Everyone has his or her insecurities, secrets and problems to face, but how can simple student handles this kind of issues at the early age? Ateneo BlueREPERTORY brings Bare: A Pop Opera, a rock musical that tackles the lives of the students of St. Cecilia’s Boarding School who are facing issues about their insecurities, relationship and discrimination. The musical was directed by veteran stage actress and director Anna Abad Santos and feature actors including Jaime Barcelon, Bibo Reyes, Reb Atadero, Maronne Cruz, Cassie Manalastas, Mark Bernardo, Jenny Jamora, Rem Zamora, Orange Sanchez and Franco Chan. It will run from February 29-March 10, 2012 at the Teatrino in The Promenade, Greenhills, San Juan.
For Jason (Bibo Reyes alternating with Reb Atadero), high school life is complete with the person he truly love which is Peter (Jaime Barcelon). But of course, for a same sex relationship it is hard to show their love for each other especially in a religious school where Jason is an altar boy, while Peter is the popular guy. Both of them works on their relationship discreetly until one of them wanted to take it to higher level and that is introducing his boyfriend to his mother, which the other one strongly objects. Aside from the two of them there are Nadya, Ivy and Matt who are facing their own insecurities in life, Nadya her physical appearance, Ivy her family and her image in school and Matt being rejected by the person he love.
The issue concerning the students of St. Cecilia’s Boarding School might be simple for others. But the story and the characters reflect the same situation that most of youth or even during our times at school. Everyone can relate in each character and all I can is that I love the songs in the musical.
In the Ateneo BlueREPERTORY, Cassie did a wonderful job in playing the role of Nadya. She gives justice in the pain and insecurities that the character is facing and most of all being the shadow of his brother Jason. Bibbo did a good job especially in most the transitions that requires him to shift from one emotion or mood to another. Lastly Maronne, I love her red hair that really shows how she can be as revel like her character and without reservations she confidently played her role and I like Cassie she had a powerful voice which I don’t know where it really came from.
Of course, I will never forget how Rem Zamora played three roles in the musical. He is truly a showstopper and very talented actor. Who can ever think that Rem will be doing Sister Chantelle and the Virgin Mary in a Diana Ross way of performance aside from the priest of St. Cecilia’s Boarding School.
Joining the ensembles of Bare are Jussy Peña as Tanya, Lucas’s girlfriend; Mikah Franco as Kyra, the sexy student; Mica Fajardo as the naive Diane Lee; Raisa Tabusalla as the sarcastic Rory; Jian Kho as Zack, the jock-type student; Gabriel Perez as the nerdy Alan; Lara Antonio as Louise; Luigi Du as Jakob; CJ Francisco as Seth; Bernice Reyes as Mary Jane; and Dar Uy as Daniel.
Catch Ateneo blueREPERTORY as they stage Bare: A Pop Opera at the Teatrino, Greenhills, San Juan on February 29, 8PM, March 1-3 and March 7-10 with gala shows on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM, and matinee shows on Saturdays at 3:00 PM. For tickets, inquiries and other information, please contact Chiz Jardin at 09165787618 or through email at
nicojardin12@yahoo.com. For show buying, please contact Luis Marcelo at 09175025847.
