REVIEW: Stages of Love

"Stages of Love"
Musical
Ateneo Blue Repertory

Genre: Musical / Romance (around 75 minutes running time)
Director: Jillian Pena
Original Story: Andrei Pamintuan
Starring: Marc Baluyan, Pauline Oyco/Jowee Ann Marquez, ensemble cast

Rating: 10/10

One could possibly relate themselves to the any of the love-struck characters in Ateneo Blue Repertory's (blueREP) special Valentine offering, "Stages of Love".

This blueREP original, written by Andrei Pamintuan and had already been staged succesfully two years ago, tackles the different complexities of love and how the protagonists get themselves entangled in the beautiful wings of romance.

Set in the light atmosphere of a coffee shop, this is primarily where the 5 couples croosed paths, solved their issues and filled the air with sparks. The main characters of the story (played by Baluyan with Oyco and Marquez as alternates), are the baristas in the cafe, wherein the guy tries to pursure her co-worker, who just emerged from a break-up. Mutual friendship is developed in the cute little nooks of the coffee shop and in the end, girl barista decides whether to leave her past behind and entertain this new suitor knocking at the gates of her broken, yet sympathetic heart.

Meanwhile, even the customers coming in the cafe have their own share of love tidbits too, in varying circumstances. Name it, the play has it: Torpe boys meets popular girl, Mataray lady strikes her charm on geeky guy, etc. These would-soon be couples try to iron out differences between themselves that would eventually lead to cute and sweet romantic angles. Aside from the cheezy pick-up lines, a hopeless romantic who comes out in every sequence as a different character possessing unique personalities provide the best laughs in the play.

Of course, what makes the love story become special is the beautifully-crafted music that compliments the smooth-sailing plot. The songs are selected Original Pilipino Music (OPM) favorites and a few American classic love songs. They are arranged into a very lovely medley, one that can make the audience sing with the actors. The cast did justice to the music as they sung it not just out of musical precision, but also with the right blend of emotion needed.

The setting of the story also provided a great boost to the somewhat thin plot. It is crucial in making the audience believe the general flow of romance between the characters. Together, the play proves that in the world we have now, a feeling of romantic love could very much be developed even in the tiny spaces of a coffee shop.

Love chooses NO place, time nor person. Indeed, it comes the time where you least expect it. When that "person" hits you hard enough, grab the chance and enjoy the best-est feeling in the world. Ever. :)


P.S. Let me just share my most favorite quote from the play: