Kuya Manzano

Category: Blog

Thoughts, articles, comments on news, etc.

  • Shakespeare Best Sonnets

    Shakespeare Best Sonnets

    Reading Shakespeare’s best sonnets can be challenging especially when it is not included in the repertoire that you’re supposed to practice. It’s understandable anyway how some sonnets only get analyzed whenever you feel like browsing some of them to read on your free time and realize the aspects that made them extra interesting.

    Well, writers will be writers and they would always find inspiration when they need it, modesty be damned. In case you’re a prude, consider yourself warned. I never pretended to be a decent man as I have urges that make me read some lines with colorful images hovering above my head. Just like the advice Mercutio gave his forlorn friend, Romeo, in the play “Romeo and Juliet”:

    If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.
    Now will he sit under a medlar tree
    And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit
    As maids call medlars when they laugh alone.
    O Romeo, that she were! Oh, that she were
    An open arse, and thou a poperin pear

    shakespeare best sonnetS

    In what way can love not hit the mark? While Romeo had to intimately talk to Juliet in order to realize how much she loved him too, a little advice went naughty once you try re-reading the lines. Too bad, Romeo is too innocent to realize it. Just in case you missed the line that says “open arse”, you then would realize that Romeo needed to pop her in pear. Well, that escalated quickly. Then again, you know teenagers always have had issues with raging hormones.

    And speaking of hormones, The Bard must have thought of Adonis as someone too hot and alluring for the Roman goddess Venus to resist. Too bad he’s a prick. But what is it really that the latter found attractive in this arrogant prick? Let’s face it. Some good-looking men deliberately act the part of the prick because it makes them extra attractive. It must have been that air of mystery that engulfs them in such a facade. Such is his sex appeal that Shakespeare found it fitting for Venus to say:

    ‘Fondling,’ she saith, ‘since I have hemm’d thee here
    Within the circuit of this ivory pale,
    I’ll be a park, and thou shalt be my deer;
    Feed where thou wilt, on mountain or in dale:
    Graze on my lips; and if those hills be dry,
    Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie.

    shakespeare best sonnetS

    Parks are meant for walking. Deers are meant for hunting. Tread on those hills and find some nice fountains gone gushing. And you realize it’s the Roman goddess of love gone rhyming. When erotica is sweetened with the help of double entrende, it makes you guess what Adonis is thinking. Which pair of lips should he be grazing?

    And just when you thought it’s only women that are good with messing with their lovers’ heads, think again. One memorable exchange occurred in the play “Hamlet” between Hamlet and Ophelia. Ophelia is trying to strike up a decent conversation with Hamlet even if she can sense how his sanity is starting to get the best of him. The dialogue went as this.

    HAMLET
    Lady, shall I lie in your lap?

    OPHELIA
    No, my lord.

    HAMLET
    I mean, my head upon your lap.

    OPHELIA
    Ay, my lord.

    HAMLET
    Do you think I meant country matters?

    OPHELIA
    I think nothing, my lord.

    HAMLET
    That’s a fair thought to lie between maid’s legs.

    OPHELIA
    What is, my lord?

    HAMLET
    Nothing.

    shakespeare best sonnetS

    It’s all in the head and it’s a discussion about the head. In a sense, just when you thought that the welcome malice is all in Ophelia’s head when it comes to discussing where Hamlet may enter his head, Hamlet would twist the conversation about a place to lay his head. Sometimes Ophelia interprets the conversation as Hamlet giving her head only for Hamlet to adjust his choice of words in a way to refer to her lap as a resting place for his head. Then he mentioned resting “between maid’s legs” and Ophelia is confused all over again. See? Even our own heads got messed along with theirs.

    If reading between the lines recited in several soliloquy stanzas delivered in plays like “Hamlet” hasn’t messed you up just yet, go and watch us in full crazy glory as I mess up with your heads as well. It would be a blast for me to play the titular role of Hamlet at DITO Bahay ng Sining. Updates, play dates and ticket prices would be displayed at my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and at my Twitter account @kuyamanzano. I would appreciate it very much if you would follow both accounts on social media for real-time updates. See you there.

  • Spanish Classes in London: Basic guide

    Spanish Classes in London: Basic guide

    Wrote about Spanish Classes in London because I want to help people around the world with their Spanish progress.

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    Living in Europe is like living in a continent where countries are separated by just borders. Cross a border and hear a different language spoken and the locales consider it normal. But with everyone busy with work and sidelines, they would rather learn Spanish in the closest language-learning center in London.

