Review Roundup: New Asian Tour of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

(Center) Mikkie Bradshaw plays Annette; Brandon Rubendall, Tony Manero, in the new Asian Tour of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER. Photo: Jaime Unson

Manila. Philippines--Touted as "the first Filipino-produced musical for the world," SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER kicks off its new Asian tour in a strictly limited one-month run in Manila playing all weekends at The Theatre in Solaire Resort and Casino from July 3 to 26.

Performances are also set at Istana Budaya (Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) from September 4 to 13 and at MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands (10 Bayfront Ave., Singapore) from September 25 to October 4.

Brought to Asia by Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG), Ten Bridges Media Corporation, and Robert Stigwood Organisation, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER features "Broadway Bares" favorite Brandon Rubendall ("Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark," "Wicked") as Tony Manero, Jenna Rubaii ("American Idiot") as Stephanie Mangano, and Nick Varricchio ("A Chorus Line," "Light in the Piazza") as Double J and Tony understudy.

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER also features a multinational cast that fuses together Broadway stars with homegrown Filipino talents such as Bibo Reyes (Bobby C), Jamie Wilson (Monty and Frank Manero), Rafa Siguion-Reyna (Frank Manero Jr.), Mikkie Bradshaw (Annette), and Carla Guevara-Laforteza (Flo Manero and Club Singer), among others.

Based on the wildly popular film of the same name, which starred Oscar nominated actor John Travolta, SATURDAY NIGHT FIVER tells the story of Italian-American Tony Manero (Rubendall) and his gang in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn who are stuck in dead-end jobs but rule the dance floor at the local discotheque 2001 Odyssey. Tony is a tough cookie; he dreams of becoming the disco king and escaping the mean streets of Brooklyn.

Tony winner Lea Salonga, who writes a regular column in Philippine Daily Inquirer, and theater critics Vlad Bunoan and Michael Joe Delizo just checked out the production.

Let's hear their thoughts on the show:

Lea Salonga, Philippine Daily Inquirer: Not only does he [Rubendall] have the authentic Brooklyn accent, but also the looks, the voice and, most importantly, the moves. Not once did I ever have to worry that he'd flub a step or miss a mark. Every single thing he did on that dance floor was spot-on, executed with charm, masculinity and sex appeal.

There is a lovely contrast between how his Tony is on and off the dance floor. Off, he is at times awkward and not always so surefooted. But on, he is carefree and moves with abandon. And this was at his first performance! It will be nice to watch the show again toward the end of its run just to see how much he'll have grown.

The lovely Jenna Rubaii, plays Stephanie Mangano, Tony's dance partner, who at the beginning of the musical is all mouth and attitude, but who projects a heartbreaking vulnerability toward the latter part of the show. Her dancing and her singing are also excellent, and she and Brandon share a wonderful chemistry.

The rest of the cast--Nick Varricchio, Nel Gomez and Bibo Reyes as Tony's best friends Double J, Joey, and Bobby; Mikkie Bradshaw as Annette; Carla Guevara-Laforteza and Jamie Wilson pulling double duty as Tony's parents Flo and Frank and the Club Singer and Monty, respectively; Rafa Siguion-Reyna as Frank Jr.; and the entire ensemble-all give star-quality performances.

Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBNNews.com: The musical is actually a near word-for-word adaptation of the popular 1977 movie that turned John Travolta into a global superstar. And it must be stressed that John Badham's movie is set against a backdrop of a period in American history marked by economic malaise and a growing hopelessness. For Tony, a 19-year-old dropout working at a paint store - as well as for many Americans -- disco offered an escape from his dreary family life: his father is out of the job and his brother has decided to leave the priesthood.

The movie - and musical - also tackles '70s-era sexual promiscuity, abortion and racial violence. In short, this isn't a retro, feel-good musical like "Mamma Mia" or Travolta's "Grease."

And that could be troublesome for a musical that has been hyped solely as a nostalgic trip to the heady days of disco. If all you want is to do is dance, you're better off watching a '70s showband at a hotel bar.

But if you're a big fan of the movie in its dramatic entirety, you will be pleased by the way it was magically transported to the stage. From the opening scene of Tony, paint can in hand, doing his signature walk while singing the Bee Gees' classic "Staying Alive," it was immediately clear that Garcia and the rest of the creative team have captured the film's spirit. More importantly, this scene alone established that Rubendall is perfect for the role.

Michael Joe Delizo, Manila Bulletin: Directed by Bobby Garcia, "Saturday Night Fever" opens with a lively rendition of "Stayin' Alive," and true enough, the proceedings spread in two-and-a-half hours are without dull moment. Pacing is fast and the transitions, flawless. Don't even think of reading the program while the show is on-going or visiting the john or scanning the crowd for friends - you'll surely miss a pivotal scene.

The stage has a giant bridge that wonderfully transforms into a street, hardware, house, park, and disco club at any given time. How's that for nifty? The lights and sounds, choreography, blocking, etc. effectively brought back the flair and colors of that era.

This musical shows the younger generation just how rich '70s music is. In "Saturday Night Fever," we hear superb performances of Bee Gees' timeless songs like "Night Fever," "You Should Be Dancing," "How Deep Is Your Love," "More Than A Woman," "Immortality," "If I Can't Have You," among others.

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