The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) features the music of Pinoy rap legend Francis Magalona in the new musical 3 Stars and a Sun to close its 48th season.
The musical pays tribute to another Pinoy hitmaker in Francis M. However, compared to the Aegis-inspired musical, the new futuristic story, written by young fictionist and playwright Mixcaela Villalon in collaboration with veteran writer Rody Vera, is premised on a situation when the country’s problems are left unresolved. The theater group looks into a dystopian future as it challenges today’s youth to unite and act swiftly before time runs out.
Villalon, who was inspired by the science-fiction film Snowpiercer, said she wrote the story for “those who can recite the Green Lantern oath but don’t know the minimum wage, the kids who are steeped in the history of Westerns but doubt the atrocities of Martial Law, all of us who are tired of activists blocking traffic while we think we can change the world through dank memes.” She added, “Francis M’s music works as the perfect war drums for the play. The story may be set in the future, but his songs ground us back to the present.”
The tale is set inside a giant steel dome created to protect the entire country from extreme weather and the threat of global warfare. The spherical shelter, which is called the Stormdome, is equipped with millions of hidden cameras designed to keep track of the citizens and maintain peace and order, particularly in its darker side, the Diliman sector.
Most of the people in Diliman are scavengers who look for surplus goods, old gadgets, and scraps, which they exchange for measly food packs to survive. On the other hand, the glossy and developed Lumino city, the heart of the Stormdome, is filled with educated and highly skilled citizens who are responsible for keeping order and balance inside the fallout shelter.
Two groups – kids coming from Lumino city led by free-spirited slacker Chino and those from the rough streets of Diliman led by fiery troublemaker Sol, clash given their varied lives. Despite these differences, the Lumino and Diliman kids must realize that there are problems far larger than their petty gang issues.
Nicco Manalo and Gold Villar alternate as Sol, the leader of the Diliman gang of rebels who call themselves Tropang Gising. Sol is tired of the inequality and injustice in their city and attempts to turn the system upside down. Chino, alternately played by Paolo Valenciano and Gio Gahol, is the eldest child of the Stormdome’s ruling family. Chino tries to evade responsibility as much as he can although he is being groomed to be the next leader.
The rap musical is directed by Nor Domingo, with the music of the late visionary and master rapper arranged by Myke Salomon, awarded Outstanding Musical Direction in 2015 for his work in the hit musical Rak of Aegis.
After enjoying a breakout 2015 characterized by record-setting comebacks and a reimagining of literary classics, PETA takes a leap into the future but still provides a social commentary on Philippine politics and culture like what they are known for. Although the futuristic world is something the group hasn’t done before, expect another exciting show in a fresh context.
Domingo calls on all those concerned to “go back to what it actually means to be revolutionary” especially at this time “when the word ‘revolution’ has become so commonly used in association with changing fashion trends and online shopping price markdowns.”
Through 3 Stars and a Sun, the director asks, “What change do we want to see? What questions do we need to ask now?” In the musical, bombs go off in search for the sun. He and his colleagues from PETA hope that “this will light a fire in the young and rekindle it in the not-so-young. With every little spark in each one of us, the bigger fire of revolution begins.”
3 Stars and a Sun runs until March 6, Tuesday to Sunday (Tuesday – Friday 8 p.m., Saturday – Sunday, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.) at the PETA Theater Center.
PETA is located at No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City. For tickets and inquiries you may call 725-6244 or visit petatheater.com and ticketworld.com.ph.