Ai-Ai: The tears behind the laughter - DIRECT LINE by Boy Abunda

It has been said that the best comedians draw their best materials from heartbreak, particularly theirs. The same is true for Ai-Ai de las Alas, who again goes onstage at the Folk Arts Theater tomorrow, Nov. 11, 8 p.m., in Abuse Me!, her third major one-woman comedy concert.

Of course, those who have followed Ai-Ai’s career since she first burst into show business more than a decade ago will say that the title of her concert, is well, very telling. "Oo naman noh!" she says in her trademark mock incredulity. "Ilang papa na rin ang umabuso sa ’kin noh!?!, na ang tingin sa ’kin siguro e parang charitable institution – charing! Pero in fairness, I’ve learned a lot from all the kinds of pain that I went through – like stomach pain, back pain . . . . Diyos ko ’day! What am I saying?!?! I could never really be serious . . . hindi daw bagay, sa totoo lang!"

Naturally. After all, from her salad days at sing-along bars to her enviable current status in the entertainment scene, Ai-Ai has wooed and won a sizeable public on the strength of her hilarious and often bawdy kind of comedy that cuts very close to real-life, heartache-causing foibles, particularly hers. Indeed, who can turn a tempestuous romance into occasions for thigh-slapping humor, as Ai-Ai did with her failed relationships during interviews with the entertainment press?

This is not to say that Ai-Ai is on comedic mode all the time. At her recent press conference for her upcoming Abuse Me! Concert, she suddenly broke down in tears before an astonished entertainment press.

Apparently reacting to some unkind cuts that have been made about her in gossip columns, the tearful Ai-Ai said, "I also get hurt by what is being written about me. Kasi naman, here I am trying to fix my life but to other people, I still can’t seem to do what’s right. I hope they would feel happy for me because I’m trying to correct what is wrong in my life." After a beat, Ai-Ai wiped the last trace of tear from her face with a tissue paper, saying with a cringe, "Day, hindi talaga sa akin bagay na serious at umiiyak! I’m not beautiful when I cry! Hindi ko feel!"

If her previous one-woman comedy concerts, Respect Me!, and Seduct Me! are any indication, there should be little doubt that Abuse Me! would again enjoy the approval Ai-Ai seeks as a person and professional artist. While not wanting to give away the details of the comedy concert, she says, "Just watch the concert because I’m sure you’ll end up having gas pains from laughing! We’ve been working so hard to make this concert an exciting one. That’s why even if our country is being besieged with problems, people could still laugh in this show to momentarily forget them!"

A production of JLF Organization, with Backroom, Inc. line produ—cing Abuse Me! features as special guest performers Ara Mina, Ogie Alcasid, Bituin Escalante and the Streetboys and Whiplash dancers, with the special participation of Mark Anthony Fernandez. Yes, the gorgeous Mark, coming off his successful comeback by way of Biyaheng Langit. "Day , Mark won’t sing but he’ll dance! Magde-dirty dancing kami ever!"

With choreography by Andy Alviz, costume design by Arielle Agasang and Raoul Ramirez and photography by Raymund Isaac, Abuse Me! is presented by 123-700 Bayan Collect sa Amerika! With Motorola as the major sponsor. Other participating sponsors are Thai in a Box, Binalot, Figaro Coffee Co., V/A Palmos-Bourbon, Concorde Records, Orbitz Pearl Shakes, Aqua Safe, Ces’t Ca Gift Works, Monster Radio RX 93.1, DWBM 105.1 Crossover, 93.9 KCFM, DWNU 107.5, 99.5 RT, DWRR 101.9, [email protected] and1026 Angel Radyo.

Tickets are selling fast at major National Book Store-Ticketworld outlets, Robinsons Malate and Galleria Customer Service Section, Tower Records Makati and Alabang, Music Museum Greenhills, Backroom, Inc. and JLF offices. For inquiries, call 891 5610 or Backroom at 435 1108, 435 1120, 435 3808 or 928 3121 or JLF Organization at 634 7776 and 638 4243-44.