Angelica Mancenido

Charlene Oclinaria

Judy Ann Perez

Sheryl Marquez

ANALYSIS OF ANG HULING EL BIMBO

1. ACTION

All of the actors and actresses

in the theater play "Ang Huling El
Bimbo" gave excellent performances.
They perform their duties in
accordance with the role that has been
assigned to them. Their facial
expressions are accurate and
consistent, as are their body language
and gestures, and their vocal quality, flexibility, and range are exceptional. Every
actor has memorized their lines and is well-prepared to present the show.
Furthermore, we can see that everyone on stage gives their all-in terms of energy,
focus, and willingness to invest in whatever he or she is doing while on stage. We
also discovered how each character connects with their co-characters as well as the
audience. We can hear how the audience reacts, how they laugh and applaud the
character's acting abilities, and how deeply the story affects them.
 The actors who played the young and adult versions of Eman, Hector, and
Anthony deserve a lot of credit for their portrayals being consistent. Eman's acting
skills as a "probinsiyano" really distinguished him in the play. His accent and
personality describe him as a funny, caring, and loving person for his family, friends,
and wife, and this makes everyone adore his character. Furthermore, Anthony's
character as a member of the LGBT community is very natural and funny. He is
constantly skeptical that anyone will accept him for who he is. However, Anthony's
acting abilities fit in perfectly with the show's realism. Hector, on the other hand, has
a well-rounded personality. While the play is still in progress, we can't tell if he still
wants the best for their friendship or if he is the one who ruined it by allowing Joy to
suffer without any assistance from him as her boyfriend. The younger versions of the
male characters are very natural; the connections are there, and their dialogue is
delivered well. When they were compared to their adult counterparts, there was a
noticeable difference in characterization. Emman improved his demeanor and
professionalism in his speech and actions. The characters of Anthony and Hector, on
the other hand, remain the same. We love how all of the artists use their skills to
make the play more consistent, especially since they have younger and older
versions of the characters.

Joy, the main character, the more youthful Joy was always upbeat and
delivered her dialogue and song numbers at a high level. Her performance had no
softness to it. She was constantly belting out the songs. Gab was, of course, a
talented actress who excelled in the dramatic role. However, as she grew older, her
character became almost unrecognizable. Her diction was perfect, her mannerisms
were subdued, and she was conversing with Anthony in straight English, despite the
fact that her younger self was set up to be uneducated and insecure with the
language. Menchu Launchengo-excellent Yulo's vocals, on the other hand, deserve
special mention. "Adult Joy" hit every note perfectly.

.  Other characters' performances, such as Mr. Banlaoi and Tita Toyang, can
really capture the attention of audiences; the way they play their characters is
outstanding. Tita Toyang's emotions and wide range of voices demonstrate that she
is a very professional artist, making her portrayal of an auntie and an elderly person
appear very real. Mr. Banlaoi, who played a villain, is also a great actor because he
makes the audience despise his character. The way he talks and laughs, as well as
his expressions and actions, make him appear to be a real goon, heightening the
tension and horror of the story. Those extra artists also contribute to the success of
the performance by assisting the main and leading characters. We also want to
highlight the young theater actress, Alexa Salcedo, who played Joy's daughter,
Ligaya. This kid was a treasure. Each line struck a chord with the audience

DIRECTION

The musical play "Huling El Bimbo" was directed and choreographed by

Dexter Santos. It delivered his signature
masterful storytelling where all the songs
by the Eraserheads, about 30 in total,
provided the show’s repertoire, and are
hauntingly familiar to 90s kids and babies
alike. As for the writing, Dingdong
Novenario came down to the accuracy of
the times, human characterization, the right
balance between humor and tragedy, and the most difficult task of building a
distinctly unforgettable story around already very iconic songs. The entire production
team of the musical play was instructed and aligned with organizational design. The
actors and actresses did an excellent job with the script that was provided by the
filmmaker. The director's suggestion is well-played in terms of what the scenario
requires. All the staff from the musical play were directed and aligned with the
direction that guided them. According to my observance, the actors and actresses
follow the script that was provided to them well. They know what the next scene is.
They know the next song, the next dialogue, and how to portray emotions according
to their role in the play. They are quick to move so that they avoid dead air on the
scene. The characters are well direct and know what to do and do not. Overall, they
are well directed and well guided in the direction that guides them. That is why they
perform well and are awesome.  Salomon’s brilliant musical direction proved vital to
the production; he rendered the Eraserheads’ many hits apt for their respective
scenes, from a ‘Pare Ko’ resembling a military march, to a more emotionally balladic
‘Ang Huling El Bimbo." The musical had a similarly, if not more, loaded narrative as
the song that birthed it. Director Dexter Santos funneled all the nostalgia he could
into the first act, essentially paralleling the song’s penchant for reminiscence. His
take on her downward spiral in the second act may have seemed overdrawn, but it
worked as a vivid emphasis on what she had gone through; it is filled with the same
regret of things that could have gone otherwise, as was in the musical’s eponymous
song.

