Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady post-performance review

I finally watched Carlo Vergara's Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady the musical. Even though I am not fond of the combination of the superhero comic book genre and musicals, I enjoyed it and my expectations were fulfilled.

Unlike any superhero story, the story is more Pinoy in setting. It applied a story similar to local drama series. It has a love story, rivalry, clashes within family, but there are developments that you won't expect and reconciliation.

The superhero team, Fuerza Filipinas, is similar to Justice League. Leading Man is combination of Green Lantern for the obvious reasons(the ring) and Phoenix/Jean Grey since he has telekinesis. Bazooka Man, as the name suggests, provides the firepower for the team. He has a cool projectile weapon that is fixed in his hand. Think Megaman as reference. Even though his name sounds corny. Nene Babushka is what I describe as a cleric. She is the team's healer. Popy Pusakal is the only foreigner who has a Pinoy sound and compares himself as the male version of Catwoman. The team's leader, Madre De Dios or simply called Mother for short, is a combination of Professor X and Xena the Warrior Princess.

Kayumang Gilas are the super villains whom I think has logic since they are the only team who are purely Filipino knowing that the Pwersa are dominantly foreign. Carlo Vergara's reference for this was the time when the American cartoons project all heroes as white. Even though it may sound like colonial mentality, there is a reason for that and it will be a good development for the story which I can't reveal so I can't spoil the story.

The costumes are well made for the characters. The Pwersa Filipino's outfit was patterned after the Astonishing X-Men and they have variations which is not uniformed but displayed their team insignia. Madre De Dios was unique since she is patterned like a nun-like hood which shows authority but has similarity to Top Cow's Magdalena costume. I also like how they designed the computer as a cosplay image similar to Japanese pop culture.

Press preview May 6, 2015

For the music, I thought it may ruin the superhero genre but it was just right for the story. I admit the songs has a catchy tune especially the Kayunmang Gilas song. Just like Zaturnah, it makes heroism comes from the common people which is why the maid Mely has significance to the story which is a trademark of Carlo Vergara.

Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady will be staged starting today at PETA until June 7. I like the revival of Pinoy superhero pop culture in the theater arts that started with Manhid earlier this year. Hopefully, this will add more people to get interest in the genre. I guess that will add more buyers for the Komikon Indieket. in the next few months.

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