Sam Concepcion says it's not easy to play God in NOAH the musical

Last night, September 3, nagkaroon ng press preview ang musical play na N.O.A.H. (No Ordinary Aquatic Habitat) sa Meralco Theater. Ang theater production na ito ay produced ng Trumpets.

Maituturing na isa itong matagumpay na gabi, despite the fact na ang gumaganap na Mrs. Noah na si Sheila Francisco ay nagsakit at nawalan ng boses. Ang talent manager na si Carlo Orosa ang gumanap bilang Noah samantalang ang mga Sison brothers na sina Marek, Enzo at Ruiz ang gumanap bilang mga anak ng Biblical character na ito.

Ang script, songs, production design, costumes and lighting are almost perfectly done kaya naman masayang-masaya rin si Sam Concepcion nang makausap namin after their live performance last night.

Ito pala ang unang pagkakataon ni Sam na magperform live in front of a theater audience.

Aniya, "It's my first performance with an audience. May alternate po ako rito. Si Fred Lo and he's one of the choruses po kanina."

A week after raw na mag-rehearsal ang buong team ng Trumpets saka pa lang siya pumasok para mag-rehearse, so, less than two months din daw ang naging training niya as The God and Narrator.

Malaking bagay rin daw na noong 11 years old siya, nakasama siya sa isang play na puppet nga lang ang mga gumanap and with Gary Valenciano as the voice of Noah kaya kahit paano, familiar na rin daw siya sa mga sasabihin niya.

"'Yun nga po, if you don't know, this production N.O.A.H. was actually called before as Mr. Noah's Big Boat. And it was the theater play with puppet. I was the voice of the little kid then, ‘yung youngest ni Noah and Mr. Noah was Gary Valenciano. And Mrs. Noah was Bituin Escalante.

"It's the same story, pero, iniba na po siyang talaga for big theater play and actual people to play. May idea na po ako, pero, with the narrator and God, may idea na rin po ako and when I was in the process of learning the character, I honestly thought, it's not easy to be God! Mahirap po talaga to be gentle and firm and to nurture at yourself at the same time and very caring and loving.

"No man could do it," natatawang sabi niya.

In fairness to Sam, surprisingly ay nagampanan niya ng mahusay ang kanyang character bilang God kahit sabihin pa na ang directly kapalitan niya ng linya ay isang actor much older than him—his very own manager, Carlo Orosa.

"It's something new for the audience to see that you know, God can relate to you. It can be cool. So, ‘yun..."

He was working with his manager, Carlo who was also good on his role as Noah. How was it?

"Actually, it's been years since we last worked together. The last one po was in 2002, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. You know, I almost forgot na nga how it is to be with Tito Carlo on stage, but it's a pleasant experience having Tito Carlo on stage.

"He was very funny and he always come up with new things."

Ilang musical play na rin ang nagawa ni Sam, especially for Trumpets. His last major play was High School Musical. At kahit sabihing nakikilala na rin naman siya both television and movies, tila ang genre na ito ang isa sa binabalik-balikan pa rin niya?

"Yes, well, given the fact that this is where I really started, dapat we look back to where we started and you know, we always come back to that. It's a great feeling that you always go back home."

Kung tutuusin, at Sam's age now, marami na rin siyang achievement na nagagawa--aside from the fact na continues pa rin siya sa kanyang pag-aaral. Pero may pagkakataon na tila nao-overlook ang mga achievements niya dhil nakikukumpara siya sa iba, lalo na dahil siya ang nanalo dati sa Little Big Star.

Pero magkaganunman, he has nothing but contentment naman daw.

"Of course, of course...God has blessed me po talaga with so much more than I even could imagine or ask for. Just the feeling what you we're able to do and what you enjoy doing and being able to share it with people. Nakikita mo that you enjoy it as well. It's very fulfilling for me.

"For anyone naman po, e. You just learn how to count your blessing in everyway. And you'll be surprise to see na ang dami pala."

"We're already on the nitty-gritty part of editing. Kasi po, we're doing a different concept. Lahat po ng songs may music video. Kapag pinagsama-sama n'yo po ang lahat ng video, it's actually a short movie.

"Independently, merong sari-sariling video ‘yung songs but just like Noah, meron siyang big picture kapag pinagsama-sama," natawa niyang sabi.

So far, his last appearance on television was on the ABS-CBN show I Love Betty La Fea, pero okay lang daw sa kanya dahil nakakapag-concentrate siya sa musical nila which will run from September 4 to September 27 at Meralco Theater.

"Mahirap din po kasi ang acting and singing at the same time. Mahirap din pong kumanta kapag puyat. So, we'll see po. Kasi, I'd like to explore in my musicality as an artist. Gusto ko po kasi na mag-grown pa as an artist. Someday also to be able to make songs not just for me but also for other people."

Mapapanood ang N.O.A.H. (No Ordinary Aquatic Habitat) sa Meralco Theater, Ortigas tuwing Biyernes, Sabado at Linggo hanggang September 27, 2009. Tickets are available at Ticketworld (Tel. No. 891-9999).