Willie Nep: EPAL The Musicale

MANILA, Philippines -The campaign season is here, a merry season where we observe politicians make fools of themselves under the blanket of public service. While we enjoy the circus like event, nothing beats watching a larger-than-life satirical performance of the same event on a live stage. 

And who else would come to mind in this genre but Willie Nepomuceno or Willie Nep — the master social satirist and impressionist of many voices and faces of the famous and the infamous.

He has done advocacy shows like STOP...in the name of Laugh, initially a fund-raiser for the victims of media killings but extended to several repeat performances due to public clamor.

His Presidentiables’ Gut Talent got the best reviews on both television and print news features punctuated by a front page and double spread article in a broadsheet. It also landed as the lead article in a book published by Emmie Velarde launched in Manila and in the US.

Another milestone was his ON TRIAL and eRror which became a hit show even before the final verdict on former Chief Justice Renato Corona happened. He mesmerized the crowd with his uncanny portrayal of Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile and former Justice Serafin Cuevas (see The real and reel JPE on YouTube as featured in Karen Davila’s Headstart and Willie as Justice Çuevas in Boy Abunda’s Ikaw Na segment in Bandila).

There were more, like SONA (State Of The Nation Atbp), his farewell tribute to Dolphy. 

And who would not remember his show that happens only every six years — WILLIE NEP for President.

He also did musical variety shows like Feelin Las Vegas, All of Me, Music &Memories and some others that featured his singing prowess doing impressions of international celebrities to cater to his legions of Senior Citizen fans who courageously hurdle the staircase of the Music Museum just to watch him relive “the good old days” and somehow relate to “the soundtracks of their lives.”

This time, Willie combines the musical memories of the past and the raging issues of the day in a fun-filled presentation of EPAL The Musicale. 

The two-part show will feature American idols of the ’50s to the ’70s, from Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie to Barry Manilow.

On the other hand, Mayor Alfredo Lim and former Pres. Erap Estrada will tickle you no end with their visions for Manila and of each other.

Kris Aquino will host a not-so-one-sided-debate between his Kuya Noy and former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos on the burning and nasty issue of political dynasty or is it political destiny...or simply a case of wrong spelling?

Enrile and Cuevas join forces as the new singing sensation of the century, The Elderly Brothers, paying tribute to the evening’s special guest, Jessica Sanchez, live.

Willie Nep will also have the opportunity to sing a duet with Celine Dion via satellite. So eat your heart out, Charice.

Finally, the Puruntong family of John en Marsha will level up to join the political fray as a clan to beat. It will be a riot you could ever imagine, EPAL, Gangnam Style.

The fun begins at 8:30 p.m. on April 12 and 13 at the Music Museum.

Tickets are available at selected National Bookstore branches, Robinsons Department Stores, Cinema Lobby (Greenbelt 1 and Trinoma), Resorts World Manila Box Office, TicketWorld Office, www.ticketworld.com.ph. For details, call 891-9999, 0916-3403919 and 0921-5642108.