Sunday, August 21, 2011

The Surprising "Little Shop of Horrors"

12:23:00 AM 0 Comments
A few days ago, I was invited to watch Ateneo Blue Repertory’s “Little Shop of Horrors.” The only thing I know from this play is that it is directed by Toff de Venecia who is a good friend and has always been a wonderful partner of the company I work for. Since Toff is a friend and I’m free to watch the show, I have decided to give my support to go to Ateneo De Manila University - a long time rival of my university whose grounds I’ve been to less than my hands could count so I have to ask a favor from my very loving fiancĂ© to drive me there.




The director: Toff De Venecia

Given that I’m not familiar with the place, when we reached the university grounds, we asked a security guard standing outside Gonzaga Building where the Fine Arts Theater in Gonzaga Building is. Surprisingly, the security guard pointed us to another direction where the theater is supposed to be although it is written on the invite which I’ve received that the theater is inside Gonzaga Building. Because my fiancĂ© and I believed the invitation more, we have parked opposite Gonzaga Building and went inside it to check if the theater is really there. As we go up on the 3rd floor, the theater is there! I think the guard smelled that I am an alumna of their rival university so he wanted to drive me away but he failed. Hahaha! It’s good that I followed my senses.



Darrell Uy, Maronne Cruz and Luis Marcelo

While waiting for the show to start, there were students welcoming us. I was prepping myself that this is a student’s production so I must not set my standards really high. Going in the theater, I noticed that the theater is quite small, the set is quite simple and they had plastic chairs so it made me feel that this is really a student’s production.



Gelo Lantaco

When the play started, a trio of girls started to sing. The trio is composed of Crystal (played by Roxci de Leon), Ronette (played by Cassie Manalastas who by the way can talk like an African-American) and Chiffon (played by Abi Sulit). My mouth almost fell open with their voices! They had the most beautiful mixture of voices any student music group would want to have!



Abi Sulit, Roxci de Leon and Cassie Manalastas




Abi Sulit and Roxci de Leon

As the series of events go on, each character started to appear with Mushnik (played by Darrell Uy) coming out first. Then followed the careless, nerdy, good boy but miserable Seymour Krelborn (played by Luis Marcelo) stumbling out.



Darrell Uy




Luis Marcelo

Later on enters Seymour’s colleague and the love of his life, Audrey (played by Maronne Cruz).



Maronne Cruz

We learned from the dialogues that Audrey has a boyfriend named Orin (played by Gelo Lantaco), who will later on come in the picture, has a very crazy but infectious laughter. Gelo will also play other roles as well with different accents in a snap.



Gelo Lantaco

As the challenges were presented by Mushnik, Seymour introduced to everyone his new found solution, Audrey Two (played by Tina Ramos). Audrey Two is a weird looking plant with an attitude that will shoot Seymour to fame but also create troubles for him.



Tina Ramos with Luis Marcelo

As the show went on, I have totally forgotten that these actors and actresses are college students. They sang and hit the high or low notes perfectly. Their voices blended harmoniously that one will feel happy or sad as the story went on.



Maronne Cruz with the trio at the back

By the end of the show, I have nothing but praises for all these actors and actresses. I told them that they should try acting professionally and try to audition for roles outside of school. I really think that they can make it out there. I also asked when they started rehearsing for their roles since they really look very used to their roles. They answered that they started end of May and have ever since practiced every night for the show. No wonder they’re so good because they were really trained well by Toff!



Gelo Lantaco and Tina Ramos

By the way, my fiancé thought that they were professional actors and actresses until the press con after the show started. He was so surprised that these are college students acting! Good job, kids!



The trio

Aside from the casts, the lighting effects are really good! The lighting directors Jie Dela Paz and Anj Florendo did a fantastic job!



