyte (where she reigned as Rose of Tacloban) to how Marcos swept her off her feet and turned her into a Steel Butterfly and to how People Power drove them into foreign shores.

I was here for the Hunger Games: Mockingjay 1 junket last week and, thank heavens, I had one free night to watch Here Lies Love (written by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, and still playing in New York where it premiered in 2012) with my friends Gorgy Rula, Noel Ferrer and Allan Diones (here for a holiday), together with new friends Emmanuel Arches with niece Trina Salveron and Dawn Saladores who flew in from L.A. purposely to watch the musical — specifically Mark Bautista who plays Ferdinand Marcos.

The night’s performance was sold out (in fact, all playdates are, until the final show on Jan. 8, 2015). Luckily, somebody didn’t claim his served Balcony Level ticket (worth 45 pounds) and I got it. Gorgy, Noel, Allan and company were at the orchestra section and therefore right where the action was — dancing around the T-shaped center stage that moved 360-degrees slowly while the audience danced along with the actors on it, with Mark in dark pants and bow-tied white long-sleeved shirt leading the opening dance number, sexy as he had never been back home, his chinky eyes winking at every turn, thus giving his Marcos a flirtatious touch. Bongga!

Natalie Mendoza has been getting the lion’s share of the critics’ praises for her engrossing portrayal of Imelda who, if she kept her promise to watch the musical when she got to London, would give Natalie not just a gentle tap on the shoulder but a tight, warm hug. The play is mostly dancing and singing, true to Imelda’s legendary love for both, and Natalie more than lived up to the challenge. Thankfully, Mark proved a perfect match beside Natalie, proving his mettle not just with his singing and dancing but even in the dramatic scene where he lay in his sickbed singing while Imelda sat in near tears beside him.

Gia Macuja-Atchison and Dean John-Wilson as Ninoy Aquino likewise deserve a big bravo(!) for fleshing out Imelda’s childhood friend Estrella Cumpas and Ninoy Aquino, respectively with impressive ease, proving themselves more than worthy of the roles’ demands.

Imelda and (some of) her relatives may not find Here Lies Love (the epitaph Imelda wanted on her grave) flattering but, our group agreed, it immortalizes her as an icon like no other, with the film clips showing her at her prime, so beautiful that she launched a thousand sighs heard ‘round the world.

Our hats off to Mark who’s performing seven days a week.

“It’s quite tough,” admitted Mark over a quick dinner at a nearby Chinese restaurant after the night’s performance. “Bawal magkasakit, so I have to take as many vitamins as I can, get enough sleep, keep in shape by exercising regularly and resisting temptation to take it easy.”

 Add to that the chores that he himself has to do (doing the grocery, doing the dishes, cleaning his pad, etc.), with weekends spent doing the laundry.

“It can get boring sometimes,” added Mark, “so I break the boredom by cooking for my roommates. I don’t share the food because I eat a special diet which I myself prepare.”

After Here Lies Love, what?

There are opportunities opening up in London and, in fact, Mark has already auditioned for a play (he refused to reveal what it is).

Will Here Lies Love be extended? Will it go on national or international tour with Mark still in it? The answers will be known by end of this month.

The disco-musical requires a special kind of stage and that might be easy to do if ever it is mounted in Manila. But with its controversial theme, wouldn’t some people file a TRO against it?

Meanwhile, we excused Mark and bade him good night and goodbye as he disappeared into the London night to catch the train back to his apartment and tuck up his Marcos character, only to step into it the next night and the many more nights until Jan. 8.

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