Care Divas are back with more laughs, new faces
By Camille Anne M. Arcilla
THE DIVAS are back in Tel Aviv — or on the PETA stage, rather — to bring more laughs and to introduce fresh new faces for another run after six years.
After receiving rave reviews back in 2011 (in a production done in collaboration with Repertory Philippines), the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) kicks off its 50th anniversary with 50 performances of its hit original musical, Care Divas.
Care Divas tells a bittersweet story (written by Liza Magtoto) about five Filipino caregivers in Israel who transforms into glamorous drag queens at night. At the press preview, the audience was brought back to Tel Aviv, only this time with a bit more pizazz.
Director Maribel Legarda said that with the help of set designer Leo Abaya, there were able to build a stage inspired by the Gaza Wall. The production uses a great deal of awesome lights and effects.
“The journey of an original play does not stop in the first few runs,” Ms. Legarda said in a short press conference after the show. “We decided to add a lot of projections that we did not have before.”
Lyricist, composer, and musical director Vincent de Jesus (who also plays the role of Shai) said he added one more song to the musical and made minor changes on the some of the old ones. Ms. Legarda, meanwhile, hinted that an official soundtrack of Care Divas might be released soon.
Besides a fancier production, the cast’s comedy was funnier this time around — probably because of the bond the actors have developed since its first staging. Old-timer Ricci Chan, who plays the deported drag superstar Kayla, said that even after a long time of not doing the show, everyone from the original cast is “having a good time.”
Joining Mr. Chan is theater veteran Melvin Lee, reprising his role as loving martyr Chelsea who falls in love with Pakistani illegal immigrant Faraj, played by Myke Salomon. Mr. Lee plays his heroine character effortlessly, which proves he certainly deserved the Gawad Buhay! Award for Outstanding Male Performance for Care Divas in 2011.
Mr. Salomon’s Faraj, on the other hand, ha such perfect chemistry with Chelsea that one would think gender would not be a hindrance to the budding romance.
Completing the group are Buddy Caramat as Jonee and Dudz Terana as Thalia, who gave outstanding portrayals of struggling overseas workers by day and fabulous gay entertainers at night. Their exchange of punch lines, throwing of adlibs, their comic timing, and R-rated jokes sliding in between, were a hit with the audience.
SHARING THE ‘KORONA’
New additions to the cast are Red Concepcion (Chelsea), Ron Alfonso (Shai), Gio Gahol (Kayla), Thou Reyes (Jonee), Jason Barcial (Thalia), and Jef Flores (Faraj/David/Daniel).
Mr. Concepcion has played gay roles in theater before, essaying Adam/Felicia in Resorts World Manila’s adaptation of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert. He nonetheless expressed the challenge he was about to take on.
“It was a very daunting task at hand. These were their (original cast) babies and it was created for them,” he said. “But they were all very helpful and giving [as we] share the koronas (crowns) with them.”
The new Divas said they would focus on the process of creating a character of their own, rather than copy the original version.
Also in the cast are Gold Villar-Lim, Paul Holme, Leo Rialp, Sherry Lara, Eric de la Cruz, Jakub Krajger, Eko Baquial, and Joseph Madriaga. But glitz, glamour, and laughs aside, Care Divas tugs at the heartstrings by reflecting on the sacrifices made by OFWs, the struggles of illegal immigrants, the conflicts in friendships, and the bond that is made when one is miles away from home.
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