Rent makes Rachel a more convincing performer

"Don’t always believe what you read or hear."

This has always been a repetitive mantra among elders, and as a writer, I have learned to take this piece of advice into account many an instance. Unless the source is really trusted, I would rather see and hear with my own two eyes and two ears. After all, every person has his own opinion of a particular performance or person, and objectivity never existed in a vacuum.

So when I came across several reviews about the hit musical Rent, which has returned to Manila beginning Oct. 5 (after playing to sold-out houses in Singapore last February), I was excited to see for myself if the reviews were real, and echoed my own sentiments.

Enter Rachel Alejandro, who plays the role of Mimi, the stripper whose life is "measured in love." Having stepped into the shoes of the sexy, independent-minded character Mimi last February, Rachel received critical acclaim. The Singapore Straits Times wrote of her performance, "Alejandro’s Mimi sounds even better than Broadway’s Daphne Rubin-Vega. Her crystal clear voice is far stronger than the smokey whisper of Rubin-Vega." Reading this now, I was really looking forward to the show. To receive such praise from critics, I was more than convinced that our very own Rachel was a thespian to reckon with in her Manila performance. But I withheld judgement. Hmm. . .

Fast forward to Oct. 4, when I had the privilege to be among the first to see Rent at the GSIS Theater, CCP Complex. The press preview show proved to be truly interesting, and having heard from Director Bobby Garcia that now, "...Vocally, I have the strongest cast," I leaned forward and watched the show begin.

Tidbits of my talks with Bobby about the rock musical ran through my mind, particularly one statement: "We have some of the best singers in the cast," as I took in scene after scene. Nope, Rachel had not yet appeared, and my ears were perked up for her distinctive voice. Was I to believe the Singapore Straits Times? A part of me already did, considering that their writers were true-blue theater critics and credible reporters. But inside, I knew I had to see and hear for myself.

And there she was. Sauntering onto the middle of the stage, clad in her tight short skirt and top, she lit it up and held every eye in the room. She spoke her lines. Flirtatious, attractive, yet still a mixture of vulnerability and emotion, Rachel was Mimi. Listening to the applause the crowd gave the scene she shared with co-star Calvin Millado (who plays Roger), she stoked tiny fires of admiration, far beyond the tiny light she had flippantly asked Roger to spark on her candle. Her song, Light My Candle turned out to be teasing prelude of what was to come.

Out Tonight, another seductive tune, was brought to life as Rachel took her character on a spin, dancing in that suggestive-stripper sort of way. She did look fit and trim in that particular number. I suddenly remembered Rachel mentioning to me that she’d gone to the gym in an added effort to make Mimi a bit more "energetic." She reiterated that it is such a physically demanding role, and though she intends to use the same vocals and emotion, she wanted to add more life to Mimi.

But strikingly poignant was Rachel’s rendition of Without You, and coupled with her compelling stage presence, and attention to detail, this particular scene was electric in its own way.

Sizing up Rachel Alejandro as Mimi was not difficult. We all know that she has been, first and foremost, a singer, but in Rent, she also came across as a musical thespian. One can safely say that theater has done even more wonders for Rachel, and she has emerged as an even more convincing performer. Her voice is stronger than ever.

Bobby Garcia was right. Vocally, he did have the strongest cast. He mentioned that he would tell his actors, "Go out onstage and make art every night." And that’s exactly what they did that drizzly October night at GSIS Theater. And while I, too, had been applauding loudly with the rest of the audience, appreciating all of the actors and the entire production, I was smiling inside. With Rachel Alejandro, Calvin Millado, Jake Macapagal, Michael de Mesa, Lana Jalosjos, Bituin Escalante, JM Rodriguez, Lee Robin Salazar as the eight bohemians in search of love, hope, and friendship in the face of sickness and hardship in New York City, how can you miss? Carlo Ledesma, Joel Trinidad, Glory Sicam, Beatrice Gomez, and Boyd Tinio reprised their roles with much fervor, and for first-timers Arnold Reyes and Agnes Barredo, it was a whole new experience for the crowd watching them.

No wonder Bobby came up with a brilliant idea to have his Rent cast record an album filled with songs inspired by the rock musical, defining the project as "something the cast and fans could go home with." With Rachel as the Supervising Producer of the album aptly entitled, Love Conquers All, the cast brings to life many touching and inspiring tunes penned and inspired by the theme of Rent, which are love, friendship, and hope.

Fans will surely enjoy the music from Love Conquers All. Martin Nievera himself is singing with Rachel in this album, having penned the title track. Some cuts from the album are Coming Out Of The Dark, a dramatic composition sung by Anna Fegi and Bituin Escalante. For Just A Moment (from St. Elmo’s Fire) is performed by Rachel and Calvin, and another sweet and powerful song in the album is Love Heals. Bituin Escalante lends her amazing voice for this particular track, plus many more other inspiring songs are featured in the album. It’s a great foil to the rock musical that does not fail to strike a chord in you.

I came to see and hear with my own two eyes and ears. I remembered the reviews. And it was then that I believed. Check out for yourself how Rent will fare as a musical, and look at each of its actors, how they become their characters before your very eyes.

"Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes . . . How do you measure . . . measure a year?"

I left the GSIS Theater with Seasons of Love ringing in my ears. As Rachel Alejandro puts it, "For me, if you live each day knowing that it could be your last, you could be kinder . . . Measure your life in love."

Do check out Rent, and see for yourselves. For this particular scenario, I’m glad I gave those reviews a second look. Either way, I’m glad to have confirmed if my speculations were correct. I wouldn’t mind seeing Rent again, and I suggest you do the same. The actors do deserve an extra round of applause.

And there’s nothing like walking away from a musical that helped me reach a feeling that I’d lived an extra good day. Love is indeed a beautiful yardstick to measure my life’s worth. Really . . . It feels good to be right.