Schonberg gives Rock of Ages a thumb-up

Due to an unforeseen (should I say, embarrassing) hitch, my friend Raoul Tidalgo and I were able to watch only one half (first part) of Rock of Ages (ROA) Sunday last week at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater at RCBC Plaza, Makati City, but that was enough for us to see how good the musical is.

“MiG Ayesa is just as good as he was at the musical’s staging in Boston last year,” commented Raoul who is a good friend of Dr. Ramon Legarda and his wife, Dr. Rosario “Tita Ching” Ojeda-Legarda, MiG’s New York-based uncle and aunt.

I guess probably better than the newly-divorced Tom Cruise’s performance of the aging rock star Stacee Jaxx in the ROA movie version (still showing in some Metro theaters, in case you want to catch it).

What I was curious about was how Vina Morales would fare in her first foray into theater and I should say that she passed the acid test with ease (although not with flying colors), even if, from the nook at the lodge section where we were, uh, “deposited,” sometimes we couldn’t understand her dialogue. But Vina did shine in the singing portions.

And guess who came to see the Manila production of Rock of Ages  yes, no less than the legendary Claude-Michel Schonberg, the French music genius who is behind two of the world’s most beloved hit musicals, Les Miserables and Miss Saigon, with the latter making Lea Salonga a certified international artist.

I learned about this from a report filed by Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre.  

“The beloved composer is in Manila again primarily to visit his Sun and Moon Home for Children which he established in 1995 at Barangay Tambo in Parañaque City, to care for severely malnourished children who have been orphaned, abandoned, neglected or surrendered,” wrote Edmund.

While in Manila, Schonberg deemed it a mortal sin to miss the most talked-about Broadway musical to hit Asia this year, produced by Atlantis Productions and directed by Chari Arespacochaga.

“Accompanied by West End actress-singer Joanna Ampil and writer-talent manager Girlie Rodis,” added Edmund, “the French icon caught the show Sunday night last week, to the delight of numerous Filipino theater fans.”

Schonberg was said to be very impressed by what he saw and gave it a thumb-up. Manila’s Rock of Ages, after all, has been generating positive buzz for its world-class production and dazzling performances and music since it opened on June 15 (ending on Sunday, July 8), simultaneously with the showing of the film version. 

I also learned that Schonberg even went backstage to personally congratulate the ensemble cast, who were only thrilled to meet the revered monsieur in person. Camera flashes were then seen popping all over.

Later that night, Schonberg was surprised by Joan and Girlie with an unforgettable experience at the Philippines’ top dining place called La Cocina de Tita Moning, a beautiful ancestral home cum museum near the presidential palace in San Miguel, Manila. 

Interestingly, the elegant place (by reservations only) that is frequented by celebrities and Manila’s creme de la creme, is owned by the Legarda family which counts MiG as one of its most famous members. MiG’s full name is Miguel Alfonso Ramon Legarda Ayesa. Celebrity lawyer Katrina Legarda, MiG’s cousin, is all praises for MiG and she doubted if Cruise could give justice to the Stacee Jaxx character.

Just like how he rated ROA, Schonberg gave another thumb-up for La Cocina’s excellent cuisine, its captivating ambience of old Manila, and the genuine Filipino hospitality of the entire staff that render the place a tourism treasure for helping preserve and promote the best in Philippine culture and tradition. Kudos to the Swiss-educated Suzette Legarda Montinola, who has been running La Cocina with aplomb for about a decade now.

“He (Schonberg) seemed quite pleased that I had taken him somewhere different and we had the restaurant to ourselves,” Girlie noted in her Facebook. “Jo (Ampil) was happy, too. They enjoyed the tour of the house and the wonderfully prepared food.”

Girlie credited Ricky Davao for strongly recommending that she take her esteemed guests to La Cocina.

“I’m so glad I did,” she said. 

I agree. Katrina once very kindly treated us to an unforgettable dinner at La Cocina.

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