More Zsazsa Zaturnnah?

Tickets to all performances of Zsazsa Zaturnnah were hot commodity the past couple of weeks. It only goes to show how addicted people are to this musical. There were those who even went to CCP on the performance date itself to try their luck when they heard that tickets from CCP and Ticketworld are all sold out.

As early as now, there are news that another run is being prepared by Tanghalang Pilipino this June. They are possibly mounting the show at RCBC, double the seating capacity of Huseng Batute to accommodate more people.

Daisies

Last night, a special tribute was held at the CCP for Daisy Avellana, National Artist for Theater, to celebrate her 90th birthday. I am glad to be part of this special event thanks once more to Yvette. Ms. Avellana is best known for her role as Candida in Nick Joaquin's Portrait of the Artist as a Filipino. MTP's musical adaptation of the same play is one of my favorites and the performances of the theater luminaries though short is nevertheless grand.

Update: I just viewed my blog using IE and apparently the embedded media player is not playing. Apologies for that, will have to figure it out as soon as I have the time to play with the scripts. (Ang hilig ko sa play!)

Literary Gems

Hogi and Zsahli both attest to the fact that "Last Order sa Penguin" is a great and fun read. Zsahli told me that she'll lend me her book but after hearing what she went through just to get her own copy I realized that it must really be good so I decided to look for a copy myself.

I finally saw a one at National Bookstore in Glorietta last Thursday and also seeing F. Sionil Jose's "The Pretenders" in the same aisle, I decided to purchase both books. I've always wanted to read the Rosales novels but I just keep putting it off. What finally triggered me to pick up a copy of the 4th novel last Thursday was the fact that we'll be watching Tanghalang Pilipino's adaptation on Friday courtesy of Ms. Yvette and I wanted to at least be aware of what it's about.

I finished Last Order in one sitting and am halfway through with The Pretenders. I immensely enjoyed the first book and find the last one very interesting and deeply absorbing. If you're into reading, go get your own copies. Another great thing is that both books cost less than P300. Less than what you'll pay for the ho-hum contemporary novel that you'll most likely pick up the next time you're at the bookstore.

Amazing Race All-Stars

Apparently Rob and Amber haven't had enough...after a multitude of reality shows, they're back in Amazing Race 11. Joining them are previous contenders though I don't know most of them since I stopped watching the show after the 6th season when I found out that the two of them were cast for the 7th race.

Teri and Ian are also back, most hated couple of the third season! Ugh! Add to the bunch Team Guido who I can't stand! Then there's Charla who's both endearing and annoying.

The only saving grace of the show for me are Kevin and Drew. One of my favorite team's from the first season.

Selle...si Teri at Ian!!!

Day 6

The sixth season starts with America already in chaos and Jack Bauer en route to his homeland from captivity in China. How he plays a part to stop the carnage, I won't tell.



The first 4 episodes introduces several new characters but also retains some of the characters that we have come to love like Bill Buchanan, Curtis Manning, Karen Hayes, Wayne Palmer, and of course Chloe O'Brian. According to reports we will also be seeing the return of fallen president Charles Logan and his wife Martha Logan.

Watching the show, I can't help but feel that this season has much more intensity and emotion based on how the plot is developing. The overall feel of the episodes are more somber but don't get me wrong death toll are higher than ever and shocking turn of events are still present. If the Arab community is complaining on how they are portrayed by the series, this season tries harder than ever to thwart the implications brought about by them being constantly portrayed as the bad guys.



Though the season is still peppered with the usual plot lines (how many can you come up with with every episode more exciting than the next), it has considerably made an effort to effect changes to keep it fresh for viewers. For one, the mastermind is already revealed and the terrorists plans are already in play.

For those of you who haven't seen it, I have to say that a shocker awaits you. Different in intensity from the Day 5 premiere but still devastating.

Jack's back!

Zsazsa Zaturnnah Update

2 weeks before the scheduled show and we are already out of tickets. This is something that I am truly happy about but something that I didn't expect since most of my friends are not really inclined to watch musicals. I also expected to have just a little difficulty selling the tickets. In fact, a few days before we signed the contract with CCP, my two friends backed out on me. We eventually pushed through with it and we're glad we did.

I am really thankful to those who helped us promote our slot and to those who bought tickets without thinking twice in their efforts to make our lives a little bit easier. I won't be naming names, you all know who you are. See you all on the 28th!

By the way, visit asian theatre circuit for the latest news on Philippine theater.

A Better Workstation Through and Through

After the cramped workstations that we had to share with non-employees of the company, can't help but post a pic of the new and definitely better work area.

24 Season 6 Leak

Last November, Fox announced that they will be releasing "24 Season 6 Premiere" on DVD. This will be right after the 2-day back to back 4-episode season premiere of the biggest tv hit. For fans who can't get enough of all the action, this is great news. Imagine getting the DVD right after watching it on TV.

However, a week before the premiere, there have been news that the 4 part premiere episodes are already available for download. Apparently, somebody got a copy of the unreleased DVD, ripped it, and uploaded it.

Moose Murders

Rep opens their 70th season with Moose Murders. I haven't heard of the play so I decided to read about it online and was frankly surprised at Rep's decision. The first thing that came to mind was why "Moose Murders"?

It is notorious as a famous broadway flop closing it's doors to the public only after one performance.

"So when people ask me if I saw Moose Murders, I have to answer: "Yes and no." For I lasted--I mean this--11 minutes, still the shortest time I've ever spent at a show."

'"as soon as the curtain went up on a rustic lodge in which several moose heads were mounted. "Though the heads may be hunting trophies," Frank Rich of the New York Times would later write, "one cannot rule out the possibility that these particular moose committed suicide shortly after being shown the script that trades on their good name."

"Those of us who have witnessed the play that opened at the Eugene O’Neill Theater last night will undoubtedly hold periodic reunions, in the noble tradition of survivors of the Titanic"

'I asked Gable if she knew that Moose Murders stunk by the time she got to page four. "I knew it was very weird," she conceded. "I didn't want to take the job, but my agent at the time said to take the money and run.'

If Rep decided to gamble on this play then I guess they must have seen something good in it. I will keep mum about it until after I see the play.

Sidenote: Tickets to Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal are selling fast! Get your tickets now!

Happy New Year!

If how you start your year is any indication of what you are to expect for the entire year then it is both good and bad for me. Good because I spent the entire day sleeping and eating. Bad because with all the eating that I did, it will be impossible to keep off the unwanted weight.

I have been successful in sticking to the Abs Diet program until December 24 when I purposely put it on hold in preparation for the binge eating that the holidays bring about and eat I did.

We had dinner at my uncle's house where they served a truly gastronomic fare consisting of kani salad, rib eye steaks, crustinis, ice cream cakes, and cupcakes by sonja's. I had a more than ample serving of each and back home before the clock stroke twelve, I had another meal, this time with lechon, chicken barbecue, buko salad, sapin sapin, leche flan, and ube.

Conspicuously missing are my mom's delicious buko pandan and the usual grilled liempo. The next day was a mere continuation of the binge eating that I did. Add to the list the suman and the bars of chocolate that I had in between meals. As if it's not enough, we trooped over to the Fort to buy Krispy Kreme's and McDonald's rice burgers.

I'm giving myself till the end of the first week of January to resume the program that I put on hold. Till then, I'm enjoying myself with all the trans fat that I am consuming.