I wore a denim skirt and a casual blouse on opening night — it was an outfit that reminded me of what I usually wore back in college. Seemed fitting. After all, I was about to watch a play featuring songs I first heard back in the mid-2000s.
When I entered the Power Mac Center, I was greeted by the infectious enthusiasm and energy of the crew members. Posters featuring lyrics of Sugarfree songs were hanging on display. The word #SaWakas2017 was beautifully painted on the wall — and the Instagram-happy audience promptly took pictures, myself included.
The front desk offered beer — fair enough since “Sa Wakas” has a reputation for ripping hearts open.
Nearly four years after it’s initial run in 2013, the much-celebrated musical is back on stage with performances until Feb 12 at the Power Mac Center in Circuit, Makati.
“Sa Wakas” (The End) is the title of Sugarfree’s album released in 2003. It can also refer to how the play is about the ending of a relationship.
The story attempts to answer the question, “why do relationships fail?”
It revolves around the life of photographer Topper (Vic Robinson and alternated by Pepe Herrera), and his confusion with life and love. He finds himself juggling the hearts of his neurosurgeon fiancee Lex (Caisa Borromeo and alternated by Cara Barredo), and free-spirited writer, Gabbi (Justine Peña and alternated by Maronne Cruz).
They are joined on stage by the show’s Greek chorus (Abi Sulit, Moira Lozada, Laui Guico) and Kuya (Hans Dimayuga).
Aside from the storytelling technique (it starts in the end), “Sa Wakas” is really nothing new — we’ve all heard a version of how a fun-loving girl conveniently enters the picture to permanently crush an already-disintegrating relationship. Ah, but the story’s familiarity is actually one of its strengths.
The characters are just like my wine-chugging, twenty-something friends: they travel when they can, they watch “One More Chance” repeatedly, they struggle with career choices, they fall in love and make mistakes. It feels like I was watching scenes from the lives of people I actually know, no kidding.
Topper is that guy who often finds himself in trouble for unintentionally charming his way into women’s hearts. Lexi is everyone’s “perfect friend,” the one with a pretty face, a nice job and a bright (but possibly boring) future ahead. Even Gabbi, who supposedly caused the breakup, is relatable and easy to like. There is no real villain in the story, except perhaps the feelings of the characters themselves.
Director Andrei Pamintuan’s approach is subtle. There are no big gestures like how it’s usually done in movies, but the small details and the well-planted symbolisms made the story feel more real and relatable. “Sa Wakas” is a reminder that a simple story is never really simple, especially if involves raw and real human emotion.
Adding to the magic, of course, is the beautiful lyrics of Ebe Dancel. The play shows just how brilliant Sugarfree’s songs are. They capture the full range of human emotions: from human longing, (“Mariposa”), to feeling like a failure (“Hari ng Sablay”); from feeling in love (“Prom”) to the pains of saying goodbye (“Kwarto”).
The brilliant integration of the lyrics to the lines of the characters tells a lot about the writing skills of Pamintuan and his co-writer Mariane Abuan. The use of songs was very natural, which gave the script an organic flow. (Idea: Use lines from Sugarfree songs next time you get into a fight with your partner).
The characters performed their own amazing versions the songs under the musical direction of Ejay Paminutan and with the help of a 7-man orchestra.
So why do relationships fail? It’s hard to pinpoint the exact reason and the precise moment when Topper and Lexi’s relationship “failed”, but isn’t that how things are in real life? If you do figure out exactly what happened, please do tell.
“Sa Wakas” is simple, relatable and real. It speaks to every twentysomething who has ever gotten confused. It speaks to anyone who has been brokenhearted. It speaks to every “hari ng sablay.” In short, it speaks to anyone who has listened to Sugarfree songs, even just once.
I didn’t get a can of beer from the front desk by the way, but maybe if they offered margaritas, it would’ve been worth it to pay for a glass.
Sa Wakas runs from Jan 12 to Feb 12 at the Power Mac Spotlight Theater in Circuit Makati. Tickets are from PHP700 to PHP1500. For more information, visit the Sa Wakas website and Facebook page.
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