Words by Meldrick Tin
Photos by Joshua Go
If you love singing along to the tunes of your favorite OPM hits “Halik,” “Sinta,” and “Basang Basa sa Ulan” by Filipino pop rock band Aegis, here’s some good news for you! In case you missed it, your favorite Pinoy musical Rak of Aegis is back on its 7th season, this time with new cast members. Since 2014, the play has been capturing the hearts of many, leaving the audience laughing and crying both at the same time from the heavy drama and comedy of the play.
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The play revolves around the impoverished community of Brgy. Venezia, a barangay that has long been suffering from poverty and heavy floods. A dreamer and a raketera, Aileen, the lead character of the play, believes that she’s done waiting for things to just happen as she uses the internet to showcase her talent in music in the hopes of getting attention with regards to the situation she is currently in. In the process, she encounters love, issues, and difficult decisions alongside the different characters of the play.
Aileen with her parents Kiel and Mercy
From the witty hirits of Tolits, or the heavy burden that Mary Jane has to carry on her back, each character in the musical brings a unique and different attack to the play. It’s hard not to fall in love with the characters because all Filipinos, in one way or another, can relate to them.
Aileen with Tolits
The beauty of the play comes from the raw, real and relatable battles and struggles that each character has experienced. Rak of Aegis tackles issues ranging from societal issues such as poverty and class inequalities to family issues, specifically the challenges between parents and children. Essentially, the play instills to its audience to always have hope and to conquer life — no matter how stormy or flooded it gets.
The original cast of Rak of Aegis
As for the play’s technicality, the stage goes beyond the typical musical play, because in Rak of Aegis, there is only one stage throughout the entire show, wherein only a few details in the stage change per setting. What sets this stage production apart is that it gives its audience the feeling of actually being in the setting. For the play’s musicality, some of the songs of Aegis were tweaked and modified to make them more applicable to the context of the story, while altogether giving the songs a new color and flair to it. The play gives us a much deeper appreciation for the songs of Aegis, and for OPM in general.
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Whether you’re watching the play for the first or the hundredth time, the cast of the play says that the 7th season will bring something new to the table. Both the original and new cast promises to inject their own unique artistry and experiences to the character they are portraying, making sure that their character are given justice to.
A curtain call for Rak of Aegis’ first run this season!
The 7th Season of Rak of Aegis will run from July 5 to September 29, 2019 at the PETA Theater Center, New Manila, Quezon City. Get your tickets now at ticketworld.com.ph.
Have you already watched Rak of Aegis? Share your thoughts with us below!