Luis Marcelo with Gelo Lantaco

An understudy of Audrey, Carmela Tan, will be on some shows. The other members of the artistic team are Arya Herrera as Assistant Director, Ejay Yatco as Artistic Director, Miyo Sta. Maria in charge of lighting design, Monica Sebial for set design, Gabi Perez and Maronne Cruz for costume styling, and Nina de Leon together with Nikki Surtida for choreography.



The Artistic Director, Ejay Yatco, explains the theme of their shows this season which is man against himself

The production team is led by Company Manager Tomik Tendero, Abbey Manliclic as Production Manager, Dupsy Rillo as Head Technical Director, Bien Marasigan as Props Head, Georgia Uy as Head Stage Manager, Chiz Jardin, Antoinette Altomonte and Angela Escudero as Stage Managers, Mica Fajardo as FOH Head, Aldrich Alcantara as Marketing Head, Sam Lim as Promo Head, Dar Uy and Anna Gabriel as Finance Representatives.



The casts with Toff De Venecia

“Little Shop of Horrors” will run until August 27, 2011 at the Fine Arts Theater, 3rd Floor, Gonzaga Building, Loyola Schools, Ateneo De Manila University. Shows are on Wednesdays to Saturdays at 7:30pm. There are matinees on Saturdays at 2pm. For tickets, contact Mica Fajardo at 09178908795. I assure you that going to ADMU and watching the show will be so worth your time!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Banapple is a Treat

3:00:00 AM 4 Comments
It was last year when I first heard of Banapple from "QC Na Year 3 Awards Night" at the Imperial Palace Suites. Banapple was awarded for being a very successful restaurant business that have started in Quezon City. The restaurant first opened its doors at 225 Katipunan Avenue, Q.C. (tel no. 439-2675) which became a hugh success. The place is always filled up with parents and students from the schools and universities nearby. It opened another branch in 2nd level Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato, Q.C. (tel no. 413-2675). Since the first branch of restaurant in Katipunan is always full, it opened another branch opposite it at 206 Katipunan Avenue, Blue Ridge, Q.C. (tel no. 438-2675) which is also always full despite having two branches on the same street opposite each other! Because of its success, Banapple branched out to other areas opening in Ayala Triangle Gardens (tel no. 756-2675) last December 2010 and in Connecticut St., Greenhills (tel no. 477-2675) last February 2011. Despite its fast growth and award-winning success, it is only recently that I've tried this place to learn what the fuzz is about.


Banapple logo on their placemats

It was in the morning when I went to their Greenhills branch. The place is very cozy with the lively colors of red, yellow and green which makes it feel like a cool summer hideout no matter what season it is. There are bookshelves lined up on their walls welcoming visitors to sit, relax, hangout and read a book or two while waiting for their companions or just simply enjoying the day.


Banapple (Greenhills branch) inside and out

Their tables are as colorful as the surroundings that makes one just want to stay and stare at their table top. I think the round edges of the tables are made up of marbles or holen in Filipino.
Banapple's table tops with their logo and a flower. Notice the green, red and yellow colors?
I absolutely love their red lampshades which ignites my imagination that they look like little apples floating around.


Banapple lampshade

Looking at the menu, the first thing I ordered is their Banapple Smoothie. The smoothie tasted more banana than apple with lots of milk. I think that apple in it made the mixture less thick and less creamy than the regular banana smoothie which can been seen on its top. But the apple made the smoothie smoother, easier to sip and swallow.


Banapple Smoothie

One of my companions ordered a Fudgy Banana Smoothie which has chocolate syrup stripes and very thick on top as compared to my Banapple Smoothie.


Fudgy Banana Smoothie

For appetizer, we had Super Caesar Salad, Banapple’s House Salad and Grandma’s Corn Chowder.

The Super Caesar Salad, true to its name is quite big for one person. The dressing is quite creamy and sweet with a little salty crunch from the bacon bits playing on one’s taste buds. There’s a tickling sweet after taste brought by the pecan praline bits.


