The challenge of being Thuy

More than 1,000 showed up for the series of auditions early last year for Miss Saigon in Manila, with the screening committee headed no less by Claude-Michel Schonberg, composer of the long-running musical (now into its 27th year, and also Les Miserables, both produced by Cameron Mackintosh). The number was trimmed down to less than 100 and then to 30 and finally to only six.

One of the six is Gerald Santos, 26, who auditioned mainly, according to him, “to try my luck.”

Gerald (a B.S. Psychology undergraduate from Angelicum) got the biggest surprise of his life when he got an official letter informing him that he is “it,” tapped to play the villain Thuy which has been played by Filipino actors like Robert Seña and Jun Jun Briones. The tour will kick off on London’s West End where it will be staged July and August before it proceeds to Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

The champion of the 2006 GMA talent search Pinoy Pop Superstar, Gerald has proven his mettle both as a singer in six concerts, the latest having been a send-off show on Palm Sunday, April 9. Acting-wise, he has played the titular roles in the plays Sino Ka Ba, Jose Rizal (staged by the Gantimpala Theater Foundation) and Pedro Calungsod (by Spectrum Creative Works), and in the movie Memory Channel in which he plays a singer suffering from anxiety/panic attacks.

Gerald is advised to leave for London on May 7 in time for the start of the rehearsal on May 15.

When you look back at the audition, what comes to your mind?

“It was my first time to audition for an internationally-acclaimed musical and I told myself that whatever the result, okay lang. The experience was valuable enough. There were four stages. First, we were asked to sing for one minute, then we were given studies to act out. The most challenging stage for me was the dancing part because, I must admit, dancing is my Waterloo. But thank God, I managed.”

Did you have a specific role in mind when you auditioned?

“Oh yes, I did pero sekreto lang. I was really eyeing for the role of Thuy. I was told that my audition song, Kim’s Nightmare, was unconventional; I didn’t know what they meant by that. The song is sung in the scene after Thuy dies and he appears in Kim’s dream, telling her that she won’t let her live in peace.”

Didn’t you hesitate about auditioning for the musical, considering the number of aspirants?

“It was during the tour of Pedro Calungsod when I heard about the auditions. Many people, including my friend-movie writers, were encouraging me to audition. They were telling me na bagay daw yung role na Thuy sa akin. So I asked them, ‘Who is Thuy?’ I must confess that when Miss Saigon is mentioned, the only name that comes to my mind is Lea Salonga (the original Kim). But I’m familiar of the songs, thanks to Miss Lea.”

Have you seen the musical?

“I haven’t. When Miss Saigon was staged in Manila, I was only 10 years old. I’ve seen the musical online but not ‘live.’ I wish that before I leave for UK, I could go to New York to watch it on Broadway (where it opened in March, with Rachelle Ann Go reprising her role as Gigi).”

Is there any other Filipino who passed the audition?

“I heard that there’s another Filipino who’s in the cast but I don’t know who he or she is. Dalawa daw kaming Filipino na nakapasok. Actually, I’m curious who he or she is. I’m also excited to find out who is going to play Kim.”

Like the Filipinos cast (including Monique Wilson as Kim; Jun Jun Briones and Robert Seña as Thuy; Isay Alvarez, Jamie Rivera, Ima Castro, Joanna Ampil and Jenine Desiderio as Kim, et al) in the musical, you will be living alone. Are you ready for that?

“I’ve been to Hawaii but it’s my first time to be in the UK. I’m ready not just for the musical but to live independently. Medyo kinakabahan ako ng kaunti but I’m sure that I will get used to it. The tour will start on West End in London for two months, July and August, before it goes to Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The tour will last for one year.”

In an interview with Cameron MacKintosh, he said that if the movie version of Les Miserables would be a hit (and it was), he might push through with a plan to also produce Miss Saigon’s movie version. You could be tapped to play Thuy in it.

“How I wish! Sana nga! Is it true that the movie version would be directed by Danny Boyle (of Slumdog Millionaire)? But of course, I have to prove my worth first.”

You’re leaving for UK in three weeks. How have you been preparing for the musical?

“My voice training continues, lalo na sa classical music. I will be doing eight shows a week so, wow, matindi. I was advised not to take a day-off until they find my understudy maybe end of August. I also have to study how to preserve my voice para hindi mapaos. I would like to undergo an acting workshop with Sir Floy Quintos who was one of the judges for Pinoy Pop Superstar.”

Some of the Filipino talents in Miss Saigon go on to audition (and get cast) in other West End musicals (like Rachelle Ann who proceeded to play Fantine in Les Miz, and Junix Inocian who got into other musicals and even starred in a Hollywood movie with Johnny Depp. Inocian died in London two years ago).

“Well, I am keeping my fingers crossed…hoping and praying! But why not? In the meantime, I’m focused on Miss Saigon.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)

Gerald is

scheduled to

perform eight

times a week,

so he has been

training before

the tour that

will last for one

year. ‘It’s tough,’

he admits, ‘so

I’m not taking it

easy.’