Dirty Old Musical Promises Clean, Wholesome Fun
Let’s hear it for the boys.
Better yet, let’s hear it for the men!
After all, who said only women have issues? Despite having been touted as the stronger sex, most guys continue to grapple with their own share of concerns, however real or imagined, especially more so with the onset of the years.
This is the premise of Spotlight Artists Centre’s latest production, Dirty Old Musical, headlined by five of the country’s top-caliber stage performers including John Arcilla, Nonie Buencamino, Robert Seña, Michael Williams, and Ricky Davao.
L-R: Fred Lo, Ricky Davao, Nonie Buencamino, Kitkat, Robert Seña, Michael Williams, Ima Castro, John Arcilla
Playfully naughty and irreverent, the musical takes a peek into the struggles of five men dealing with middle age crisis and all its telltale signs.
Think Full Monty without the skin. Think Vagina Monologues, but with more balls.
D.O.M. revolves around The Bench Boys, an all-male ’80’s group which disbanded due to personal issues. After several decades, the long-lost comrades consider the prospect of a musical reunion as their last-ditch effort to raise funds for an ailing member. But do they still have the magic and charisma from their long-forgotten youth?
Touted as Spotlight Artists’ first original Filipino musical, Dirty Old Musical is based on a libretto written by Rody Vera, under the direction of Dexter Martinez Santos, with Myke Salomon as musical director.
the cast with musical director Myke Salomon and director Dexter Santos
The musical soundtrack promises to be a nostalgic romp down memory lane as these are familiar, iconic OPM hits from the ’80’s, including Kastilyong Buhangin, Mag Exercise Tayo Tuwing Umaga, Nais Ko, Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, Babae, Legs, Ang Himig Natin, Sana, Pag Tumatagal Lalong Tumitibay, Pasumpa-sumpa Ka Pa, Kung Liligaya Ka, Ayoko na Sa’yo, Balatkayo, and Farewell.
Gary Granada also contributed two new OPM songs, while Myke Salomon and Robert Seña collaborated on the third original.
Spotlight’s initial foray into musical production started off with their remakes of Magsimula Ka and Katy. With the success of their previous productions, Spotlight’s top heads Isay Alvarez and Robert Seña welcomed the challenge of coming up with something fresh and innovative.
Isay recounts, “I was already convinced that the birth pangs are already worth it after the first reading and music rehearsal. We first came up with characters then thought of actors to do them. The show has been postponed twice because of the actors’ schedules, until we finally found a common schedule for everyone.
And just how bawdy or risque will Dirty Old Musical be?
Isay clarifies, “The only thing they’ll be baring is sheer talent! It will definitely talk about issues of the geriatric kind- sicknesses, waning sex life, erectile dysfunction, relationships, and the like.”
Rounding up the cast are Ima Castro, Kitkat, Fred Lo, and a trio of triple threat actors.
Dirty Old Musical opens on September 1 at the Music Museum and will have eight shows, with strong prospects for a rerun before the end of the year.
For tickets, call Spotlight Artists Centre (776-4487/ 512-9567/ 0919-911-4444); Ticketworld (891-9999); Music Museum (721-0635).
