Iconic luminaries all ‘come home to Rep’

Repertory alumni, including Audie Gemora, Pinky Marquez, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Joy Virata, Leo Martinez, Celia Diaz-Laurel and Cocoy Laurel, with artistic director Baby Barredo and the author (center)

Due to rehearsals for multiple shows and stuff, we’ve had to keep our nights out to the barest minimum this season—but we made doubly sure we’d be present and accounted for at Repertory Philippines’ grand and golden 50th anniversary celebration at the Manila Polo Club on Oct. 17.

We were sure glad we did, because the truly special event was graced by Rep’s “oldies but still darned goodies,” like Baby Barredo, Joy Virata, Celia Diaz-Laurel, Cocoy Laurel, Leo Martinez, Audie Gemora, Miguel Faustman, EJ Villacorta, Pinky Marquez, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Bernardo Bernardo, Freddie Santos, Michael Williams, Julie and Rose Borromeo, Franco Laurel, Bart Guingona, Jamie Wilson—and many more!

Right off the bat, Baby made us feel nostalgic all over when she recalled the many plays and musicals we had done together for Rep—“The Owl and the Pussycat,” “The Glass Menagerie,” “The Night of the Iguana,” “The Little Foxes,” “A Chorus Line,” etc.

In addition, when Baby had a musical show, “Baby Is My Name,” decades ago, she would tap us to perform with her production numbers from stage musicals.

We were quite a theater tandem in those days. She especially recalled the time when our two-character play, “The Owl and the Pussycat,” became a hit and was performed in other venues, like UP’s Abelardo Hall.

One night, we had a scheduled performance, but Baby was really ill and in no condition to perform. But, perform we did! By the comedy’s third act, however, Baby was so weak that she couldn’t even stand up. So, we did the entire act, both seated  on the stage floor. What a trouper!

The minute the performance ended, Baby was rushed to the hospital, utterly “wiped out”—but happy that we had stepped up to the plate and proven that “the show must  go on” is more than just a time-honored dictum—it’s what defines  theater artists!

Last Oct. 17’s reunion was full of other “fun and felt” moments with Rep alumni playing catch-up with “long-lost” friends and colleagues.

The evening also showcased excerpts from Rep’s new season of plays, plus musicals like “A Little Princess” and “Hansel and Gretel.”

Rep president Mindy Perez-Rubio also proudly announced that on June 11, 2017, at Solaire, the theater company is presenting a truly golden musical celebration featuring its greatest stars—not to be missed!

Rep’s cofounder and leading light, Zeneida “Bibot” Amador, may not have been present at the grand reunion last week, but she was in everyone’s mind and heart, and each one of us had a memorable “Bibot story” to tell.

Ours was the period British comedy production where we played Bibot’s lover—and we even had an amazing scene together, in which we romantically (and comedically) dallied and wiggled and smooched while dressed (or undressed) in period underwear!

Can you imagine Bibot “dressed down” in sexy black stockings and an itty-bitty bustier? Imagine on!