#AlexReviews: One More Chance The Musical – A Story Worth Watching Again and Again

Filipino movie fans will surely agree with me when I say that the story of Popoy and Basha is one of the greatest stories ever told in the cinema. With two great actors, John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo giving life to these characters, it will be very hard to match such acting skills and talent. BUT! But have you seen Sam Concepcion and Nicole Omillio play these characters onstage while singing along to some of Ben&Ben’s top hits?

I was lucky enough to catch the rerun of One More Chance The Musical at PETA Theater a few days ago. With Sam playing Popoy and Nicole as Basha, I once again fell in love, fell out of love, and fell in love again all over again as I rewatched and adored their amazing version of these renowned Filipino movie characters.

Sam, was a surprise to me, especially since this was the first time I saw him onstage. I usually see him perform on TV and at concerts, so I know how good he is at singing and dancing, but his acting skill shone brighter at this stage play along with his co-leading star, Nicole, who offered wonderful renditions of Ben&Ben’s songs. Some of it got us teary-eyed. And, oh my, you should see how Sam has grown – like a real man with those muscles! Haha!

Other casts of the show include Kiara Takahashi, who played Tricia, Jay Gonzaga as Mark, Johnnie Moran as Chino, Jon Abella as JP, Via Antonio as Anj, Paji Arceo as Kenneth, and Rica Laguardia as Krizzy. Other artists performed on the showtime that I picked include Matthew Barbers, Carla Guevarra-Forteza, Floyd Tena, Hazel Maranan, and Chez Cuenca. I highly commend these supporting casts for adding colors and good laughs to the show. Their timely and modern-day punchlines brought the audience to laughter, especially when they mentioned the brands supporting the show.

The show started with a very calming vibe with the use of a Panasonic projector and the melody of Ben&Ben’s hit song. The whole performance, including the 10-minute break between the first and second acts, was around 3 hours in total. How I just wish the seats were more comfortable. Hehe.

Anyway, this is the second time that I watched a show here at PETA. I’m still getting used to their small stage, which looks too crowded given the number of characters they had for the show, but it was well-used and provided separation of scenes and height to the show. I admire how they incorporated those songs and lyrics into the stage play, though there are some parts that I find a bit off, nevertheless, it was still great show for a One More Chance and Ben&Ben fan like me.

Aside from the show, some other activities were offered to the fans inside PETA. There were a lot of corners to take souvenir photos, as well as famous lines from the story and lyrics of Ben&Ben’s songs posted in different areas.

For those who want to catch this play, it will run until October 27 with CJ Navato and Anna Luna alternating as Popoy and Basha. To get more details, you may follow PETA on Facebook. I highly suggest that you pick the Orchestra Center when booking a ticket for you to fully view the stage.