Here's what to expect from 'Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical'

Herrera has been a fan of PNE “since (I was) 11 years old, in 1998. It’s also the main reason why I joined the musical,” he said in an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe.

To prepare for the role, “I listened to Mr. Suave again and again, and watched different versions of the songs. Meron din ako(ng) mga pegs like the action stars of the 1990s, and Gaston of Beauty and the Beast."

Herrera is “honored and inspired,” as “theater is my first love, and I always go back to theater.” And even with his countless roles on TV series and movies, “I missed (theater) so much.” The last musical he did was the seventh run of Rak of Aegis, where he was supposed to have been “discovered.”

“PNE’s music is so timeless, and is one of the staples of OPM,” Comia told L!fe. “In the Philippines, whenever someone has a guitar, the song Gitara or Harana will almost always be played. When I saw the announcement of the auditions, I did not want to miss the opportunity. I feel so blessed, honored, super excited, and grateful for being a part of this cast. Everyone in the production is so incredibly talented and passionate. This truly is unlike anything I have done before. It is a Dexter Santos musical, after all.” Comia, 19, performed in the same venue as a child ten years ago.

Manalo is a PNE fan as well. “I play Mang Jose, one of the bigotilyos. I am in awe of this cast. Ang bilis nila matuto at alam mong batak sila lahat sa theater,” Manalo said.

He noted that he prepared for the production physically, as his body had to remember—in a manner of speaking—what it was like to perform onstage anew. His last stage performance was as young Emman in the 2019 production of Ang Huling El Bimbo (AHEB)—a musical that featured the songs of popular pop-rock band Eraserheads.

Parokya’s main man, Chito Miranda, on the musical

“Sobrang tagal na nilang binebenta ‘yung concept, natigil talaga s’ya because of the pandemic. First time (ko pa lang) nanood ng AHEB, they were already toying with the idea,” PNE frontman Chito Miranda said during the press conference at Newport on Friday, March 15. But it was shelved.

“I was reluctant. Alam ng Universal Records, I didn’t want Parokya to be involved in (anything) major. Ayaw ko ng major concert because we don’t trust ourselves when it comes to our material,” he added.

The “gamechanger,” Miranda said, was when he cried after seeing AHEB. “When I saw (it), napanalo nila ang tiwala (ko). It was mind-blowing. Sobrang blown away ako. I said ‘Go ahead.’ I gave them complete artistic freedom, because I trust the team so much, more than myself,” Miranda added.

When one of the members of the media remarked that AHEB was “dark…uncomfortable to watch” and asked if the audience can expect a "lighter" musical, director Dexter Santos replied, “Wish granted,” and added, “Promise, pagbukas ng ilaw, walang patay.”

When acclaimed playwright Rody Vera was initially brainstorming with Williams, Lauchengco-Yulo, and Santos on how to handle or present the musical, he recalled saying, “Basta hindi El Bimbo. Ano ba ang characteristics ng El Bimbo? Mabigat, malungkot; dito, puro saya. Ang mga kanta ng PNE, masaya. Definitely, iba ang music ng Eraserheads, iba ang music ng PNE.”

PNE’s songs were the soundtrack of musical director and arranger Ejay Yatco’s life when he was in high school. Together with Vera, they listened to the band's tracks for two months to determine “ano ang bagay sa scene,” how to tell the story effectively, and adjust arrangements to fit the scene. “It’s a mix of storytelling and knowing the history of the band, and giving honor to that,” Yatco said during the presscon.

To prepare, “Pinakinggan ko talaga ang seven albums!” Vera said, admitting that he wasn't much of a PNE fan before.

“Hindi ko kapanahunan. I had to catch up. That was the first chance I had to listen to all the songs, and take note of all the lyrics. I had to take them all in,” he shared.

“I began to love some of the songs. I began to understand their sense of humor. Isa palang buong universe nabuo ng PNE. Makikita n’yo sa lahat ng kanta, pati na rin fillers. Nung napakinggan ko lahat, nakikilala ko ‘yung mga tao na lumalabas (sa) mga kanta,” Vera said.

He rationalized that if he were a fan, it would be difficult to “let go” of certain songs, and he might be trapped in a certain background. “I have the advantage of changing it, and twisting the context.”

Creating female characters

Vera noted that all of the main characters of AHEB were males. The challenge this time around was how to create female characters, even if the songs of PNE sounded very much from the POV of males.

“Naisip (kong) ipag-confront paano ito magiging kanta na maiintindihan at maikekwento ng mga babaeng characters. ‘Yun ‘yung isa kong gustong takeaway. Pwede pala s’ya,” he recalled. “So, papano ko pagsasama ito? Paano ko bubuuin (na magkakaroon ng sense). It would be a great challenge, what would women think of the songs? How would they interpret it for themselves; to tell their stories? That was another task I had to do, coupled with the humor.”

Miranda clarified though that “As a songwriter, I try to have a conversation with everyone,” and while “lahat kami boys, and ang point-of-view (mga) boys, we try to make it as universal as possible; it’s (also) for girls.”

During the press conference, orchestra conductor Mickey Jacinto said that apart from the rhythm section of the orchestra (with two keyboards, two guitars, a base guitar and a drum set), they will accompany the play with strings (two violins and a cello), woodwind (flute and clarinet), brass (French horn), and percussion (glockenspiel, bass drum and xylophone). He said that they are adding more percussion instruments “for the final orchestration.” So expect a rich, textured sound during the live staging of the musical.

Many behind the production grew up with PNE as the soundtrack of their youth, whether it was choreographer Stephen Vinas, costume designer Raven Ong, or scenic designer Lawyn Cruz. As Cruz said, “It’s really about building worlds.”

Williams said that the musical will be “very visual (with videos), highly technical, fast-paced, funny.”

For Santos, it will welcome the audience to the “Parokyaverse.”

“It’s meant to be an acid trip. It’s supposed to be a wild, wild ride. A roller coaster ride, coming from the magic spaceship. It can move towards the past. It can move towards the future. Ang daming Easter eggs. It will be a lot of fun; it will be naughty," he teased.

"Expect kulitan, love, kilig, pain… the whole gamut of emotions. We want to tug hearts also. (Ito ang) palabas na may kurot sa puso. You can bring the whole family. You’re going to hear the songs of Parokya. But because it’s a Rody Vera play, at the end of the day, there’s substance. Mayroong sinasabi palagi. It's a tribute to the fans as well,” he added.

Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical will premiere on April 26 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay. Tickets are available via Ticketworld and SM Tickets, with prices ranging from P1,105 to P5,525.