...the theater debutants

Pinays get standing ovations in their Broadway debuts

Hollywood Bulletin

By JANET SUSAN NEPALES
Manila Bulletin

December 5, 2011

 

Camille Mana with Jesse Eisenberg, who wrote and acted in ‘Asuncion,’ his Broadway debut. They plan to bring the play to the Philippines next year.

NEW YORK – Two Filipinas – Anna Maria Perez de Tagle and Camille Mana – received standing ovations in their Broadway debuts in “Godspell” and “Asuncion” respectively.

Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, the 20-year-old granddaughter of Philippine legend Sylvia La Torre, received a standing ovation in “Godspell” at the Circle in the Square Theatre in New York.

Anna Maria also surprised audiences when she suddenly spoke Tagalog in one part of the show.

Considered now a triple threat – she acts, sings and dances – Anna Maria displayed her great comedic acting and timing, her graceful dancing and powerful singing as she sang the most popular song in “Godspell,” “Day By Day.”

Truly, Anna Maria has blossomed as a performer on stage. From pretending to be a man using her hair as a moustache to dancing with grace and high energy, Anna Maria captures the attention of the audience with her vibrant presence as a singer, dancer and actress.

An Associated Press stage critic, in fact, wrote, “The beautiful Anna Maria Perez de Tagle delivers a stirring ‘Day by Day.’”

Among those who have watched her already were Lea Salonga, fashion designer Oliver Tolentino and his business partner Andrew Caruthers, former fashion model and beauty queen Bessie Badilla, among others.

This daughter of former TV personality Archie Perez de Tagle and Evelyn Enriquez is truly lucky because she is part of the 40th anniversary production of the said musical.

Anna Maria, who was a former star of “Camp Rock 1” and “Camp Rock 2”, “Hannah Montana”, and the MGM movie “Fame,” has also opened for the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato US and South American tour.

“I wanted to be a part of ‘Godspell’ because it felt like the right musical to be in for my Broadway debut,” revealed the charming performer.

“This musical involves a very diverse cast with songs that tie into today’s culture. I am very honored and excited to be a part of this musical adventure. This is definitely a dream come true for me,” she added. Among the cast members is Telly Leung who appears as Wes of the Dalton Academy Warblers in the top hit TV show, “Glee.” Portraying Jesus is Hunter Parrish who appeared in the Broadway show “Spring Awakening” and the film “It’s Complicated.”

We also found out recently that George Salazar, who also appeared in the “Spring Awakening”, and who is also in “Godspell,” is of Filipino descent. Born to an Ecuadorian father and a Filipina mother from Taytay, Rizal, George is also making his Broadway debut like Anna Maria.

The lovely and talented actress could not contain her excitement. “Broadway to me is an ultimate challenge,” she said. “There are no second takes unlike film and TV. You have to do your utmost best the first time. This is why I have high regard and respect for people on the big stage.”

After “Godspell,” Anna Maria hopes to continue doing Broadway “if I’m given the opportunity. I would love to go back to TV and film, of course. Another goal is to release an album in the near future as well.”

As for a trip to the Philippines, Anna Maria replied, “I definitely want to go back to the Philippines once my schedule permits. It’s been about 11 years since I was last there, so I’m hoping to make a trip home very soon.”

You may catch “Godspell” at the Circle in the Square Theatre (1633 Broadway at 50th Street).

• • •

Camille Mana, on the other hand, received rave reviews from critics on her Broadway debut as Asuncion. When we watched her recently at the Cherry Lane Theatre in this Jesse Eisenberg-penned play, people in the audience kept talking about “that Filipina actress who is really great, pretty and funny!”

Camille, in fact, surprised us when she also sprinkled some Tagalog words and sentences during the performance as she pitted talents with Academy and Golden Globe-nominated “The Social Network” star Jesse Eisenberg and “Hangover 1 and 2” actor Justin Bartha.

“Asuncion” is about a young woman who has emigrated from the Philippines a few years prior to her ending up in Edgar (Jesse) and Vinny’s (Justin) apartment in New York. Camille described Asuncion as “warm, confident and fun, and comfortable in her own skin. Edgar and Vinny have read and studied a lot about the world; Asuncion comes from the world, so to speak. The conflict and hilarity ensue from there.”

Jesse told us that they are bringing “Asuncion” to the Philippines hopefully by next year. “We are already in talks with a Filipina producer over there,” Jesse disclosed. He added that he is excited to bring this play to the Philippines. “Camille is doing great as Asuncion and it would be nice if we are able to show this play in the Philippines,” he said.

The 27-year-old UC Berkeley Economics graduate who has a passion for acting is definitely not shy about giving her all in this play as she dances in full abandon, playfully bonds with her roommates Jesse and Justin, and chirpily narrates her story as an immigrant from the Philippines.

Also in the play is Remy Auberjonois as Stuart, Asuncion’s husband and Edgar’s older brother.

New York Theatre Review describes Camille’s performance: “Camille Mana’s performance as Asuncion is one of those rare turns in which the actress so fully and convincingly embodies the character that at some point you are a little stunned to have to remind yourself that the woman onstage is actually acting. This is perhaps all the more impressive when you step back and realize that the character as written feels like a stereotype of a newly arrived immigrant of the East Asian female persuasion. She flits, Tinkerbell-like, around the apartment, a ball of smiling pink girlish energy, telling us that Mariah Carey is her hero and that the US is like a “pop song nation” – pared down to only the best, catchiest parts. Thinking back, we’re hit with the sense that while she is inescapably familiar, we’ve actually never met a real person like her, which makes Mana’s exuberantly natural performance all the more impressive.”