     

    But prior to signing up for the nearest center offering foreign language classes like Spanish classes in London , identify first which segment of the language is applicable for you.

     

    – Academic Spanish

    Otherwise known as the tutor-reliant Spanish language course for students, some language learning centers provide Spanish majors the guidance they needed that they may not be receiving in schools. Not to downplay the educational institution’s ability to teach Spanish, but some students learn faster with the help of tutors. Retaining everything they learned is the constant challenge that each educator is facing.

     

    Regardless how these students plan to use the Spanish language they learned, some language-learning centers have a way of motivating them to learn more with the end in mind. There are careers ready to accept certified Spanish learners apart from the academe. Surely, most of these Spanish majors had an academic career in mind. The moment there is more than one career option available, it would get them taking their Spanish lessons seriously.

     

    – Spanish for Business

    There is conversational Spanish and there is Business Spanish. Multinational corporations in Spain or Latin America don’t have to learn English or Mandarin to expand operations. Spanish is the third most spoken language in the world. They end up opening satellite cities in non-Spanish speaking cities like London. Some of them hire locals that can speak Spanish while the rest would rather native Spanish-speakers that live in London too.

     

    With the demand increasing by the day, eventually they relent into hiring more locals with an acceptable level of Spanish proficiency. What is the rest of young urban professionals left to do? Upgrade skills. They enroll into Spanish language-learning centers with Business Spanish as their primary course. It helps them upgrade their resumes for that job interview.

     

    – Spanish for Certification

    The most prominent certification you may have read in brochures is DELE otherwise known at the diploma that you need attach to your resumer before applying to jobs that required Spanish proficiency. While the exam is taken in satellite offices of Instituto Cervantes, other language-learning centers offer courses with DELE in mind. It’s like preparing for any licensure exam in any accredited school and taking the exam in only one accredited institution.

     

    While most of the job vacancies are in Latin America, learning Spanish based on the dialect Castellano as it is spoken in Spain is still the sensible way to go in securing employment in a Spanish-speaking setting. Most job hunters investing in upgrading their skills would rather take the certified route in bagging a stable job. It’s a priceless investment worth sinking your teeth into.

     

    So, thinking about getting into Spanish-speaking jobs? You might consider enrolling in one of the Spanish-learning centers in London itself to attain a level of proficiency that a native speaker can understand. Besides, the true test in identifying how fluent you have become is in finding out that a native Spanish speaker totally understands you. Have fun learning Spanish.

    In the meanwhile until I go to London and can teach you perhaps in 2016 with Marco Polo the Musical, you can lear something with these Youtube videos I shot. just simple stuff.

  • Shakespeare Background

    Shakespeare Background

    Every legend has an origin or a background. While William Shakespeare is more known today as the playwright that wrote timeless classics like “King Lear”, “Macbeth”, “Othello”, and “Hamlet”, he occasionally dabbled in acting. In this vein, we then explore how he started – in a theater troupe called “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men”. Knowing them would give us a background about The Bard as a member of his troupe and how they presented his works onstage.

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    “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men” was formed during the reign of the virgin queen, Elizabeth I. They got their name from Henry Carey, their patron from whom the name “Lord Chamberlain” was taken. This troupe originally consisted of 8 members that shared the profits in case the play earned more than what it spent and debts since the rent needs to be paid. This then made them known as “the eight sharers”, a system that became prevalent throughout their existence. The eight-sharer platform eventually became a business system for them. Whenever one leaves the troupe, another will come in to fill that vacated “sharer status”.

    The men that really kept the troupe assembled in the beginning consisted of James Burbage, the theater impressario, and his sons Cuthbert who became a theater builder and Richard who became one of the most celebrated actors of his era. Richard Burbage played most of the lead roles in this troupe. Since much of his earlier roles were not documented much, there was a speculation that he played female roles too as women are prohibited from joining the theater during the 1500’s. Most plays that Shakespeare wrote premiered with Burbage playing the title role like “King Lear”, “Richard II“, “Othello” and “Hamlet”.

    And since most plays included a comedy role, the role often ended up with Willliam Kempe. Kempe is noted for his dancing skill and comic timing. For this reason, he became associated with such roles like Dogberry in “Much Ado About Nothing“, Peter in “Romeo and Juliet“, and Bottom (I like his name) in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream“. But his signature role turned out to be Falstaff, a character found in 3 of Shakespeare’s plays. Falstaff may actually be the most popular comic character that Shakespeare ever created – a character whose adventures are presented most of the time for laughs. Falstaff may be the best proof of how Shakespeare added depth to characters even if the genre is comedy, proving how even comedies still serve as theatrical challenges to anyone interested to play such roles.

