Drag show most dazzling in 11th version

CRIS Nicolas, lady in red.

“Bedazzled,” a hit musical revue still ongoing after seven years at Club Mwah in Mandaluyong, has reached a new level of sophistication in its 11th incarnation.

The numbers are still over-the-top fun and stunning; the costumes, sleeker than ever; the laughs, nonstop as usual. What changed? Transitions are smoother, with performers and their quickly changing roles a perfect match each time. Even the music has been scaled down to a much more comfortable volume.

Best of all, the place is packed every night of the presentation (Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 p.m.). When the place opened in 2004 with the first ever “Bedazzled,” the troupe, which calls itself Follies de Mwah, often had to show their wares to just a handful of people every night—which was such a waste because, always, the energy and quality of performance were beyond reproach.

“CELL Block Tango,” a big audience favorite, has become a staple number.

Well, that’s all behind them now. Creative director Cris Nicolas and his partner Pocholo Malillin, general manager and marketing director, both say they’re in a happy place these days.

Cris has even found time to take on more numbers than he used to, and the show’s followers are the more fortunate for this welcome development. Even under heavy makeup, it would be easy to spot him—Cris is that one in this gifted cast who consistently takes impersonation to the ranks of art. To think that he also designs all the costumes and all the sets.

ONE of the new production numbers in “Bedazzled” is this take on the movie “Burlesque.” Creative director Cris Nicolas says it’s a difficult piece for his Follies de Mwah.

THE DRAG queens elevate impersonations to the level of performance art.

“Since I was very young, music, dance, costumes and set design have been my burning passions,” Cris explains.

Eleven versions of the same organic show in seven years. How have the Follies kept evolving and become more interesting? Only the apparent top hit in the original show has remained on the playlist—“Cell Block Tango” from the movie “Chicago.”

“It has always been the best-applauded number and the most-requested. People never seem to get tired of it, so we have kept it,” says Cris.

Of the new numbers, the most difficult for the cast, according to Cris, is “Amadeus” and “Burlesque.” This is why, he says, “We need to rehearse three times a week for three hours, and warm up for 30 minutes before show time.”

There have been changes in the cast. “A few have gone abroad, or become over-aged, or started giving us attitude,” Cris adds. The latter, especially, had to go.

CHAKA has been with the show from the very start.

But all in all, Pocholo estimates, only four of the performers in this batch are “brand new.” Most have stayed, he explains, because “we treat them like family, and there’s a strong sense of teamwork—one for all and all for one.”

POCHOLO Malillin thanks the audience after every show.

There are more men in the troupe now; that is to say, those who are not girls, or gay. “We had auditions for the male parts,” says Cris. “We signed up the most talented, most committed and most willing to learn.”

Pocholo says the show has gone places as well: “Cebu, Boracay, Bacolod, Dagupan, Davao, Tagum, Laoag, Vigan, around Laguna, Cavite, Tagaytay, Clark, Subic, and several five-star hotels in Metro Manila.” And their biggest markets? “Balikbayan, tour groups, private companies, foreigners, locals…”

In short, just about everyone. That really is a good place to be. <strong><em>Emmie G. Velarde</em></strong>

(Club Mwah is on the third floor of The Venue Tower, 652 Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong; tel. nos. 5322826 and 5357943.)