A few days before the fourth season run of Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) attended the dress rehearsal of Tanghalang Pilipino to see for ourselves the rigorous preparations undertaken by the cast members and technical crew of this phenomenal play.
Last January 17, Eula Valdes shared funny stories about her stint as the red-haired heroine Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah. "May part kasi diyan after Act 2 na wala pa ako so pumunta ako dito [sa canteen]—natulog muna ako. Hinanap nila ako kasi ako na. [chuckles] Ginising nila ako at sabi ko, ‘Di pa pala tapos!'"
She recalled another incident when she fell asleep but this time, it was onstage! "Meron din, yung naka encounter ko na yung mga Amazonistas tapos dapat ibabato nila ako sa stage. Nakatulog rin ako onstage. Pino-poke ako nina Wilma Doesnt ng mga weapons nila."
Eula even made a snoring sound to signify that she really fell asleep onstage. "Hindi pa rin ako tumatayo at hindi rin ako gumagalaw. Kaya sabi nila, ‘Shit, tulog siya.' [chuckles] Twice nangyari na nakatulog ako onstage."
"Yun yung mga na-experience ko dito. Tiring talaga," ends Eula.
The play's director, Chris Millado, attests to the professionalism of Eula by narrating this anecdote: "Si Eula during our first run, nerbiyos na nerbiyos siya. She made sure that she didn't miss any rehearsals. So ang dami niyang hindi napuntahan na shoots niya saka tapings."
"During our second run, sa kalagitnaan ng show, she received a phone call. Emergency. She answered it, then humahagulgol siya, then bumalik siya sa stage. At the end, nagmamadali siya, nung tinanong namin kung anong nangyari sabi niya yung anak niya dinala sa emergency [room]. Dinala sa ospital pero she didn't stop in the middle of the show. Continue pa rin siya...tumatawa kunyari pero takot na takot na raw siya. Talagang professional."
"Umiiyak ka na [inside] pero yung audience tawa pa ng tawa."
MOTHER LILY IS A BIG FAN. Chris also reveals that Mother Lily Monteverde, the matriarch of Regal Entertainment, watched this production of Tanghalang Pilipino twice in preparation for the movie version.
"Sina Mother Lily came over and watched the show twice. Si Mother Lily and Joel Lamangan yung nanguna then later on, dinala ni Mother Lily yung buong cast para mapanood.
"Kinausap niya ako, sabi niya sa akin, gusto rin niyang gawing musical yung Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah [Ze Moveeh]. Apparently, before they saw the musical, straight lang siya na comedy—walang music. So when they saw the musical, she was convinced na gawin na lang din na musical. She really enjoyed it. She really had a grand time."
Direk Chris reveals that the main characters in the movie version—Zsa Zsa Padilla, Rustom Padilla, Pops Fernandez, and Chokoleit—watched the musical play before performing for the big screen.
He recalls: "Sabi nga ni Zsa Zsa, ‘Oh my God! Kakayanin ko ba yun?' after makita niya yung mga fight scenes. Even Joel told the actors, ‘This is a tough act to follow.' Parang ang hirap daw abutin yung standard ng show."
When informed about the decision of Regal Entertainment to cut the kissing scene between Ada (Rustom) and Dodong (Alfred Vargas) in the movie version, Chris expressed his shock before explaining, "Sa theater kasi, wala kaming ganun—GP [General Patronage]—so I guess mas mahirap talaga yung kalagayan nila. Wala kaming ratings e."
Click MORE PHOTOS to take a sneak peek behind Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal.
Performances:
Jan 27, 2007 3:00 PM; 8:00 PM
Jan 28, 2007 3:00 PM; 8:00 PM
Venue: Tanghalang Huseng Batute, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard
For inquiries, call 832-3661 or 832-1125 locals 1620/1621.