DANI GIRL rerun - more emotional the second time around

The Sandbox Collective brings back the musical about hope, Dani Girl, which I felt more attached and the emotions are more intense despite its injected humor and musical elements in this masterpiece.

I have to commend the cast, Becca Coates (Dani), Lorenz Martinez (Raph), Shiela Valderama-Martinez (Mom), and Luigi Quesada (Marty) for a heartwarming and . Also kudos to Toff De Venecia, who dedicates his directorial talents on this necessary production.

I love the set even better on this rerun. When at the first run it allowed us to imagine na imagery of Dani and Marty's journey in battling cancer, now we are more visual and the journey has materialized. It is even more touching that Becca and Luigi gave more heart to the characters as far as I can remember.

Photo by Gian Nicdao

It's more hurting to feel Shiela Valderama-Martinez's sorrow as a mother as she assists on the fight and even when she accepts Dani's fate. Can't miss a tear with her on Act 2.

Lorenz Martinez as Raph, gives the entertaining angel companion as always. As an angel, or even a friend, it is essential to give hope and uplift the spirit to anyone who needs it. Raph is very comforting, as well as Marty, in Dani's life.

Photo by Gian Nicdao

Dani Girl: A Musical About Hope runs until September 1 2019 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City. You should also stay after the show to listen and participate in the forum in how to spread hope or help cancer victims cope with the disease.

For tickets, call TicketWorld at 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. #DaniGirlMNL

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Tanghalang Ateneo's DOLOROSA - how a religious image solves mysteries encompassed multiple generations

As Tanghalang Ateneo opens its 41st season with theme Ecriture Feminine that revolves around women, its first production focused on the wonders of a prominent Catholic figure, the Mater Dolorosa in Peter Zaragoza-Mayshle's "Dolorosa." This is directed by Jenny Jamora.

The 3-act play narrative showed generations with a complex history starting from the Spanish colonial period until the current time when the family is already dysfunctional and broken. You won't recognize the length of this 3-hour production as the playwright gave a very interesting development of the characters and also the mystery of the main figure, the Dolorosa.

The first act, starting with the creation of the image puts the imagination to be inspired on how the image would look like. Similar with the stories of history of what our ancestors have endured under the friars and we are greatly influenced of indulgences and spiritual factors.

While on the 2nd act, when the Filipinos still has a young perceptive of the modern world, we are still impacted with the supernatural. The 2nd act is very interesting though, a certain scene wherein the young Pilar (Zoe de Ocampo) has traveled to an unknown dimension where she meets the various titles of the Virgin. Parts of the Litany depicted in a mind-opening scene that was indeed memorable. Whether it's a fictional world or not, this ignites you to think of your belief. A thing that I would have not expected to come from a Catholic-run institution.

The 3rd act presents the drama and the humor of the whole play. It was a roller-coaster machine brought by the collective of the three generations of the family including the grown Pilar (Bibeth Orteza). Here we face some realities and confronts our own judgments and even our own evils. The characters turn into a redeeming stage which leaves you your own judgment and conclusion.

Cast of Tanghalang Ateneo's Dolorosa

Tanghalang Ateneo's Dolorosa runs until August 31, with shows at 2:30PM and 7:30PM at the Doreen Black Box Theater, 3F, Arete, Ateneo De Manila University.

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DANCING LESSONS - A love story of moving misconceptions

Twin Bill Theater's new production Dancing Lessons would move you to an emotional level as you will be given another understanding of a person with autism. The show is already playing at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Theater for a limited time, this show should not be missed.

Written by Mark St. Germain, inspired with his encounter with a couple with an autistic child, we can think that they see the world differently and they are very intuitive that's why they act as such. This story is actually a romcom about Ever Montgomery, a science professor with Asperger's syndrome and hypersensitivity, which I only heard about yesterday as they call it that way - and Senga Quinn, a Broadway dancer who has suffered a major leg injury in a car accident. Ever is played by Randy Villarama and Jill Pena stars as Senga.

Randy Villarama (Ever Montgomery) and Jill Pena (Senga Quinn)

Ever lacks social skills but a very important event would require him to have contact with people, he asks for dancing lessons from Senga so that he could deal with handshaking, hugs and dancing. Through the lessons, a relationship slowly develops that has both of them stepping out of their comfort zones.

What is funny about Dancing Lessons is I remember watching The Big Bang Theory with Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco). The humor injected with Ever's obsessive-compulsive condition would be very similar to that. Thanks to TBBT and of course our understanding about the Asperger's syndrome, we now should have learned that it should not be treated as an abnormality but rather there is a different spectrum of the world for them. It is the availability of these materials that the world may be more colorful for them than what we see. But at the bottom of it, we all deserve to love and be loved. Who knows they can teach us a new universe of knowledge that we are unaware of, and what the world we are in as "neurotypicals" is what they are trying to discover because of its complexity. Dancing Lessons shows us both perspectives and I'm glad that Randy and Jill has given great performance for the eyes and for the heart. A wonderful material for everyone to witness.

Dancing Lessons shows are August 16, 17, 21-24 at 8:30PM at the PowerMac Center Spotlight Theater. Tickets are available at the venue.

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BINONDO: A TSINOY MUSICAL review

As I walk inside the halls of The Theater at Solaire last Thursday for another theatrical preview, I was already prepared for cultural understanding despite of what's happening in the country today. Setting aside my political views and keep myself focused on appreciation of this work.

