Is Leo saying goodbye to Miss Saigon?

So after more than 3,500 performances in 14 years as The Engineer in the long-running Cameron Mackintosh megahit musical Miss Saigon, is Leo Tavarro Valdez finally calling it quits?

Still bald and beautiful, a new welcome twist he has added to The Engineer (he has also affixed “Tavarro” to his name), Leo flew in Wednesday (April 23) from Australia after completing a year-long tour of the musical which brought him and company (including RJ Rosales who plays Thuy) to Melbourne (where it opened in March last year, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth where it closed two Sundays ago (April 13).

“I was so exhausted that I decided to spend a 10-day vacation in Sydney,” Leo told Funfare in an exclusive interview yesterday. “I was so homesick, really homesick.”

Leo carries with him the Engineer persona (“He’s the best Engineer I ever had,” Mackintosh told Funfare years back during an exclusive interview in Hong Kong) anywhere, whether in Asia or in Europe. After all, The Engineer has become second skin to him since he started playing it first in London (1994 to 1995), then in Australia (1996, for six months as a replacement of Cocoy Laurel who cut his stint short), back to London (1998 to 1999), Asia (Manila, Hong Kong and Singapore, the whole of 2000), United Kingdom (2001 to 2003), also in UK (a new production, 2006) and back to Australia (2007 to 2008).

After so many performances, has Leo begun to, well, “sleepwalk” through the role?

“Actually,” said Leo, “before each tour, we would rehearse first. Every time is like the first time.”

During each launch, however, while his co-stars would sing an excerpt from the musical, all that Leo was required to do was introduce himself, thus: “Hi, I’m Leo Tavarro Valdez. I play the role of The Engineer. I played this role for more than 3,500 times in so many countries all over the world.” (The role was originated by Jonathan Pryce at the Theatre Royale Drury Lane at London’s West End in 1989. Another Filipino who has played the role was Junix Inocian.)

“I had a most wonderful time on this tour,” added Leo who came for a quick visit last year to bury his mother in his native Bacolod. “The cast was an amazing group of fine performing artists and the nicest people around, which was maybe another reason why I never got tired of doing the show because of the family atmosphere in the company. Also, I thank Cameron for inviting me again and making sure I was looked after extremely well in the Australian touring company.

“Having said that, no matter how beautiful those Australian cities and how wonderfully the Australian audiences were and how the critics received me, the feeling still gets better and better every time I finished a Saigon stint, and I know that I am back with friends and loved ones in this amazing country of ours. It’s always nice to be back home.”

While here (for two months), Leo plans to take a much-needed rest even if he will agree to accept “corporate” projects. He’s also thinking of traveling to the US and Europe — “Strictly vacation.”

So after playing The Engineer for more than 3,500 times in 14 years, is he finally calling it quits?

Leo broke into a wide smile.

“No. Nag-i-enjoy pa ako!”

How soon will he resume stepping into the shoes of The Engineer?

“It depends on when I get another call from Cameron.”

Another Al Chu show coming soon

Tito Al (Chu) of Anaheim, California, relays this news to Funfare.

ABC Entertainment is mounting a show for the Viva Hot Babes on May 10 (San Diego), May 17 (San Francisco), May 18 (Los Angeles) and May 24 (Las Vegas). Marissa Entertainment and Magic Wand are line-producing the show billed Viva Hot Babes in the Flesh.

Tito Al has presented a number of hit concerts in the US under the banner of his ABC Entertainment, the last of which was topbilled by Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go, Christian Bautista and Mark Bautista.

This is the first time for the Viva Hot Babes to perform in the US Mainland. Their previous show was in Hawaii. Guest artist is Wendell Ramos who will be stripped to the bone (actually to his T-back) at the finale of VHB in the Flesh. Wendell has the body to flaunt — flawless complexion and all — and he’s also a fine actor, an Urian awardee no less.

Five Viva Hot Babes are joining the show produced by Tito Al: Maui Taylor, Katya Santos, Jennifer Lee, Gwen Garci and Desiree del Valle.

Left behind are Ella V (who is pregnant), Andrea del Rosario (who can’t get a US visa) and Jen Rosendahl (said to be “troublesome”).

Tito Al said that tickets are selling fast. The prices are very affordable. “Besides,” he joked, “maraming maniakis dito.”

Joining the group are Viva executive June Torrejon and Douglas Quijano, Wendell’s manager.

What is Tito Al’s next project?

He’s planning to present the three Visayan divas — Pilita Corrales, Dulce and Sheryn Regis, with Mark Bautista as guest artist. It’s tentatively set for October, some kind of a birthday presentation as Tito Al was born on Oct. 12 in Leyte. He’s a true Waray noted for his hospitality and generosity in California and Tacloban City. Tito Al owns three care-giving homes in California and plans to put up one in Las Vegas where he recently bought a house.

Briefly noted

• After all the speculations and the “false alarms” (about moving to rival station ABS-CBN), Richard Gutierrez yesterday finally renewed (for two more years) his contract with GMA. His action-adventure starrer Kamandag ended last night. He will be seen next in Asero, to be shot in Dubai, with new GMA contract artist as his leading lady. Like Richard, Heart is managed by his mom Annabelle Rama (with Heart’s dad, Rey Ongpauco, as co-manager).

• Set to premiere tonight on ABS-CBN is Mar Ravelo’s Kapitan Boom, with Pinoy Big Brother graduate Jon Avila in the title role. With his beautiful body, Jon is perfect for the flying super-character. Among his co-stars are Mariana del Rio (the Brazilian model linked to Cesar Montano), Maja Salvador, Gloria Sevilla, Bembol Roco, Thou Reyes, William Lorenzo and Jay-R Siaboc as Kapitan Boom’s alter-ego.

• Reacting to Funfare’s item on the death of Lou Salvador Jr., a.k.a. The James Dean of the Philippines, Lou’s half-brother Ramon Salvador said that their father, the original Master Showman Lou Salvador “Van Ludor” Sr., sired 102 children with 48 women. The eldest child was the late director Leroy Salvador and the youngest was the late Teresa Salvador (sister of Alona Alegre). “I am the 100th child and Phillip is the 101st,” said Ramon.

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