The ‘other Princess Sapphire’

Understandably, there is a lot of fuss over KC Concepcion, the 16-year-old daughter of Megastar Sharon Cuneta being cast as Princess Sapphire in the Trumpets production of Little Mermaid. A lovely girl with the looks and the talent to match, KC is certainly deserving of all the media attention she’s been receiving.

Sadly though, Cathy Azanza, the actress who alternates as Princess Sapphire, gets lost in the shuffle. I say sadly because she is just as lovely and as talented as KC, with the added plus of a theater portfolio that would put other theater actresses her age (22) to shame.

Yet Cathy takes it all undaunted – even in the face of some not very tactful person who asked her to her face, "How do you feel playing against KC who is more beautiful and more talented than you are?" Luckily (for the person in question), Cathy is a wonderful person – professional, well-bred and confident. If the person asked that question to someone made of lesser stuff, he probably would have been slapped.

"I knew that when KC was cast as my alternate, that was it! I am not going to get any press!" she states matter-of-factly. And being the pro that she is, Cathy soldiers on… giving the role of Sapphire a life all her own with ease and a self-assurance borne out of experience.

After all, prior to joining this production of Little Mermaid, she was reigning "ingenue" at Repertory Philippines – meaning she got all the sweet and romantic roles in hits like South Pacific, Miong, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Annie, Funny Money, Oliver, Proposals, Sleeping Beauty, Kiss of the Spiderwoman and Celebration III.

Before people start intrigues around any supposed rivalry between Cathy and KC, let me categorically say that there isn’t any. They spend afternoons having coffee at Rockwell Center, bonding with Noel Rayos and Jeff Arcilla who both play their Prince Christian; share a dressing room where they gorge on chips and giggle about "girl things," zip, button and Velcro each other up in their costumes; share accessories; and do each other’s hair. "Cathy, who’s going to help fix my wig if you’re not here?" wails KC like any baby sister to her "ate."

Rest assured that whichever Princess Sapphire you get to see – Cathy or KC – you don’t lose out! But the bottom line is, watch Little Mermaid for the show itself not for any of the performers (whether KC or Cathy or whoever else). The production is fabulous! The costumes alone are well worth the ticket price!

Worth watching

Another show worth watching is Turn Up The Quiet… Just Dance, a 14th anniversary concert of the country’s premiere dance group, Douglas Nierras’ Powerdance, slated on Aug. 25 (8 p.m.) and Aug. 26 (5 p.m.) at the CCP Main Theater.

The dance concert will feature an all-new repertoire of Philippine contemporary dance pieces conceptualized and choreographed by this year’s Outstanding Choreographer Awardee (by the Alab ng Haraya) and the Philippines’ first and only International Grand Prize Awardee for Choreography, Douglas Nierras.

To be featured in the dance concert are the Dance Artists of Douglas Nierras’ Powerdance, together with the Bayanihan Philippine Folk Dance Company and the Philippine Madrigal Singers.

The dance concert will also feature the milestone piece, Gabaq-an, which is a collaborative work of Nierras with the Bayanihan, the Madrigals and the Douglas Nierras Powerdance. This highlight piece was also commissioned by the CCP for its Philippine Independence Day 2001 offering.

(For tickets and reservations, call the Powerdance Studio at 633-6417 and look for Joanne or visit them at the 6th level Rear Carpark of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, EDSA cor. Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City.)