The musical that became my story

Bobby Garcia, my friend and director of Next To Normal, one of the best plays Atlantis Productions has staged, is happy to announce the coming repeat production of the hit musical play. “I am thrilled that we are restaging Next To Normal even though it is for a very limited repeat run.  Its success was completely unexpected to us, and we thank the people who came to see the show during its first run, filling up our houses each night. This is a one-of-a-kind musical about the power of a family’s love. It is a musical that has changed the lives of all of us involved in the production. I cannot fully express how proud we all are of this show.”

Bobby continues, “I couldn’t be happier that we are able to assemble the entire original Manila cast.  I cannot imagine this show without them as they have created, what I believe are, definitive performances.”

Next To Normal is musical about “the stop/start life of a bipolar mother as she rides the sharp edge between coping and insanity.” With music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, it is the winner of three Tony Awards including Best Original Score and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.  

Next to Normal, the repeat will feature the entire original Manila cast, all of whom received critical acclaim for their performances.  Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, in a career defining performance, will once again play  Diana, the wife and mother coming to grips with her mental state.  Rock star Jett Pangan once again plays Dan; Felix Rivera plays Gabe; Bea Garcia plays Natalie; Markki Stroem plays Henry; and Jake Macapagal plays Dr. Madden. It will have its repeat run from Oct. 7 to 16 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. For details, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or 840-1187.

Next To Normal brought me to tears. I saw it at a most vulnerable moment in my life. It’s about a family, coping, denying, fighting, loving and accepting the painful truth about a degenerative ailment.

My friend Luigi Tabuena, who was seated in front of me, joked about being ready with tissue paper for a lachrymal journey before the play started. “What can be worse than what I was going through,” I told myself.

I was ready for any story except mine. I was in denial about the state of my Nanay. Nothing can be more emotional I figured. And I was wrong. While watching the play and the brilliant heart-wrenching performances of the cast, I was sobbing throughout the musical, crying for me and for everyone dealing with dementia and Alzheimer’s. It became my story. But I realized that others like the Goodmans in Next to Normal are also in pain and that I don’t own the exclusive right to suffering. God, Bobby what a lovely, painful play Next To Normal is.

Janice still hoping for Mr. Right

Janice de Belen and Charlene Gonzalez met face to face on The Buzz last Sunday in Charlene’s portion Heart to Heart. Everybody knows that Aga Muhlach, Charlene’s husband had a past relationship with Janice and even has a child Luigi who is now married and has a child of his own.

Both Janice and Charlene were excited. Janice is now a Kapamilya and is part of the teleserye, Budoy topbilled by Gerald Anderson. “I have never felt as excited as I am for a project. I don’t know if it’s the story, I don’t know if it’s the hype, I don’t know if it’s because it’s really a good project,” said Janice. She is also very happy with the very warm welcome the network gave her.

Charlene asked Janice if she has a love life and she was quick to reply, “No.”

“I am really quite because there is really nothing to talk about.” She is hoping the right man will come along. “I don’t want to grow old alone. I still have that dream of meeting, huwag na si Prince Charming kasi wala naman talaga Prince Charming.”

Charlene contested Janice when the latter said that there is no Prince Charming. “I beg to disagree,” Charlene said, to which Janice reacted, “Aga is charming,” with a laugh.

Janice added that there really was no issue when she learned that Aga was marrying Charlene. “Sa akin kasi ‘pag tapos na, move on, wala nang drama ‘pag may ikinasal. ‘Pag naghiwalay na kayo, naghiwalay na kayo, dapat naisip mo na ‘yon. It was really fine.”

As with her former husband John Estrada, Janice was careful and studied, “We’re civil and I think it’s better that way. We talk when we need to talk. If there is a need to talk, we will talk but you see, our kids are grown-ups already. Whenever there is something they need from their father, I always tell them that you’re grown-ups now, you can deal with it. You can tell him what it is you want, what you need or what you need to say.” Janice has four children with John.