Joel Lamangan's Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical revolves around the love story of a man of pure Chinese descent and a Chinese-Filipina who embraced the foreign culture in search of love. The opening is expected to be grand and full of color, and delivered almost everything we know about the Chinese and the Chinoys in Binondo: that their network is so common, every one knows everybody and all their actions are based on feng shui mixed with religious faith.

Shiela Valderrama-Martinez plays Lily, a hopeful romantic singer at Lotus Bar makes a wish to the Chinese God of Love and finds Ah Tiong (Arman Ferrer) as he continues a song which she had forgotten a line. From there, things went fast and they both try to get across obstacles. But then there's Carlos (Noel Rayos), Lily's childhood friend who's secretly in love with her and shy to tell what he feels. As long as he sees the two together, he hides his pain. Though the story is about Ah Tiong and Lily, I am for Carlos on this one. If not for the political climate which stole the promise of returning back to China for some unfinished business, Lily will not be with Carlos. However, I think that Carlos has made huge sacrifices and that I think is true love.

That story line might be a huge spoiler for you who haven't seen Binondo. You will still enjoy the songs and production that this musical can offer. There are good laughs, cheesy romantic lines and colorful story. You can still see Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical today July 14, 3PM at the Theater at Solaire. For tickets, call TICKETWORLD at 891 9999.

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SPIDER-MAN FAR FROM HOME movie review

I think this is the best Spider-man movie to date! This contains many spoilers so read at your own risk.

When you're trying to move on from Avengers: Endgame's losses, you'll definitely miss Tony Stark at the first half of the film. Many of the movie's scenes are trying to remind us about the greatness of Iron Man in the MCU. You will surely empathize with Peter Parker (Tom Holland) how he loved Tony Stark as a father he never had.

And they just revived how Peter Parker was a whiz kid to begin with. A close distance from Homecoming, his geeky side flourished again and this makes him official to inherit Iron Man's ingenuity in science. It seems like Tony has groomed him well as the next tech man. Having your own EDITH would be cooler too.

The CGI scene are well-executed, like Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) has played a major part in the post-production of this movie. However, the scene when he acquired EDITH from Parker is a cringey moment. Sorry don't like that part.

This is even more fun than Homecoming. Ned (Jacob Batalon) steps up as new lover boy; Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) and Happy (Jon Favreau) had a thing going on, MJ (Zendaya) is more upfront and I like her more here. They all got to have a love life going on and that's a cute thing.

Jake Gyllenhall as Mysterio 

And JK Simmons is back as The Daily Bugle chief! How I missed him as J. Jonah Jameson even in the Tobey Maguire series. No one does it like him.

Spider-Man Far From Home is now showing in cinemas. Don't miss the 2 scenes mid- and post-credits.

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Get updates on Netflix's THE WITCHER

Netflix launched the official social handles for the highly anticipated new series The Witcher, along with first looks at the three lead characters; Geralt (Henry Cavill), Yennefer (Anya Cholatra), and Ciri (Freya Allan). Fans can follow official show news on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Along with the first look imagery of the cast, fans were shown the first look at the series logo along with the teaser poster.
  Based on the best-selling fantasy series of books, The Witcher is an epic tale of fate and family. Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. But when destiny hurtles him toward a powerful sorceress, and a young princess with a dangerous secret, the three must learn to navigate the increasingly volatile Continent together.

  

Henry Cavill (Mission Impossible - Fallout, Justice League) leads the cast of The Witcher saga, playing the role of Geralt of Rivia, alongside other main cast members, Anya Chalotra (The ABC Murders, Wanderlust) as Yennefer and Freya Allan (The War of the Worlds, Into The Badlands) as Ciri. Other previously announced cast include Jodhi May (Game of Thrones, Genius) as Calanthe, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson (Fortitude) as Eist, Adam Levy (Knightfall, Snatch) as Mousesack, MyAnna Buring (Ripper Street, Kill List) as Tissaia), Mimi Ndiweni (Black Earth Rising) as Fringilla, Therica Wilson-Read (Profile) as Sabrina, and Emma Appleton (The End of The F**king World) as Renfri, Eamon Farren (The ABC Murders, Twin Peaks) as Cahir, Joey Batey (Knightfall, Strike) as Jaskier, Lars Mikkelsen (House of Cards, Sherlock) as Stregobor, Royce Pierreson (Wanderlust, Judy) as Istredd, Maciej Musiał (1983) as Sir Lazlo, Wilson Radjou-Pujalte (Jamillah & Aladdin, Dickensian) as Dara, and Anna Shaffer (Harry Potter) as Triss.

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ROCKETMAN movie review

Rocketman is Taron Egerton's most phenomenal performance yet!

Portraying the fabulous life of one of the greatest musical acts of all time, Elton John, Rocketman left me smiling and empathizing with the rock and roll legend. Taron will captivate the audience with his strong vocal power and acting versatility that will make you forget his stints as Eggsy in his other movies and Rocketman will mark him as one of the new young actors to date.

You won't be disappointed going out of the cinema without knowing the stories behind Elton John's greatest hits, his eccentric stage presence and costumes. In fact, it was full extravagance seeing this biopic. He teaches us that it's okay to be extraordinary and different. The movie also teaches us that it money and fame can't change who we are and we have to keep grounded and accept and realize ourselves.

Although they might have missed out some accounts which I am familiar with, like Lion King and etc, Elton John's story will be definitely remembered. This shows the full height of Elton John's life and the lowest of lows that makes it very beautiful. Watch Rocketman today!!!

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