Filipino theater has been making strides in celebrating diversity by staging a range of queer theatrical plays that are particularly vital and pertinent to our culture today. While they produce stories and depict individuals that don’t fit into conventional stories of identities made known to us by its predecessors, this presentation proudly gives perspectives that are distinct and game-changing.
For one, queer theater intends to demolish the huge wall of traditionality that isolates us from what is different and promotes more empathy and connections among many Filipinos. This also increased the discernible light that makes the gender spectrum more visible and normalized in many ways and in a variety of social contexts, especially in business, politics, and entertainment.
A current reprise of the cult classic comedy based on the acclaimed and seminal graphic novel of Carlo Vergara, Ang Kagilagilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah, makes its way back to the stage that transcends the LGBTQ+ identity and gender discourse in a heteronormative society.
Philippine society may have made great strides towards accepting the LGBTQ+ community ever since the said graphic novel became a national sensation in the country’s art, entertainment, and pop culture scene, but now, more than ever, the material has since evolved on how it continues to impact the community it represents.
This year, over a decade since it was last staged, a roster acclaimed and rising stage and mainstream entertainment performers gathered to revisit an iconic, universal story of love, resilience, and life to the stage. Phi Palmos, Adrian Lindayag, and Shaun Ocrisma, who play and personify the superheroine’s alter-ego of a gay beautician named Ada in the Ateneo Blue Repertory’s staging of ZsaZsa Zaturnnah the Musical… ‘Yun Lang!, sat down with Rank Magazine to discuss how the play cut across multiple dimensions of queer love and ultimately, queer life.
One of the most sought-after actors for television, film, and especially the stage, Phi Palmos shared the full-circle moment of once dreaming of playing Ada’s legendary role ever since watching it back in 2007 to being casted for the latest play adaptation.
“Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah is the first original Filipino Musical I’ve ever watched on stage and I fell in love with it. And I am just so happy to be playing my dream role now that I’m celebrating my 10th year in the theater scene, or entertainment as a whole.”
His indomitable spirit and passion paved the way for his latest breakthrough and propelled him to the spotlight. Significantly, love also plays a vital role for Palmos to bring his best foot forward in portraying the character.
Cutout top, Randolf (stylist’s own). Jacket, Nina Amoncio.
“I think I’m bringing my love—my love affair with the show for almost two decades now. And that kind of admiration and respect for how iconic Carlo Vergara’s Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah is.”
From being an audience member to playing the actual role, history is what he brings with him to maintain the love and respect he has for the material.
Portraying such characters to the public helps generate a positive and remarkable ripple effect in our society to be aware and engage in and with the discussion. Palmos even stated how this version of ZsaZsa Zaturnnah is the most appropriate version for this time, as it offers a story that mirrors the current state of our society.
“I mean we don’t have ‘Me Too Movement’ during that time, we don’t have that—just that push for the SOGIE Equality Bill, and I said this before, I don’t know if it’s a coincidence but Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, when it was first staged that was almost two decades, and now for two decades we’re still pushing for the SOGIE Equality Bill.”
Despite having a successful career as an actor in TV, movies, and theater, Kakki Teodoro felt intense exuberance upon being cast as Queen Femina, one of the musical’s most recognizable characters. Prior to this, she performed the roles of Dina B. and Nora A., two Amazonistas fighting alongside the story’s man-despising villain in the 2011 staging of musical by Tanghalang Pilipino.
“I was just happy to be part of Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah. And now na may re-staging, s‘yempre na-excite ako and noong nalaman ko na they were calling out for auditions, nag-audition talaga ako.”
In a message, Kalila Aguilos, who had previously played Queen Femina, praised Teodoro and referred to her as “queen,” realizing her journey and the evolution of her roles in the musical. However, this puts pressure on her to go beyond her comfort zone in order to level with previous actors who portrayed her role in the past. “There is pressure but it’s also very exciting kasi may mga dadalhin tayo na bago.”
Apron dress with custom Rank print, Proudrace.
Teodoro promises that in spite of bringing back to the current generation the elements that elevate the musical to its highest level, there will also be newfangled accessories that Zsazsa Zaturnnah’s original material comic book by Carlo Vergara enthusiasts won’t have anticipated but will undoubtedly savor.
“They’re going to see some things—a lot of new things actually—dito sa bagong restaging.”
With Missy Maramara’s direction, Teodoro witnessed firsthand how new concepts that had not previously been highlighted in the earlier staging were brought to the forefront. “I’m excited for both the previous audience and the new generation to see kung ano ‘yung inihanda namin.”
Teodoro believes that this musical should be seen recurrently, especially given the fact that the fight for the SOGIE Bill is still going nowhere. She goes on to say that it serves as a look back at the experiences of the queer community from many years ago and serves as an eye-opener for us to comprehend what is new and what shouldn’t have been done or discussed.
“Maganda siyang balik–balikan to compare sa current experiences natin—not just the queer experiences but also being a Filipino.”