PRODUCTION

The musical play "Ang Huling El Bimbo"

is being staged in its entirety. The stage
play is well-directed and adheres to all
necessary guidelines. The musical play
is not only about drama; it also includes
comedy and choreography, which add to
the audience's entertainment. The actors
and actresses are convincing in their roles. The
actors and actresses have the ability to touch the audience's hearts
because they make them laugh and cry with their variety of scenes. The sound effect
is in sync with the performers' voices. The lighting is appropriate for the setting. The
costumes are chosen in accordance with the character being portrayed.

Perhaps some of the audiences felt that the stage and costumes were on a
shoestring budget, but we can look at the more aesthetic and classical appeal of how
they presented the stage and props because they appear very natural and realistic.
When it comes to the story's events, the final section for the finale was an excellent
touch. It possessed the appearance and feel of an epic conclusion, which was
precisely what this stage musical required to provide a justifiable conclusion to the
story of the four friends. Nonetheless, the ending fell short of the justice Joy
deserved following her ordeal. People who were in the story, Eman, Hector, and
Anthony, didn't do what they said they would do.
 Ang Huling El Bimbo is a commendable effort on the part of a Filipino
production company. It demonstrates Filipino talent and what Filipino actors and
producers are capable of when given the right opportunities. Unfortunately, nostalgia
was the only redeeming quality that Ang Huling El Bimbo possessed due to the film's
failure to create characters capable of truly reaching out and touching the audience.
It was a well-executed stage musical that brimmed with talent and was meticulously
prepared.

COSTUMES

The "Ang Huling El Bimbo" cast dresses up in their best '90s

garb. As you can see, the costumes
of the characters are just simple
and normal, as you can see
somewhere. The characters are
dressed up based on where the
event is happening and what
character they are trying to portray.
For example, when they are at school,
they wear the typical clothes of a
college student. When they are attending military class,
they wear proper uniforms. On their graduation day, they wore graduation gowns
and also dressed based on their profession, like government employees, artists, and
politicians. Costumes and how the character’s dress reflect on who they are in a
play. We also see some characters, such as prostitutes dressed in sexy and villains
dressed in dark colored clothes that adds a lot of impact to a play. There's nothing
much to say as the story was set somewhere in the '90s, and the fashion of that time
doesn't differ greatly from the fashion we have in the current time. The musical play
uses different costumes according to the scene. We can look at how they dress to
display their social standing as well as who they are as an individual. 

SET DESIGN
 The musical play has a well-designed set. They prepare a variety of designs
that fit the different scenes that are needed in the play. The creative team for the set
design created a well-crafted stage that make the show more realistic. They brought
the play into life wherein they present the set amazingly. They bring the audience in
every scenario of the story. The changing of places and smooth transitions of scene
from classrooms, houses, court, canteen, military camp, and even in a morgue really
make the show worth to watch. The team prepared well and worked quickly as fast
as they could for a smooth changing of set and places.  They use movable design
that can be called as Newport Theater stage which is divided into four sections (left,
foreground, middle back, and right) where some scenes would be played out
simultaneously. T hree of them were set at an angle, a trademark of the multi-
awarded designer, to give the audience a better view of the stage. Gonzales also
used a puzzle-like design near the wings to show that there is still a lot of work to be
done. As the story of these four friends progresses, we will learn more about these
hidden details.

PROPS

The play used a lot of creative props. The show is

very detailed. From small things to a large design
and backdrops, the audience experiences a world-
class theater production. They had a variety of stage
props that were perfectly executed, resulting in an excellent
transition and flow of the scene. They use big designs and props that we recognize
inside the houses (beds, appliances). Inside the bar, we see tables, chairs, and
beverages. Props really bring audiences and the characters inside the world of the
"Huling El Bimbo" story, as if they are really experiencing what is in front of them and
what they can see around them. From watching the play, what we like the most
about the props is the use of a car that the characters use on a road trip. The
scenario of using that car is very tragic and has a dark scene that changes
everything upside down. All the things they used in the play really helped everyone
to give their best shot and make the show successful with all their efforts.
LIGHTING

The musical play uses a variety of stage lights.

Most of the time, the stage's lighting is excessively dim,
maybe because of the mood of the story, which is very
tragic and sad. There are changes in mood as well as
changes in light. From the scene, which portrays happy
moments and is in a light mood, the stage was bright
and full of colorful lights. They use a dancing light or a
movable one so that they can easily make a spot and
emphasize the performer. They use dark light when the
scene is more about sorrow and tension. The turning of
lights can also be a signal of some transition and the opening of a new set of
places.The lighting was used excellently; the proper amount of light for each scene
was provided. They could have taken advantage of the lighting, which brings
attention to the figure who should be the focal point of a given scene, if they had
done so.