Super Caesar Salad

The Banapple’s House Salad is a mixture of all the yummy greens one can think of like corn, cucumber, lettuce and bell pepper bits. It is mixed with crunchy sweetness of crumbled banana chips and honey peanuts that gives a bit on sweetness to the sour balsamic-caesar dressing. There’s a generous portion of shredded mozzarella cheese to mix in a little saltiness.


Banapple's House Salad

I did not have the Grandma’s Corn Chowder since I have other orders and I don't want to be too full. Of course, I still have to watch my figure out so that I can still eat more good food in the future. I just looked at my companions having their soup and observed. The soup is full of corn and potatoes. The mixture is thick and there’s a strong aroma of cream.


Grandma's Corn Chowder

For our entrees, we ordered their best-seller Hickory Smoked Barbecued Country Ribs as recommended by their waitress. We also ordered Breaded Fillet of Cream Dory with Honey Thyme Mustard Sauce. Then, we took their new offerings Banapple Beef and Sausage Stew and Bacon Fried Chicken Steaks with Milk’shroom Gravy.

The Hickory Smoked Barbecued Country Ribs has a very generous amount of sauce. The meat is very soft that it debones itself.


Hickory Smoked Barbecued Country Ribs
The Breaded Fillet of Cream Dory with Honey Thyme Mustard Sauce is crunchy, sweet and has a hint of lemon sourness.


Breaded Fillet of Cream Dory with Honey Thyme Mustard Sauce

The Banapple Beef and Sausage Stew smelled really good. The scent of soy sauce and beef mixed together is quite dominant. The beef is very soft.


Banapple Beef and Sausage Stew
The Bacon Fried Chicken Steaks with Milk’shroom Gravy does not have a generous amount of sauce but it’s just perfect to retain the crispiness of the chicken. Unlike regular gravy, their gravy has a creamy milk taste which complements the salty bacon and chicken.


Bacon Fried Chicken Steaks with Milk'shroom Gravy

All the entrees served came with garlic rice which has a huge amount of toasted garlic that gave it a crunch of garlic goodness and paired with either corn relish or glazed butter carrots.


Garlic Rice with crunchy garlic bits good for garlic lovers like me!

For dessert, there’s so many cakes to choose from that can make one go crazy because they all look so delicious!
Cakes of Banapple Greenhills
To be able to review this restaurant perfectly, we got their best-sellers Banoffee Pie and Apple Caramel Crumble Pie.

I love their Banoffee Pie! It’s filled with chocolate shavings that I can’t help myself to pick them up with my fingers and eat it right away! The cream was not very sweet so it’s a good match with the caramel inside. The bananas are not too sweet and are still quite firm so it’s easy to pick it up with a fork, mix it with a little bit of cream and caramel then some of its salty crust before putting it all inside the mouth. It’s so yummy that getting one bite will lead to more!


Banoffee Pie

The Apple Caramel Crumble Pie is good for those who are not into very sweet dessert. The apple filling is not so sweet so the caramel crumble on top is needed to give it some sweetness. It’s served hot so it’s good to be paired with coffee or maybe ice cream on top!


Apple Caramel Crumble Pie

Aside from all the lip-smacking dishes this restaurant offers, I noticed that the price of each dish doesn’t exceed P200! Lastly, Banapple also offers other baked goodies like muffins, cookies and breads which one can take home for snacks or breakfast on the next day. They also deliver so if you’re getting hungry because of this post, you better call the branch nearest you with the numbers I’ve given above! Now I know what the fuzz is, I do agree that Banapple is definitely a wonderful place to hangout and have a happy, decent meal. I can't wait to go back and bring my fiance and family with me!
Banapple menu

For more details about Banapple, visit their website or add Banapple on Facebook.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Sweet Charity Hits Manila

1:55:00 AM 0 Comments
9 Works Theatrical is currently showing one of Broadway's most sensational spectacle and critically-acclaimed dance comedy musical "Sweet Charity" at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Makati. It was originally directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse. Fosse also choreographed "Chicago" which was turned into a film on 2002 with Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere who starred in it.