Playing a character of the LGBTQ+ community as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in today’s time boosts their representation with more diverse and relevant life stories. This highlights how powerful public and media representation is especially to young theater actor Shaun Ocrisma.
Ocrisma narrated how his 5-year-old self felt empowered when he first watched ZsaZsa Zaturnnah in the cinemas played by the Filipina transgender actress, BB Gandanghari. “For me, it’s just amazing to see a queer person in the cinema. And to just see it, that already empowered me.”
For Ocrisma, it is important to look back, comprehend, and appreciate how their “ancestors” or the people who came before them fought in creating a beacon of light and eventually an actual mark of hope for their community. The theater is even known as an art form that gives voice even to the departed, letting the characters speak and represent them.
Cutout apron top, Proudrace.
“It’s important to realize how hard they fought and lalo na ngayon kasi even though we think malayo na, more nuanced na ‘yung pagkakaintindi, hindi pa rin buo angh pagkakaalam at pagkakaintindi ng marami around us.”
What Ocrisma brings to the table is a nuanced perspective of Ada’s character and how this became an icon for the LGBTQ+ community. “Dinadala ko dito ‘yung perspective na may pinapaglaban si Ada—Ada is not a small character, Ada is not a character na ina-accept ‘yung pain lang for the sake of accepting it. Ada is a character na kaya niya choice ang i-contain ‘yung micro aggression, it’s because there is so much love in him.”
Juan Carlos Galano, a 25-year-old model-actor who has just started performing in theater, has been introduced to the material because of the movie in which he watched ZsaZsa Padilla and the other mainstream film actors, including Chokoleit, Alfred Vargas, and Pops Fernandez, perform the roles.
“Nakita ko siya. Napanood ko siya back then noong bata pa ako and parang matunog lang siya. And it made perfect sense to me that I get to bring the role to our generation.”
Realizing that he is now a part of the musical, Galano wants to understand the narrative deeper by reading the source material and naturally falling in love with how it depicts queer people and the intricacies and societal complications of queer love in a heteronormative society.
Top, Proudrace.
Galano acknowledges that more voices and platforms are still required in order to affect change for the community, even though he thinks that stereotypes and tropes from that period have at least been more developed and given more life and people are now more sensitive and willing to fight for what they believe in. “I’m just glad to be part of this, I would say, transformative material. And ‘yun nga, dahil I’m an ally of the LGBTQ community. The stories continue.”
Making his theater debut, Galano still had to make significant adjustments in order to perform in the production. From the get, he admits that knowing he had to sing, know his blockings, and act, was exhausting and physically demanding, but one thing is certain: he performed his interpretation of what should have been a Dodong in the musical, alternating with young actors JM Servilla and Elian Dominguez.
“Nakaka-pressure din siya but I would very much like for everyone to see what we’ve accomplished and masasabi ko lang na masaya ‘tong show na ‘to. But more than that, mas masayang malaman what this production represents.”
On JM: Deconstructed top, Proudrace. On Elian: Mesh top and cut-out hoodie, Proudrace.
ZsaZsa Zaturnah’s narrative as a whole is one of the most iconic musicals to push the story of its community, complemented by the immaculate work of Vincent De Jesus’ music to discuss queer identity and how they’re worthy of love despite living in an unjustifiable society, especially one that, for years, has made the “baklang parlorista” a caricature reduced to ridicule and mockery.
For the established television, movie, and theater actor, Adrian Lindayag, being able to play Ada’s role serves as a reminder to the public that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is far from over.
“Sobrang importante niya ngayon kasi, ngayon ‘diba binabaril ng senate ang SOGIE Equality Bill and I think mahalaga ngayon na panoorin—at hindi lang panoorin—pero kapag pinanood nila, ma-realize nila na kahit na mas accepted na at mas bukas na ‘yung bansa natin sa LGBTQIA+, hindi pa rin tayo pinoprotektahan ng sarili nating batas.”
Crop top, Proudrace. Jacket, Nina Amoncio.
By fearlessly representing Ada‘s character in relation to the matter at hand, Lindayag firmly adheres to his convictions. He further explains that the ceaseless discrimination in workplaces, families, and academic institutions pushes him, and everyone who identifies themselves with the community, to push for the SOGIE Equality Bill and other policies that protect them, and advocate for the betterment of humanity.
ZsaZsa Zaturnnah’s mission is indeed not yet concluded as there is still so much movement and work needed to do for the LGBTQ+ community to free themselves from the chains of prejudice, othering, and inequality.
However, with this kind of production, we can create windows to a world with limitless possibilities, where discourse on identity, gender, and sexuality are more emancipated, compassionate, and multidimensional as we strive to visualize a better world for everyone, without a need for a superhero.
Produced by Rank Magazine in partnership with Ateneo Blue Repertory
Produced, creative and fashion direction, and styling by Leo Balante
Photography by Dix Perez (@dix_perez)
Interview and additional text: Leo Balante
Styling and shoot assistant: Bhernn Saenz (@bhernn.saenz)
Official location partner: Studio LAJ (@studiolajph)
With special thanks to: Vincent De Jesus and Gerald Morfe