Backstage at the concert “Do You Hear The People Sing” in Indianapolis last week, I found myself in conversation with Terrence Mann, one of the performers in the show.
Terence originated the roles of Javert in “Les Misérables” and the Beast in “Beauty and the Beast” on Broadway. He is married to Broadway dancing diva Charlotte D’Amboise, who has played Cassie in the recent revival of “A Chorus Line” as well as Roxie Hart in “Chicago.”
The Manns have a daughter named Shelby, who’s currently enrolled at the School of American Ballet in New York City, and has already performed in “The Nutcracker” a couple of years in a row.
Terry described Shelby as a performer who, at the tender age of 7, already “gets it.” He said she knows her marks as well as choreography, and communicates with language that, normally, a performer at least twice her age would employ.
I then told Terry that I was like his kid when I was first starting out in theater. I knew my marks and choreography, as well as everyone else’s lines. When someone wanted to throw lines for a play, they’d ask me or another kid actor from the same company to do so.
Kids are just veritable sponges when it comes to many things theatrical. When a bunch of children get hired for a Repertory Philippines production, you could presume that the kids just absorbed whatever was going on. Thank goodness though that we instinctively filtered whatever was either unnecessary or inappropriate. Our parents had a lot to do with the latter, too.
People have asked me: 1) Would I allow my daughter to enter the fray known as show business? 2) If I discern any talent in her that would then enable her to enter the biz? 3) Would I support her if she decides to follow in my footsteps?
My answer: If this is really something she wants to do, then sure, I will absolutely support her.
Too early to tell
However, she’s only 5 years old. I’m keeping my mind wide open in order to help me discern exactly where her gifts lie. Does she have an interest in science? Will she have the steadiest of hands and be a neurosurgeon? Or is she going to be an artist, too? Would dance and theater be her calling? Could she possess a set of diva pipes?
The truth is, I don’t know—it’s way too early to tell.
There are children whose artistic gifts manifest themselves very early in life. There are kids who sound like Celine Dion at the age of 4. There are others who can dance like Michael Jackson at 7 or 8. There are musicians who are on scholarship at a conservatory before hitting puberty. And I’d like to think that there are sets of parents behind each of these young talents to help them through whatever transitions, traumas or tragedies that may come their way.
However, there is a flip side to having kids with special talents. Because their gifts are discovered early in life, they begin to work, and work hard. Some of them are robbed of their childhoods in favor of being the family’s primary breadwinner. Others are abused and pushed so hard. There’s no chance to be a normal kid under these circumstances, and that’s when the gift becomes a curse.
I myself started working quite early, but never to the point of feeling robbed of anything. I attended school, played in the sun (I was a bad, bad runner and got my share of skinned knees and blisters on my hands), had crushes on boys, alongside doing musicals and plays, recording albums and hosting a TV show. I’m thankful to my mother for keeping things balanced.
So, to the parents who might have a precocious and talented child, here’s a piece of advice: Let your child be a child while encouraging his or her unique and special gifts.
There are dance classes, theater, art and creative writing workshops, or musical instruments through which talented kids can channel their energies. But alongside this, let them get on the monkey bars, run around on a field, become experts at piko and patintero, play basketball and football. Let them live a well-rounded life.
Foodie chronicles
My friend Victor and his partner Bryce brought me to a really fantastic Pinoy restaurant called Maharlika. It’s on 1st Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets in Manhattan, and it serves amazing food and drinks. We had their kare-kare, crispy pata, bagoong rice and sizzling sisig, along with cocktails named after Pinoy movie stars such as Hilda Koronel, Weng-Weng and FPJ. And yes, there was one drink named after me, too. (And I loved it!) To Nicole, Enzo, and Miguel, thanks for your hospitality. I plan to make a return.
In Indianapolis, I fell in love with The Capital Grille for its refreshing and hearty salads, hot soups and amazing main courses (the lamb chops were delicious). By the way, thank you, Indianapolis, for being such a gracious host city to us. We had a wonderful time.