And, if her performance of Someone Like You at the press meet-up was any indication, then we can expect a potent, fiery Lucy from this versatile actress-singer of theater, TV and film, who's also sibling to the equally gifted Bituin Escalante, daughter to Pinoy jazz great Gigi Escalante and, not incidentally, founding president of the newly formed Theater Actors Guild.
The role of the prostitute Lucy was sung in the original Broadway production by the steel-lunged Linda Eder, wife of the composer himself, Frank Wildhorn, so the number, with its steep crescendos, was tailored to showcase Eder's rafter-rattling voice. It's a tough song for any actress to sing, but from its technical demands Kalila extracts and lends her version of it a sense of danger and delicacy--tantalizing enough to make you look forward to her full portrayal of the role once the musical opens. Presenting Kalila Aguilos, ladies and gentlemen:
Repertory Philippines presents its musical offering for 2012--“Jekyll & Hyde”, adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella, with music by Frank Wildhorn and book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse.
The show runs March 16-April 15, 2012, with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m. All performances are at Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Makati City.
Among the musical's numbers that have become popular hits are “This Is the Moment,” “Someone Like You,” “A New Life,” “Alive,” “Take Me As I Am,” “Once Upon a Dream,” “In His Eyes” and “Dangerous Game.”
Wildhorn's other Broadway credits include “The Scarlet Pimpernel”, “The Civil War” and the musical “Wonderland”, while Oscar-winning writer Leslie Bricusse has been responsible for the lyrics to “Stop The World I Want to Get Off,” “Scrooge,” “Doctor Dolittle,” “Victor/Victoria,” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”, among others.
It opened on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre on April 28, 1997 and closed on January 7, 2001 after 44 previews and 1,543 performances. It was directed by Robin Phillips with choreography by Joey Pizzi. The cast included Robert Cuccioli as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde, Linda Eder as Lucy, and Christiane Noll as Emma Carew. Notable replacements included Sebastian Bach and David Hasselhoff (Jekyll / Hyde) and Leah Hocking (Lucy).
It received Tony Award nominations for Best Book of a Musical for Leslie Bricusse, Best Actor in a Musical for Robert Cuccioli, Best Costume Design for Ann Curtis and Best Lighting Design for Beverly Emmons. It garnered a Theatre World Award for Linda Eder (Best Actress).
Other recognitions include: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical--Robert Cuccioli (winner), Outstanding Actress in a Musical--Linda Eder (nominee), Outstanding Set Design of a Musical Robin Phillips and James Noone, Outstanding Properties and Set Dressing by Christina Poddubiuk (winner); Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Leading Actor--Robert Cuccioli (winner), Best Leading Actress--Linda Eder (nominee), Best New Musical (nominee), Best Choreography (nominee), Best Director--Robin Phillips (nominee), Best Lighting Design--Beverly Emmons (nominee); Friends of New York Theatre Award: Best Leading Actress--Christiane Noll (winner); Joseph Jefferson Award (Prestigious Chicago Theatre Awards): Best Leading Actor in a Touring Musical--Robert Cuccioli (winner); Best Featured Actress in a Touring Musical--Christiane Noll (nominee).
Repertory Philippines' production of “Jekyll & Hyde” will be directed by Rep's Associate Artistic Director Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo.
Michael Williams and Jett Pangan alternate in the role of Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde. Kalila Aguilos is the actress/prostitute Lucy Harris, Cris Villonco is Jekyll's sweet fiancée Emma Carew (with Tricia Jimenez as understudy), and comebacking Junix Inocian plays Gabriel John Utterson, Jekyll's lawyer and friend and the narrator of the show.
Other cast members include Steve Cadd, Jack Salud, Reuben Uy, Red Nuestro, Mayen Bustamante-Cadd, Jamie Inocian, Oliver Usison, Jamie Wilson, Naths Everett and James Stacey.
For tickets, inquiries and other information, call Repertory Philippines 5716926 or 5714941, or email [email protected]. Tickets are also available at 8919999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.
Visit www.repertory.ph, subscribe to youtube.com/repertoryphils, add “Rep Phils” in Facebook.