The musical comes alive with the spirit of the 60's in a Manhattan night club. It is the story of Charity Hope Valentine, a very optimistic woman, who looks for the happily ever after type of love but always ends up with the wrong man. She is a bubbly dance hall dostess who has been used and dumped by a number of wrong man but she's not giving up to find the one. This year, coming back to the theater after "Legally Blonde," to play as Charity is Nikki Gil.

Nikki Gil with Kris Lawrence

Oscar Lindquist, the claustrophobic guy who Charity met in the elevator, is played by Kris Lawrence. Charity hopes that he will give the love that she has been longing for. This will be the first time that Kris is going to act on theater. According to some friends who have already watched the show, be very surprised on what he can do!

Nickie, one of Charity's closest confidantes at the Fandango Ballroom is played by Shiela Valderrama-Martinez. She was Julia at last year's "The Wedding Singer."

Shiela Valderrama-Martinez


Ciara Sotto comes back to play as Helene after playing Mimi in "Rent" last February. Helene is another close confidante of Charity.

Ciara Sotto


Sheree Bautista, another Mimi in last February's "Rent," comes back to play as Carmen - one of Charity's co-dancers at the Fandango Ballroom.

Sheree Bautista


The ladies of "Sweet Charity" performs "Hey Big Spender"

Herman, the owner of Fandango Ballroom which means he is Charity's boss, is played by Miguel Faustmann. Miguel is one of the most well-respected actors in Philippine theater. He has been in Repertory Philippines for over 20 years. He was the actor in one of my favorite play, "Duets" and lately, I learned that he played as the king in Repertory Philippine's "The Emperor's New Clothes" which was the first play that I've watched back when I was in elementary.
OJ Mariano also comes back after February's "Rent" to play two roles as Vittorio Vidal and Daddy Johann Sebastian Brubeck.

OJ Mariano with the girls


Other casts includes Angela Padilla (who plays as Ursala March the girlfriend of Vittorio), Job Bautista (who played as Angel, my favorite character, in February's "Rent"), Anthony Tarrosa Ong (who played as one of the goddess in Atlantis Productions' "Xanadu" last year), Caisa Borromeo, Chinie Nepomuceno, Vinia Pamplona, Carmelle Ros, Topper Fabregas, Francis Matheu, Peter Alcedo and Chai Relucio.


Artistic and production team is of course led by the director of this show, Robbie Guevara, and Santi Santamaria, the Executive Producer.

Robbie Guevara

Santi Santamaria

Lorenz Martinez, who played as Robbie Hart's bestfriend in "The Wedding Singer", is the Assistant Director of the show. Other members of the artistic and production team includes Joseph Tolentino as Musical Director - Pit Orchestra, Sweet Plantado as Musical Director - Vocals, Mio Infante as Scenographer, Martin Esteva as Lighting Designer, Mio Infante and Hanna De los Reyes as Costume Stylists and Designers, Dale Amon as Graphic Designer, Roy Macam as Photographer, Anna Santamaria (Santi's wife and a cast of "Noli Me Tangere") as the Company Manager, Toff de Venecia as Marketing and PR Director, Toots Tolentino as PR Consultant, Jonjon Martin as PR Manager, Carlos Canlas as HR Manager, Sunshine Domine as Production Manager and Aries Alcayaga as the Stage Manager.

Toots Tolentino

Toff De Venecia

"Sweet Charity" will be on stage until August 28, 2011. For ticket reservations, please log on to TicketWorld. For inquiries, contact 9 Works Theatrical or call (+632) 586.7105 or (+632) 557.5860.


Special thanks to Dusit Thani Manila for accommodating 9 Works Theatrical for the delicious lunch during the press conference last June.

The lunch menu and dessert of Dusit Thani Manila

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