It was a hot evening at the Doreen Black Box Theater in Areté, Ateneo De Manila University, and it wasn’t just because of the summer heat; it’s because of the passion and talent of Ateneo Blue Repertory as they closed the run of “Zsazsa Zaturnnah The Musical… ‘Yun Lang.”
Ateneo Blue Repertory's 'Zsazsa Zaturnnah The Musical… ‘Yun Lang'
As director Missy Maramara said, “musical theater is a different kind of beast,” and that’s what she and the organization birthed—a campy, high-spirited play that sheds light on the life of queer folks.
“Zsazsa Zaturnnah The Musical… ‘Yun Lang” is based on the graphic novel of Carlo Vergara, “Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah (The Spectacular Adventures of Zsazsa Zaturnnah).” The story centers on Ada, a gay salon owner in a rural barangay, who, by some force of the universe, was struck in the head with a huge melon-sized stone from space.
The extra-terrestrial object has the power to transform Ada into a superwoman just by swallowing it and shouting “Zaturnnah!” Soon enough, the adventures of Ada and Zaturnnah jumped from the pages of the comics to the stage in 2005 with Tanghalang Pilipino’s production featuring the works of musical director Vincent De Jesus.
In 2006, "Zsa Zsa Zaturnah" was adapted into the big screen with actors Rustom Padilla, Pops Fernandez, and Zsazsa Padilla giving life to its colorful characters.
Kim Molina as Zsazsa Zaturnnah and Phi Palmos as Ada (Photos by Bea Bernardez from Ateneo Blue Repertory/Facebook)
In Ateneo Blue Repertory’s 2023 production, the organization found its newest Zsazsa Zaturnnah in actress and comedian Kim Molina. Getting the titular role, much like being called to be a superhero, comes with great pressure. But Kim rose above all the challenges as the generation’s red-head superwoman with her electrifying vocal prowess, spectacular comedic timing, and, of course, by showing us the heart of Zaturnnah.
Her alter ego, Ada, was equally charming. The way Phi Palmos played with Ada’s push-pull demeanor, understated confidence, and slight snobbishness was a delight to see onstage.
One of the highlights of the play’s first act was “Multo Ng Nakaraan.” Unlike the previous scenes—Ada becoming Zaturnnah and chaos brought by a giant frog—“Multo Ng Nakaraan” was one of the moments where the audience got to bond with Ada/Zaturnnah without the joyous cheers of the people. Kim set the tone for the scene as Phi’s Ada and her Zaturnnah become vulnerable. It was poignant and heartwrenching. “Multo Ng Nakaraan” perfectly depicted what many queer people find hard to face, something that even a meteorite from outer space cannot fix. And when that happened, many LGBTQIA+ individuals turn to their chosen family. In Ada and Zaturnnah’s case, that family is composed of her trusted sidekick and best friend Didi and landlady Aling Britney.
Kyla Rivera-Soong as Aling Britney and Almond Bolante as Didi (Photos by Bea Bernardez and Jhanine Caolie from Ateneo Blue Repertory/Facebook)
Almond Bolante’s portrayal of Didi was bright, hilarious, and full of heart. The way he belted out his swan song gave everyone all the feels that people can’t help but be in awe, applaud, and join him in spirit as he yelled “Mabuhay ang mga bakla!” On the other hand, the strength of Kyla Rivera-Soong’s Aling Britney rested on her kindness and simple gestures, like a voice of guidance to Ada’s confused heart.
Adding flair to the production were Kakki Teodoro’s Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux and her bevy of Amazonistas. One can’t help but fall in love with the intergalactic diva because of her snarky persona and funny responses to Zaturrnah. Kakki as the antagonist commanded the stage with such a powerful presence and delivered every line with sass and clarity. Her lady minions, however, weren’t just vocal backups. They were stars in their own right with their musical and comedic rapport.
Kakki Teodoro as Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux and Juan Carlos Gallano as Dodong (Photos by Jhanine Caolie from Ateneo Blue Repertory/Facebook)
As a newcomer in the local theater scene, Juan Carlos Gallano proved that he has what it takes to be a leading man with his performance as Dodong. While his charm and stage appeal were good enough to swoon the audience, it was his ability to make connections with his co-actors and belt out songs with conviction that makes him a true artist. His Dodong redefined what masculinity means today with a sense of gentleness in his acting.
If there’s one lesson audiences, queer or cisgender, can learn from the story of Ada and Zsazsa Zaturnnah is that anyone can be a hero, even a struggling gay hairstylist. Toward the end of the musical, viewers got to see Zaturnnah contemplating about being the people’s savior saying, “Hindi ko ito pinili, hindi ko hiniling.” And much like in our lives, we are put in situations we didn’t choose and face battles with challenges that are far greater than what we can take. But the musical play urged us to find our inner Zaturnnah, make a stand, rescue ourselves, and save others along the way. As the “Zsazsa Zaturnnah The Musical… ‘Yun Lang” closed its curtains, we could just hope that one day, the pink magic rock would cross our sky again so we see Zaturnnah and Ada back on the stage to inspire us to unleash the superhero in all of us.
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