‘Cookin’ Nanta’ cooks up a storm at The Solaire Theatre

MANILA, Philippines – When it comes to explaining why Filipinos are so fixated with Korean entertainment, it seems to boil down to just three things: the unexpected plots, the impeccable timing, and the irresistible musicality. But what if you get all these, add a dash of acrobatic stunts, a pinch of theater, a cast of unlikely characters, and a generous helping of comic relief? You get a powerhouse show that keeps you asking for more.

This was how the first staging of Cookin’ Nanta sizzled at The Theater at Solaire, when Korea’s longest-running and highly popular non-verbal musical gave Filipinos its first taste right in Manila. And after much cheering and voracious applause, the simple and straightforward show, devoid of special effects and complex twists, showcased how it is indeed a recipe for a show-stopping success.

Mad kitchen skills

The premise of the show was as fuss-free as your favorite plate of galbi. Cookin’ Nanta takes the customary Korean samul nori, or percussion orchestra traditionally done with four instruments: a small gong, a larger gong, an hourglass-shaped drum, and a bass drum, and reimagines how they would figure in a modern-day kitchen setup. So, in come deadly knives, chopping boards, frying pans, and jugs of gochujang, to serve as musical accompaniment with crazy culinary skills in place of musical dexterity.

But that was just the tip of the iceberg lettuce, as the Cookin’ Nanta cast delivers their spicy, beat-heavy symphonies with arrangements ranging from African jungle-inspired ensembles to good ol’ American rock and roll, all while maintaining their kimchi-style zest for comedic timing as fermented by sheer talent and time-honored expertise.

When this serves as the soundtrack for a good one hour 45 minute spectacle, you can bet your bulgogi that this is one head-banging, heart-raising, and jaw-dropping musical show.   

Too many cooks didn’t spoil the broth

Cookin’ Nanta’s unlikely band of characters becomes the springboard for much of its hilarious wit. An anxious, timorous head chef, a buff yet insecure sous chef, a shapely woman cook, a clumsy and untrained kitchen helper, and a stern maître d’ are the ingredients for much giddy laughter and action to resonate across the massive playhouse.

Pepper it with a straightforward storyline that requires these cooks to prepare a 10-course wedding banquet in barely an hour — from a salad to cream cake — and you’ve got a vaudevillian plot that summons the jocular spirits of our past great comedians  like Panchito, Babalu and Dolphy.

Seeing them deliver their comical acts sans dialogues, with only their contagious rhythms and amazing acrobatic skills to lead the audience into awe and amusement underlines how Cookin’ Nanta is indeed a universal show for all ages and nationalities, particularly for us Filipinos who grew up with a dinner fare of slapstick humor.           

Whipping up a feast

But above all, the magic of Korea’s record-breaking musical is its ability to interact with the audiences. With kids in the front row and their parents in tow, it makes sure that half of its storyline is getting its audiences directly involved. From chopping cabbages to clapping in unison, serving as demanding wedding couples, or as part of the kitchen assembly line, the watchers’ wonderment isn’t only limited to the bleachers but they also get the chance to be in the spotlight, and the snicker spots as well.

These would then explain how, after just 18 years, Cookin’ Nanta has been seen by 8.7 million people, in 27,500 shows in 285 cities across 48 countries, even winning the Best Performance Award at the 1999 Edinburgh Fringe Festival

 If you aren’t lucky enough to catch its Solaire Theatre staging, which lasts until Nov. 15, you might be able to catch it in Seoul or Jeju Island, where it plays daily for over 700,000 visitors annually.

With sublime musicality, dynamic showmanship, universal humor, and endearing characters, Cookin’ Nanta flaunts how pure entertainment can be a borderless, timeless, and ageless fete. Now, that’s cooking up a sensational storm.

* * *

You can catch Cookin’ Nanta on its final show at The Theater at Solaire on Nov. 15, 8 p.m.. For ticket information, call Ticket World at 891-9999 or visit  www.ticketworld.com.ph.