Webber star learned from masters
SHAUN Rennie: Second time around was for reconnecting with friends made in Manila
Australian singer-actor Shaun Rennie could very well have acted as tour guide in Manila for the entire cast of “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber,” on its final staging tonight at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
Among the ensemble of eight, Rennie is the only one who has been to Manila before – when he portrayed Munkustrap in last year’s “Cats,” also at the CCP.
“I had a grand time in Manila,” he told Inquirer Entertainment. “We were here for work, but it was like a holiday. The weather was lovely; the people friendly.”
The Lea experience
As a bonus, he got to work with Filipina Tony winner Lea Salonga. Rennie recounted, “When I was younger, I remember listening to the soundtrack of ‘Miss Saigon’ and being amazed. I never thought I’d get to work with her.”
He described Lea, off-stage, as “warm and funny.” Even simple stuff was a blast, with Lea around, he said. “Just having coffee with Lea and watching how people responded to her… was fun,” he explained. “I didn’t quite realize how famous she is… that she’s some sort of a national icon.”
In 2005, Rennie shared the stage with another Broadway legend, Israeli theater and film actor Topol in a production of “Fiddler on the Roof.”
“As with Lea, working with Topol was a dream come true, too,” he said. “He was incredible. He was really into his role, having played it countless times through the years. He was a joy to watch.”
In “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber,” Rennie gets to work with two theater veterans in the Australian scene: Delia Hannah and Michael Cormick.
“Delia’s a compleat star and Michael is simply incredible. Before I joined theater, I watched their plays. I saw Michael in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ when I was 14,” he said.
Realizations
Working with them in this touring production instilled in him a lot of realizations as well.
“You realize that these icons are normal people. Just like us, they have fears and insecurities,” said Rennie. “They taught me that you just have to let go of the drama and go onstage and… do it. These guys are the easiest, most relaxed and most fun people. They’re not neurotic at all.”
With his brother, fellow musical theater actor Adam, he mounts the annual charity fundraiser, “Light the Night.” The advocacy was inspired by the Rennies’ brother, Matthew, who passed away of leukemia in 2007.
He hopes to record a CD with brother Adam soon.
For this Manila trip, among his plans were “to catch up with friends” he made last year, and thoroughly enjoy the city.
“Last year, ‘Cats’ was well-received; this time we are offering something different, a concert as opposed to a musical,” he said. Speaking of which, he offered a theory on why Webber’s music has become among the most beloved in the musical theater canon.
Memorable
“It’s evocative of emotion, very easy to listen to and remember. With just a few bars of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ or ‘Sunset Boulevard,’ you can already feel the drama. Same with ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’ That show’s riffs have become ingrained in our psyche. You can’t help getting transported to another place once you hear Webber’s music.”
Ongoing at the CCP’s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo until today, the Manila run of “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber” is presented by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, All Youth Channels, Citibank and Concertus, in association with Webber’s The Really Useful Company Asia-Pacific.
