Substance over form

AS director, the author collaborated with Layag in local stagings of musicals like “Jesus Christ, Superstar.”

Louie Layag was a temperamental dancer-choreographer, so people were scared of him. But, I loved working with him, especially in productions like “Once Upon A Mattress,” “Jesus Christ, Superstar” and “Godspell.”

In the ballet world, Louie was known as the younger brother of Tita Radaic and Lucy Layag, who appeared in Sigma Delta musicals and Upsilon’s cavalcades. I treasured our collaborations despite his mercurial temper, because we worked on the same wavelength. When I would share an idea with him, he would execute it in choreography with fine synergy.

Louie gave my ideas flesh and form. We looked forward to our brainstorming sessions, because we enriched each other. To execute my vision for the “Gethsemane” portion of “Jesus Christ, Superstar,” for example, he turned some of the actors into rocks that took on interesting shapes as they moved inside a light-blue sack—it was exciting to behold!

Technique

When I wanted to improve the technique of Gintong Silahis’ performers, I asked Louie and iconic singer Aurelio Estanislao to give them workshops in movement and voice, respectively. They instilled in the performers the importance of substance over form.

Felipe de Leon Jr., aka Jun introduced vintage Katipunan songs like “Alerta, Katipunan” and I had Baby Barredo sing “Jocelynang Baliwag” in “Isang Gabi ng Awit at Tulang Makabayan” a week before martial law was declared.

Unexpected help came from Loretta Lichauco, Paulyn Paredes Sicam and Arlene Babst. With Barredo in the cast were Nelia Sancho, Pilar Pilapil, Boy Camara, Vic Silayan, Fred Montilla, Atang dela Rama, Zeneida Amador, Rita Gomez and Jay Ilagan. Performing proletarian theater pieces at Phil-Am Auditorium and Meralco Theater was trend-setting.

During the martial law era, Louie won a dance scholarship from a German dance company. We thought he was on his way to international success. So, we were saddened when we heard about his passing years later. But, every time I see Tita and Lucy, I’m reminded of their wonderful brother!