Jenine Desiderio: Stoking the fire

Count on Jenine Desiderio’s wily charms to provide depth to the feminine mystique in the upcoming musical Fire Water Woman. As Rita, she stands out as the balancing force, the stabilizing element in the rocky relationship between the two main protagonists, played by Michael Williams and Rachel Alejandro.

Based on Nick Joaquin’s short story Summer Solstice, the play represents a milestone in local theater as it marks the first collaboration between a theater group and Ballet Philippines. Hence, the novel portrayal of characters via dance and movement gives added color to the usual tandem of words and music.

"Doing theater is always a refreshing and rejuvenating experience," Jenine exclaims. "I get to use many facets of my artistry that are not always tapped in my usual concerts and singing stints."

"In theater, you’re master of the moment. It’s not like TV where there are so many variables that can be changed at whim to get a good final result. In theater, everything has to be spontaneous. You’re on your own, and for those few minutes, you’ve got to give it everything you’ve got, otherwise, everything falls apart."

How did the Miss Saigon alumnus prepare for the rigorous dance routines? "We went through an extensive dance and movement workshop for several weeks. I felt kinda nervous since we were working with world-class ballerinas," Jenine narrates. "But they were all very encouraging. They even told me, ‘Don’t even try dancing like a ballerina. Just be yourself.’"

The trouper that she is, Jenine still got shocked upon seeing some of the dance sequences. "There are a lot of sexual overtones in this play, and since most of it involves dance, most of the movements have sexual connotations. Maybe to the uninitiated, they may seem like they’re just going through some weird contortions, but to me, they’re quite disturbing. Initially, at least," she explains.

Without her knowing it, Jenine Desiderio has unwitttingly become an unofficial advocate for the feminist cause. This was because her hit song of a few years back, Hindi Ako Si Darna, became the anthem of the oppressed, the battlecry of those who have been silenced into believing that blind loyalty and subservience can hold up the foundations of a crumbling relationship.

By some sheer coincidence, Fire Water Woman seems to pick up where Darna takes off, drumming up not just the myriad facets of feminist angst but other relevant social issues such as social class and structure as well.

Produced by Celeste Legaspi, Fire Water Woman is written and directed by Bart Guingona, with Tats Rejante Manahan as writer/librettist, Louie Ocampo as composer, Mon Faustino as arranger/musical director, Denisa Reyes as choreographer and Ballet Philippines artistic director.

Co-starring with Jenine, Rachel and Michael are Carla Martinez, Bodjie Pascua, Roeder and Melanie Dujunco.

Fire Water Woman is on at the CCP Little Theater tonight and tomorrow.