Looking back at our previous BR Insider articles, we can’t help but think of the upcoming activities we’ll be doing for the rest of the year. Dahil kahit nasa kalahati pa lang tayo ng 2024, busog na busog na kami sa mga ganap. Lalo na’t we’re still feeling high from our recent trip to the magical world of Parokya! And what’s the best way to keep the momentum high? – edi sundan pa ng isang musical! So, this month, we revisited one of the most iconic love stories of our lifetime – the one where Popoy and Basha learned how to take risks, seek growth, and give second chances to those who deserve it.
Langyang pag-ibig ‘yan… mabenta pa rin?
Bilang Pinoy, parte na talaga ng culture natin ang mahumaling sa romance (or breakup?) movies na talagang tatagos sa puso ang sakit. ‘Yung tipong halos mag-relapse ka na sa kinauupuan mo dahil dalang-dala ka sa eksena. Samahan mo pa ng soundtrack na paulit-ulit magpapaalala sa’yo ng nakaraan… oops! Sorry. ✌️ Pero totoo naman ‘di ba? Napakadaling maka-relate kapag alam mong nangyayari talaga sa totoong buhay ang napapanood mo.
And this is what One More Chance is all about. This is the reason kung bakit tumatak sa atin ang three-month rule kasama pa ang mga linyang, “Sana ako pa rin… ako na lang… ako na lang ulit.” That’s why when the musical was first announced, the netizens had mixed feelings about it. Because for a classic movie like this, it would be a challenge for the production house to meet the expectations of the local audience. Kasi nga naman, paano mo nga ba itatahi ang mga kanta ng Ben&Ben sa kwento kung for the longest time, napapakanta ka ng “I’ll Never Go” ni Erik Santos habang nagre-rewatch nito? Pero kahit na maraming questions ang Popoy and Basha shippers tungkol sa production nito, the citizens of Brand Republic welcomed this concept with an open mind and anticipation. That’s because our goal here is to be entertained and see how two different concepts come together to build a new perspective on this timeless piece.
Bigyan na natin ng chance!
(Warning: spoilers ahead!)
Ano-ano nga ba ang mga sign na worth it naman palang magbigay ng second chance? Keep scrolling to find out what Team BR has to say about the show:
“My fave part of the show was when Popoy was grieving over his breakup with Basha… Plus si Anj na bigay na bigay ang pagkanta hanggang sa [yung buong] bar was invested sa kanila. Parang pati ako nasa bar kasi intimate yung [theater].”
“My favorite part of the show would be the production design as a whole. In every act, they were able to utilize a simple set and turn it into a spectacle. My eyes could not stop following the ensemble’s choreography.”
On the other hand, the setlist tugged the hearts of many – stating Chinno’s heartbreak as a remarkable storyline from the play.
“Yung part na [pasuko] na ni Chinno. May times talaga na we ask ourselves kung kakayanin ba talaga natin and [coming close to] giving up. Not knowing there people around us, friends, family, etc who will always support us whatever the challenges sa buhay might be.”
“Another highlight for me is Chinno’s hospital scene and Popoy was singing ‘Leaves’ for him. It was one of my comfort songs when I went through a dark time in my life – when I also wanted to give up. It felt like I was being lulled.”
“‘Yung nasa hospital si Chino, ang linis ng boses ni Sam Conception dun. Parang, bro, chill naman sa pagkanta. Leave some talent for the rest of us. Chariz. Probably not the part of the show na like “part of the story.” more like it was just that linis ng boses that hooked me.”
🎶 Sana ‘di magbago ang pagtingin
Now, here’s the real deal. Are you team movie or team musical? Because for BR, I guess we only have one answer here!
“Both have their own style and depiction sa story. For me I have no preference naman if one is better than the other. I enjoyed both [dahil] of course, classic and timeless yung movie. While the musical tends to make it light-hearted and engaging.”
“To be honest, I already forgot the movie and the musical made me cry so I guess it’s safe to say that the musical resonated with me better. I think it has a higher chance of resonating with wider groups of audiences because it wasn’t entirely focused on the love story.”
“I would normally say nothing beats the original movie but the musical version of One More Chance was able to expand the story not just about Popoy and Basha, but also Thursday barkada’s storyline. Plus, they were also able to show a more vulnerable side of Trisha.”
We all need a Basha in our ahensya life
Communication! ‘Yan ang #1 rule sa ahensya. Matutong mag-salita at makinig. 😉
“For relationships, communicate, listen, and understand. Without them, masisira talaga yung pinagsamahan. Be patient, sa sarili and sa mga tao sa paligid mo. It’s a must para maging better lahat but siyempre, if may ‘di okay, sabihin. Similar to dealing with clients. Dapat alam mo kailan at paano magpapakumbaba sa kanila. Kahit na minsan alam mong sila yung mali. Pero siyempre dapat ginawa mo best mo na makipag-communicate, makinig, at umintindi.”
“I’d like to focus my takeaway towards sa production ng play. How seamless, smooth, and flawless per scene ng mga actors, staff, audio, lighting and kita na may teamwork. The production worked really hard to make the play successful and impactful. Therefore, if I want to have a successful project and execution, I would also need like-minded and passionate individuals who strive for the same goal. Teamwork, cooperation, and successful communication are the key.”
“Effective advertising makes its audience feel – may it be a sense of urgency to purchase the product, laughter to puns, or crying because of a tearjerker testimonial. Just like Buruguduystunstugudunstuy, One More Chance: The Musical has truths and insights people in the advertising industry can use to humanize their ads and better communicate and empathize with their market.”
Hanggang kathang isip na lang ba?
Overall, malaking factor din talaga ang napiling setlist para sa musical. It’s surprising how the songs and scenes fit each other like a puzzle piece. Laging may perfect theme song sa bawat emosyon – as if these songs were actually composed for the story. And with the insights from above, the production has surely met its goal of giving the audience a fresh take on a story we once loved, while incorporating modern-day elements to make it more relevant. At kahit na limited ang galaw sa teatro, nabigyan pa rin ng highlight ang subplots without streering away from the original flow.
Kaya ‘wag matakot na bigyan ng sariling spin ang classics. Nostalgia and familiarity can definitely catch the attention of your audience. ‘Yan ang bebenta sa madla. But still, don’t forget to bring something new to the table because even the slightest change can make a difference. As for One More Chance: The Musical, they took a bold risk by merging two crowd favorites from different times and it was worth it despite the high expectations from the audience. And this is exactly what advertising pushes us to do – bigyan ng buhay ang mga minsang naging kathang isip lang. Make the impossible possible!
Super ganda ng musical na ito!