REVIEW: “Liwanag sa Dilim” is a convoluted retelling of a known story

REVIEW: “Liwanag sa Dilim” is a convoluted retelling of a known story

Warning: This review contains spoilers about the plot of the show.

Following their previous success with APO Hiking Society’s music, 9 Works Theatrical ventures into another jukebox musical territory, this time featuring the songs of Rico Blanco. Similar to the APO musical, this is also directed by Robbie Guevara. There was much secrecy around the plot, but this writer argues that revealing that it is actually an adaptation of a classic Filipino story won’t spoil what actually transpires on stage.

This Liwanag sa Dilim is an adaptation of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere that’s also reminiscent of the recent television adaptation Maria Clara at Ibarra, with a character purportedly from present day somehow transplanted to the fictional past during the novel’s timeline.

This story follows Elesi (Anthony Rosaldo), a Gen Z man who is mourning the suspicious death of his father. He is handed an amulet of some kind which allows him to travel across time and space. With this newfound ability, Elesi embarks on a mission to uncover his past. This is how he ends up in the world of Noli which, if the story’s logic is to be followed, not fictional from his point of view, but historical past.

Transplanted to this new time, he seems to supplant the book character Elias. The story (by Guevara, Jonjon Martin, and Mio Infante) circumvents the novel by making Elesi (therefore Elias) the actual protagonist of the proceedings, with Ibarra (CJ Navato)–here called ‘Cris’–almost sidekick to him. Despite his important quest to find answers about his past, Elesi does spend a lot of time as conduit for Gen Z humor and cultural anachronisms to get easy laughs. What is most memorable outside of the show’s revelations later on, is how he spent ample time teaching 19th century characters modern slang and memes.  

Rico Blanco’s poetic songs often touch on themes of social commentary and patriotism just as much as love and longing. This makes them potentially a good fit for the show to deepen its engagement with the novel’s themes, yet the production’s complicated plot only overwhelms the songs themselves. They feel merely incidental rather than integral to the storytelling, as though any artist’s catalog might work just as well (or otherwise) to make a jukebox adaptation of Noli Me Tangere. 

Rather than providing an evocative soundtrack that enriches the source material, Blanco’s music is relegated almost forgettable as the audience tries to make sense of additions, changes, and logical anomalies in the narrative. While musical arrangement (Orlando Dela Cruz) and direction (Daniel Bartolome) do what they can to preserve that Rico Blanco sound, it is ultimately overshadowed by the show’s overcomplicated script.

Guevara’s production leans heavily on technical elements, particularly video backgrounds (GA Fallarme) that make the set feel quite dynamic and full. These backdrops prove to be one of the production’s stronger aspects, lending the show a sense of visual movement that the physical staging lacks. However, while the technology enhances the production’s spectacle, it cannot compensate for the script’s deficiencies.

Costume design mostly adheres to classic 19th-century Filipiniana, with deep blood-reds accentuating the clergy’s presence on stage. However, Elesi’s outfit—a peculiar fusion of contemporary and period-appropriate attire—feels jarring. His exposed neck tattoo, in particular, draws unnecessary attention, serving as an anachronistic distraction that underscores the production’s struggle to balance its dual timelines convincingly.

By and large, the cast delivers serviceable performances. Anthony Rosaldo gives a fair turn as Elesi, adequately fulfilling his role and working with the material he’s given. Nicole Omillo’s Maria Clara is similarly competent but does little to subvert or even reinforce traditional portrayals of the character, resulting in a rather forgettable performance.

CJ Navato as Crisostomo Ibarra makes a notable acting choice, embracing a period performance that even pronounces the correct Spanish. This take might be hit or miss as he’s the only cast member affecting a very specific period characterization. 

The standout performance here comes from Boo Gabunada as Padre Salvi. His transformation from a seemingly meek priest into a cunning, manipulative antagonist provides the most compelling character arc in the production. Channeling the likes of Shakespeare’s Iago, Gabunada delivers a compellingly slimy portrayal of the friar’s inner depravity. Even the background of his character that is teased (but remains a plot hole until the end) is perhaps the show’s only truly intriguing addition.

Instead of offering fresh insights into Rizal’s themes, the show gets bogged down in superficial Gen Z references and unnecessary plot complications. Elesi’s time-traveling conceit, while potentially interesting, ultimately serves as a gimmick.

Furthermore, the decision to end the musical on a cliffhanger, teasing that this is only the first half of a larger story, feels like a disservice to the audience. While it is true that Noli Me Tangere is part of a duology, the novel itself stands as a complete work. This adaptation, however, does not. Rather than crafting a satisfying standalone narrative, Liwanag sa Dilim leaves audiences with unresolved and confused plotlines, making the experience feel incomplete and even frustratingly confusing.

 

Tickets: PHP 2200 – 3900
Show Dates: March 7- April 13, 2024
Venue: Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati
Running Time: approx. 2 hour and 45 mins (w/ 15-min intermission)
Company: 9 Works Theatrical
Creatives: Robbie Guevara (story and director), Jonjon Martin (story and dramaturgy), Mio Infante (story and scenography), Orlando Dela Cruz (musical arrangements and orchestration), Lorenz Martinez (assistant director), Daniel Bartolome (musical director), PJ Rebullida (choreographer), Shakira Villa-Symes (lighting designer), Aji Manalo (sound engineer / designer), GA Fallarme (video designer), Dong Calingon (technical director)
Cast: Anthony Rosaldo, Khalil Ramos, CJ Navato, Vien King, Nicole Omillo, Alexa Ilacad, Rita Daniela, Neomi Gonzales, Arnel Carrion, Boo Gabunada, Jon Abella, Raul Montesa, Rica Laguardia, Lani Ligot, Jasper John Jimenez, Paji Arceo, Mark Tayag, Chez Cuenca, Fay Castro, Iya Villanueva, Derrick Gozos, Brianna Bunagan, Lucylle Tan, Denzel Chang, Elian Santos, Giani Sarita, Prince España, Clave Sun