*A REVIEW ON THE PLAY I'VE SEEN RECENTLY: Varna and Friends*
I like superheroes. Especially when I was young, my cousins and I used to pretend we were the X-Men or Bioman having extraordinary powers and battling the forces of evil. I played Jubilee in X-Men while Yellow Four in Bioman. Back then, our headquarters was my grandmother’s bodega in Cavite, and cunning villains were her dogs and array of plants. I loved my innocence. I loved being a kid, believing that I could actually save the world in just a nick of time.
Varna and Friends, in my opinion, is one of the most original plays I have seen here in Los Baños. The concept is somewhat old, “gasgas” as what most people would say. Yet reviving the idea gives it that unique taste. Also, it is very timely since the emergence of fantaseryes such as Mulawin, Krystala and Marina had been the talk-of-the-town.
Varna and Friends, in my opinion, is one of the most original plays I have seen here in Los Baños. The concept is somewhat old, “gasgas” as what most people would say. Yet reviving the idea gives it that unique taste. Also, it is very timely since the emergence of fantaseryes such as Mulawin, Krystala and Marina had been the talk-of-the-town.
If there’s such thing as a feel-good movie, Varna and Friends is a feel-good play. Punch lines of various characters were infectiously hilarious. The script wasn’t that “cerebral” even if the villains were talking in pure English, especially Dark Invader’s accent. He should win an award for it. Being a musical play also added to the play’s “x-factor.” The upbeat sounds of their original compositions, as well as copycats of modern artists’ songs were amazing. This in the sense that the play was produced, directed and starred by students of UPLB itself.
Minor details such as the costumes and props really played a big part in the play. Without them, and their well-created tapestry, it would have been difficult for the audience to visualize the magical and energetic aura of the play.
Certain downsides of the play were very few, but fatal nonetheless. Dance sequences should have been polished more. Also, some song-and-dance number could have been removed; Some were too long that made certain moments of the play dragging and lifeless. Actors and actresses, mostly on the villains’ side, shouted most of the time: leaving the audience with vague words to comprehend. Although, I must praise that in every scene of the play, the word “cliché” didn’t come out from my mouth. Lastly, the end of the play all happened in a sudden; its quickness sort of buried its established performance.
Varna and Friends is a play that brought to life our inner childhood. For me, the message of friendship it wanted to impart only came in second. It reminded the audience on how we used to dream of being superheroes; fighting for the good cause and imposing change all over the world.
We used to aspire for these things, but as we get older, the nature of reality sets in and we are only left with false hopes.
I wished there were actually superheroes. I hope that Varna, or the X-Men or Bioman existed. However, here in the real world, we are only left with the Liga ng Hustisya: heroes who have the power to do something but opted to become famous bandwagons, just like politicians. Eherrm.
Minor details such as the costumes and props really played a big part in the play. Without them, and their well-created tapestry, it would have been difficult for the audience to visualize the magical and energetic aura of the play.
Certain downsides of the play were very few, but fatal nonetheless. Dance sequences should have been polished more. Also, some song-and-dance number could have been removed; Some were too long that made certain moments of the play dragging and lifeless. Actors and actresses, mostly on the villains’ side, shouted most of the time: leaving the audience with vague words to comprehend. Although, I must praise that in every scene of the play, the word “cliché” didn’t come out from my mouth. Lastly, the end of the play all happened in a sudden; its quickness sort of buried its established performance.
Varna and Friends is a play that brought to life our inner childhood. For me, the message of friendship it wanted to impart only came in second. It reminded the audience on how we used to dream of being superheroes; fighting for the good cause and imposing change all over the world.
We used to aspire for these things, but as we get older, the nature of reality sets in and we are only left with false hopes.
I wished there were actually superheroes. I hope that Varna, or the X-Men or Bioman existed. However, here in the real world, we are only left with the Liga ng Hustisya: heroes who have the power to do something but opted to become famous bandwagons, just like politicians. Eherrm.
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