Matt Blaker and Christine Allado are set to wow Manila audiences in an iconic musical in the city’s newest state-of-the-art theater.
If you are a Gen X-er, a xennial, or a millennial, chances are there is a Whitney Houston song lurking around your Spotify library. Or maybe even one of her CDs, that you’d pop into your Discman (remember those?), and went about your day. And who hasn’t heard her power ballad I Will Always Love You, belted out until the wee hours at every karaoke joint in your neighborhood.
Houston was such a pop icon that every singer aspired to hit all those high notes as perfectly as she did. Then in 1992, she took that vocal power to the cinema, starring in The Bodyguard opposite Kevin Costner, becoming a runaway hit at the box office grossing over $400 million. This cemented her place in pop culture history as one of the biggest stars of her generation.
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Fast forward to 2012, where song meets screen, and a musical production of The Bodyguard opened in London’s The West End. The show featured Houston’s most popular songs, set against the story of the hit movie. The show ran for over two years, before going on tour from 2015 to 2016.
Now The Bodyguard lands in Manila, opening this month as the inaugural show at Rockwell’s new 780-seater state-of-the-art Proscenium Theater. The show is a 9Works Theatrical production, presented by Rockwell. Robbie Guevara steps in as director, with veteran actor Raul Montesa as assistant director. Scenographer and costume designer Mio Infante was challenged to dream up not only four concert venues, and some of the glitziest dance outfits for the show. From all indications, this is going to be a beast of a show, with all the bells and whistles thrown in. And the audience will be in for quite a ride!
All things about this show is saying “larger-than-life,” which means only one thing: a cast that’s not only at the top of their game, but that they’ve also got all the right moves! Stepping into those big shoes – Costner’s and Houston’s that is – are two stars from the West End who are excited to be part of the Manila staging of The Bodyguard, each for their own very special reasons.
For British – Filipina actress Christine Allado, who plays the central character of Rachel Marron in the musical, it was an answered prayer and an affirmation that theater would always play a big part in her life. “In the past year, I’ve done more concert work, TV acting, and not much theater work. One night, I said a prayer, ‘God, I want to go back to theater,” she shared. The next morning, nag ring yung telepono, and it was Santi offering me The Bodyguard. So I said, “grabe, ang bilis ni God mag-work.”
Soon after, she got the call that she had also been cast as Esmeralda in the West End concert production of Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. “It felt like a two-in-one,” she recalled. The Bodyguard also marks Allado’s return to Philippine theater, “I couldn’t think of a better way to come back home. To do a show that is amazing in a theater that is state-of-the-art, and a team that is like family.”
Playing opposite her in the role of ‘the bodyguard’ is British actor and Tom Cruise x Liam Neeson lookalike Matt Blaker. For him, the opportunity pretty much just landed on his lap. “I had just come off an international tour of Chicago when Christine texted me asking if I wanted to come to Manila and be The Bodyguard for a few months. I said ‘absolutely, yes’ before she could even finish the next sentence!” An added bonus? “I love travelling, experiencing new cultures, and meeting new people. This is the perfect opportunity to perform in a world class show in a completely new environment.”
My version of Frank is slightly more emotional, more connected. I’m really enjoying the journey of playing this role. – Matt Blaker
Both Allado and Blaker admit that playing these roles have been challenging to recreate, more so the give their own interpretation to. Blaker shares “I’ve played quite a lot of showbiz-y parts, like Billy Flynn in Chicago. Frank Farmer is the complete opposite of that. He is a much more down-to-earth, much grittier, much more of your man’s man. My version of Frank is slightly more emotional, more connected. I’m really enjoying the journey of playing this role.”
On the other hand, Allado feels a deep connection to Marron, seeing herself in many aspects of her character. “She’s had to sacrifice a lot to be where she is. You have to be cutthroat with yourself, and your team, expecting a high level of excellence. I think I’m the same. I can be very hard on myself and be the best I can be with everything I can do,” she explains. “And then when she’s on stage, she transforms into this icon. When I go on stage, I transform into the character that I’m playing. I just love it – losing myself in my character, and the story.”
When I go on stage, I transform into the character that I’m playing. I just love it – losing myself in my character, and the story.” – Christine Allado
Of course, it had to be asked —what’s it like to get ready to sing songs a la Whitney Houston, especially with having to do multiple shows in a week? “This show is a beast, and it’s a lot. I treat it very much like I’m an athlete in the Olympics,” shares Allado. “You need to warm up. I make weird noises, where I sound like a dying cat! I don’t drink. I don’t go out. I’m very much like a hermit when I’m doing a show because I really want to focus on it.” Now that is sound advice!
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Allado and Blaker lead a cast of some of Manila’s most talented theater artists – all of whom can sing and dance like it’s nobody’s business. Gospel singer and actress Sheena Lee Palad, last seen as Mrs. Potiphar in Joseph The Dreamer, takes on the role of Rachel’s sister Nicki Marron. Fellow Sideshow: The Musical alums, and arguably theater’s leading men du jour, CJ Navato and Vien King also join the cast as Ray Court and Agent Laney. The Bodyguard also marks the return to the stage of eventologist and host Tim Yap, will be playing Sy Spector.
Completing the cast are vocal powerhouses Jasmine Fitzgerald, Radha, Fay Castro, and Lani Ligot, alongside Winchester Lopez, Carmelle Ros, Richardson Yadao, Elian Santos, Giani Sarita, John Joven Uy, Jasper Jimenez, Paji Arceo, Iya Villanueva, Vyen Villanueva, Alex Aure, Julio Laforteza, Natalie Duque, PJ Rebullida, and Lorenz Martinez.
Over the past 15 years, 9Works Theatrical has become known for producing Broadway favorites like Rent; Tick, Tick, Boom; Once On This island, as well as original jukebox musicals like Eto na! Musikal nAPO! (featuring the music of the legendary Apo Hiking Society), and the recently staged Liwanag Sa Dilim, showcasing the songs of singer / songwriter Rico Blanco. As the resident theater company for Proscenium Theater, and what is shaping up to be a stellar production of The Bodyguard, it looks like even bigger shows are on the horizon!
To be part of a musical like The Bodyguard means you’ve got to have the moves! And this cast is giving it all they’ve got!
The Bodyguard officially opens tomorrow, September 26, and runs until October 19, with shows at 8:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. So whether you’re feeling like the Queen Of The Night or telling yourself I’m Every Woman, the best thing to do is head on over to Ticketworld and get your tickets to see this show!
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