    Shakespeare and Company: A Bookstore in .... Paris?

    While some of Shakespeare’s works don’t aim for historical accuracy, it still elicited controversy once in a while. The only recorded controversy so far of this theater troupe is their “special performance” of “Richard II”. At that time, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex was planning a revolt against Elizabeth I. His supporters then commissioned the said performance as if they are already conditioning the public of the Queen’s downfall. The Queen herself became aware of the propaganda, sensing that the character alluded to her was Richard II himself. It put the troupe in bad favor with Her Majesty. If not for one of the performers, Augustine Philips, testifying that they were offered 40 shillings more than their usual fee, they will not get pardoned. Because of this, the troupe got to perform again for Her Majesty the day before the 2nd Earl of Essex got executed by guillotine.

    Shakespeare stayed with the troupe even if “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men” changed their name several times depending on who patronized them. Finally, they earned the name “The King’s Men” after James I of England got crowned and patronized the troupe.

    Before Hollywood stepped in to produce their versions of Shakespeare’s classic plays, 3 of the best-selling plays ever performed were remade by renowned Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi as operas: “Macbeth”, “Otello” (Othello) and “Falstaff”. It gave Italians an idea about Shakespeare presented in a genre they can appreciate best. French composer Ambroise Thomas, on the other hand, remade “Hamlet” for the French audience to enjoy and appreciate Shakespeare’s classic tragedy.

    Hamlet with Kuya, 2015

    Shakespeare as a writer indeed inspired several generations despite the common notion of how his characters served as the toughest challenges ever encountered by any actor serious with theater. This is why it will be a fascinating event to witness my performance as the disturbed soul, Hamlet. Details are on the poster. For more updates, please click “Like” on my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. See you there.

  • Shakespeare Books: Random Commentary of Shakespeare’s Works

    Shakespeare Books: Random Commentary of Shakespeare’s Works

    Reading Shakespeare in its original form can be taxing for someone like me whose mother tongue is not even English. What more for the native English speakers who happened to be compatriots of the The Bard? It can put your mental stamina to the test especially when faced with text peppered with apostrophes and Victorian references that may not be always applicable today.

    So how about analyzing the storylines as condensed in the books found on Project Gutenberg? Summarized versions of the books are found there for everyone to get a gist on the play that some folks plan to stage. A few ideas won’t hurt granted that I remove the spoilers. If you insist on the spoilers, just click on the images to see them.

    Shakespeare Books: Random Commentary of Shakespeare’s Works
    Screenshot from the 1936 film, “As You Like It”

    – As You Like It

    Perhaps the laziest title ever, it was the story about Orlando and Rosalind. The fact that Orlando had a brother who treated him like crap and Rosalind’s father got exiled by his brother to steal the duke title meant destiny. Well, more like finding a kindred spirit except that the next time Orlando met Rosalind, he didn’t recognize her anymore. Rosalind disguised herself as a guy when she escaped her uncle with her cousin, Celia, who in turn disguised herself as a poor lady. Yeah, long before Pinoys enjoyed gender-bending soaps from J-Drama and K-Drama, The Bard has been writing stuff like this. “As You Like It” is his best among them though. And the part about lazy titles has some truth to it too.

    Shakespeare Books: Random Commentary of Shakespeare’s Works
    Screenshot from Wisecrack’s YouTube channel

    – Macbeth

    Originally titled “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, it is about Macbeth who realized he got some malevolence in him the moment he received the prophecy from the 3 witches about him being the next king of Scotland. He never knew he wanted to be king until Lady Macbeth pushed him to. Maybe she’s just the flicker needed. So he killed the king. She framed the sons and the remaining heirs to the throne escaped, which gets you thinking what kind of upbringing they received. He accumulated power and wealth and thought that he’s invincible. The moment he realized that his reign is endangered, he had to go back to the 3 witches who told him about prophecies related to the only things that can endanger his rule. Too bad he read them all wrong especially the part about no human being born of a woman could ever kill him.

    Shakespeare Books: Random Commentary of Shakespeare’s Works
    Screenshot from Wisecrack’s YouTube channel

    – Romeo and Juliet

    If there is one love story that set the trend for most soaps today, it’s “Romeo and Juliet”. Young teens that fell in love way before they realized their families are enemies, sometimes it serves as a commentary about how the young fall too fast and think too slow. Not that falling in love is a bad thing but a series of coincidences and a whole lot of recklessness later [SPOILER ALERT], the couple is dead. And it all began with a letter that did not make it to the recipient. Such is the time when smartphones don’t exist yet.

