I would have done what Cesar did

Here are some confused, contradictory thoughts in reaction to Cesar Montano’s speech when he received his Best Actor trophy (for Bagong Buwan produced by Star Cinema and Bahaghari Productions) in the recently-concluded 2001 Metro Manila Film Festival awards night.

1. I feel it was improper for Cesar to have used the awards night as a venue for his disagreement with the MMFF jury. Unless he said what he said to reject his Best Actor trophy. Kris Aquino reminded me of the incident when the late Lino Brocka went onstage and returned his Best Director trophy for Jaguar in protest of Amy Austria being categorized as Supporting Actress when Lino believed she should have been in the Best Actress category for Jaguar.

But improper though it may have been, Cesar’s ambivalent protest (I would have made mine clearer and stronger), I WOULD HAVE DONE WHAT HE DID.

2. Amy Austria to me, is one of the finest actresses in Philippine cinema. If I were an MMFF judge, I would have voted for her as Best Actress.

Then I saw Hubog starring Assunta de Rossi who won the Best Actress trophy. From the bottom of my heart, I have no complaints. I think Assunta has an awesome sense of truth in her performance in Hubog.

3. Kris and I agree that Carlo Aquino should have also won as Best Supporting Actor. This boy is a phenomenal actor – just as Caridad Sanchez is a magnificent actress. I still have to see Yamashita. Then maybe, I can share with you a more pathetic state of confusion. By the way, I think Chito Roño is a splendid storyteller, a fearless auteur and brilliant director. Does he live up to this in Yamashita? I’m dying to see the movie!

Marilou is just as brilliant. She is a master of the cinema.

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He has appeared in over 200 films. He has stopped counting the TV shows he has done. He is one of the country’s finest, most versatile actors and now, Michael de Mesa has rediscovered his love for theater.

He first made waves on the legitimate stage in 1981’s Bangag, Filipino adaptation of Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? Other plays followed such as Amanda, Diary of Anne Frank, Norman is that you? and many others.

But it wasn’t until Michael appeared as computer genius Tom Collins in Bobby Garcia’s hit production of Rent in 1999, that he renewed his relationship with theater. In Rent, he actually made people cry. His beautiful singing voice made people stop and take notice of him again. Audiences saw a different Michael de Mesa, a top caliber musical actor.

He went on to reprise the role when the Philippine production of Rent made its way to Singapore in February 2001. There, he earned rave reviews from the Singapore press and together with the rest of the cast, earned standing ovations nightly. His stint with Rent Singapore also led to an international movie offer to star with Joan Chen (who delivered an unforgettable performance in Bernardo Betolluci’s Last Emperor) in a film titled Avatar Exile. Michael returned to Singapore last April to shoot the film.

He then played Collins one last time in Atlantis Productions’ recent restaging of Rent at the GSIS Theater. Even if he continues to appear on TV, in GMA-7’s sitcom Biglang Sibol, Bayang Impasibol, Michael has decided to continue working onstage. He will be appearing next in Atlantis Productions’ dramatic play Proof, with international theater superstar Lea Salonga in the lead role.

What was it about Proof that made Michael decide to do two theatrical productions practically back to back (with Rent having closed a few weeks ago)?

Michael says, "First I wanted to do a straight play again after a long time. I wanted to work with Bobby again and I wanted so badly to work with Lea. I am excited to share the same stage with Lea. I worked with her many centuries ago! This is an opportunity any actor would grab. Wow, Lea Salonga! It’s like hitting the jackpot!"

Michael also points out that the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning play Proof by David Auburn, where he will be playing Lea’s father, is one of the best-written plays he has come across in a long time. Inasmuch as it is extremely dramatic, it is also funny and moving. He believes that although theater is not as financially rewarding as film and TV, it definitely feeds the spirit a lot more. He says, "I want to do projects people and I can treasure for a long, long time. Projects with meaning and substance. You don’t really get that from movies and TV anymore. I also want to feed my soul. Doing Rent made me realize how fulfilling acting on stage is. Rent will always be part of my life now."

Although Michael won’t be singing in Proof (it is a straight play), audiences will hear his rich warm baritone voice when he guests in Lea Salonga’s solo concert at the PICC on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. The concert, simply titled Lea Salonga: The Broadway Concert has Gerard Salonga as Musical Director and Bobby Garcia as stage and TV director.

Michael will be joining Calvin Millado and Carlo Orosa as Lea’s guests. Michael says of the upcoming concert: "I’m quite nervous about it. Imagine me, singing with Lea Salonga?!?! What an honor! I was very happy when I was asked to guest in her concert. You don’t let things like this pass. I plan to sing a lot more next year!"

And sing he will, because Bobby Garcia has already cast Michael as one of the three actors in Rent-creator Jonathan Larson’s rock musical Tick Tick Boom which will open in Manila in July. He can also be heard on two CDs out in the market: The Rent Manila CD Single and a CD of inspirational songs sung by cast members of Rent Manila and Singapore titled Love Conquers All.

Almost 30 years in the industry, Michael de Mesa continues to shine! And we enjoy watching you, Michael!

Proof runs from Jan. 9 to 27 at the GSIS Theater, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. For more information, contact Atlantis Productions at 892 7078. Proof also stars Joel Trinidad and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and is sponsored by Northwest Airlines, Sommerset Millennium Suites and The Philippine STAR. Bayo sponsors the opening night.