There’s no denying that the music of Eraserheads can give you goose bumps and instantly take you back to that fuss-free decade where everything was less complicated. No social media yet, no Spotify, and hit songs can only be listened to via radio or cassette tapes. Ah the good ol’ days!
Listen to Eheads’ “Ang Huling El Bimbo” and you’d either get that ‘90s nostalgia, or get a glimpse of that remarkable era on the Philippine music scene.
Now, have you ever wondered how would these Eheads’ hit songs be translated live, on stage, in a musical play?
You’re in luck because Resorts World Manila’s Full House Theater Company (FHTC) and Ultimate Shows Inc. is poised to capture that 1990s music vibe in its 9th theater production Ang Huling El Bimbo featuring of course the legendary music of Eraserheads.
Opening on July 20, the musical play will showcase the band’s hits songs in a totally new and unique light, as opposed to presenting a mere compilation of the band’s greatest hits in a play.
“What’s exciting about this is it is a totally new musical. It’s alive, and it’s so Pinoy. We saturate all the possibilities in every rehearsal so we can share a new narrative based on Eraserheads’ iconic songs with a plot driven by three-dimensional characters.
“The best part is it’s an original work that hopefully may resonate to our personal dreams. WE are not just slaves of the lyricsm but rather we are telling a story most and foremost, translating the music on stage live, creating new contexts based on the lyrics and changing the dynamics of it,” said director Dexter Santos.
Santos shared how he has long been dreaming of directing an Eraserheads musical, from way back 2005 when he was teaching at the University of the Philippines.
“It’s been my lifelong dream to direct Eraserheads the musical, that the final exam of my class was a one-hour movement piece based on the music of Eraserheads. Eraserheads members Ely Buendia, Raymund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro really wrote songs that resonate to us and immortalize our everyday lives. I am happy that my dream is finally happening,” said Dexter.
“We are all familiar with ‘that girl’. The girl who resembles Paraluman, that girl na naging taga-hugas ng pinggan sa Ermita, and supposedly, nasagasaan sa isang madilim na eskinita. How do we go there? What’s going happen? That’s what you you’d have to find out,” he said.
The musical tells the story of three friends who have drifted apart in adulthood until fate reunites them to confront their haunted past. Headlining the musical are Gian Magdangal, Jon Santos, OJ Mariano, Reb Atadero, Topper Fabregas, Boo Gabunada, Sheila Francisco and Tanya Manalang.
Ang Huling El Bimbo: The Musical is the brainchild of producers Christine and Mark Manalang, who shared that they got in touch with the song publishers of Eraserheads, sending them a copy of script.
Writer Dingdong Novenario and musical director Myke Salomon also stated that the story of the musical tackles social issues such as economic hardships and gender inequality, but mostly about friendship and love and reconnecting to your friends in person, and not just through the computer. The musical is expected to unveil live interpretations of at least 35 to 40 Eheads songs in the production.
Tickets to Ang Huling El Bimbo are now available at the RWM Box Office and TicketWorld outlets. Visit www.rwmanila.com or download the RWM Mobile App for more updates.