    Shakespeare Books: Random Commentary of Shakespeare’s Works
    Screenshot from Wisecrack’s YouTube channel

    – Othello

    A tale of jealousy gone wrong, it showed how the jealousy of Iago spurned him to push Othello to be jealous of his wife, Desdemona. And all because Othello picked Cassio instead of Iago for promotion. Iago then made it look like Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, driving Othello mad with jealousy. Knowing how the opera version composed by Giuseppe Verdi chose to focus on this drama shows how Othello, as much as he is dubbed as “The Lion of Venice”, is just as guilible and powerless when it comes to wolves in sheep’s clothing just like Iago. Othello chose to believe his new aide instead of his own wife and it produced irreversible and painful consequences. I told you I won’t spoil much.

    Shakespeare Books: Random Commentary of Shakespeare’s Works
    Screenshot from Wisecrack’s YouTube channel

    – Hamlet

    And of course, Hamlet, the inspiration behind Lion King except that it was not mentioned in the animated film whether Scar had to marry Simba’s mom to be king. Here, it’s the marriage between his mother, Gertrude, and his uncle, Claudius. He was like “Mom, Dad’s barely a year dead and you got remarried? And to uncle, of all people?” It drove him nuts and jumped to the conclusion that no woman can’t live without a man, to hell with being a virtuous woman. He delivered a series of soliloquies that suggested he’s bonkers. He pushed Ophelia away before he could cheat on him (I told you he’s bonkers) and staged his plan for vengeance that could have suggested that he may not be as bonkers as we thought him to be. One big guarantee is that it turned out to be the greatest play that The Bard had ever written.

    Hamlet with Kuya, 2015

    And so was the title of the play that I will be headlining as shown on the dates written on the poster. Everybody knew I’m bonkers and I can’t blame them if that’s best criteria they used for casting me as Hamlet. I hope to see you there. Don’t worry, I don’t bite. I would appreciate it more if you like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

  • Shakespeare Biography: Focusing on the Man Himself

    Shakespeare Biography: Focusing on the Man Himself

    From nicknames “The Bard” and “Billy Shakes” at least according to some fans, Shakespeare will always be one of the most celebrated writers in English literature. When a playwright demands acting depth even from characters meant to be funny, you know you have a writer that at least knows what to ask of his actors.

    Shakespeare Biography: Focusing on the Man HimselfBut as the man identified separately from his writings, who is William Shakespeare really? Until now, records disputed the date of his birth. So the only other proof that he had ever been born is his baptismal certificate which states that Shakespeare was born on April 26, 1564. On whether this was the earliest case of a baptismal certificate being accepted as a legitimate proof that a person is born, it is not much of an issue anymore. Shakespeare existed because a portfolio got preserved along with his works. It can possibly be summarized into a bio-data but then again, we can go the resume route if we wanted to delve deeper into the professional himself.

    His father, John Shakespeare, was an Englishman who moved to Stratford to work as an apprentice glover and tanner of feathers. He married Mary Arden sometime between 1556 and 1558. So it must have been years before Mary finally had a date with the stork and popped out William for the English literary world to enjoy. Well, not that early, I must say.

    He had to be educated first, of course. His father sent him to the Stratford Grammar School near their home on Herley St the moment William turned 7 years old. No record matching such claim existed though. Besides he had to quit school at age 13 because his father could no longer afford him. They must have been that poor.

    Shakespeare Biography: Focusing on the Man HimselfEveryone is free to speculate what kept him preoccupied between quitting school and becoming an actor-playwright as not much is said about it either. Suggestions about a legal career or an academic career are welcome. Historians are still disputing some claims anyway.

    It was recorded though that in November 1582, he married Anne Hathaway, not the actress since the Anne Hathaway that William married was born April 1556. (In case you don’t believe me, please watch the movie “One Day” and listen to that horrible English accent.) They had 3 kids, 2 of which are twins. Susanna was the eldest, born May 26, 1583. The twins are Hamlet and Judith, named after William’s closest friends.

    Not all of his works are plays. The plague in 1593 forced theaters to close shop until the plague is contained. This gave him time to write his non-dramatic poetry. I know a website that even shared how perverted his poetry is once in a while especially when bored. If not for the “occasional inspiration”, publishers in his time will not realize the literary gem “Venus and Adonis” turned out to be.

    Shakespeare Biography: Focusing on the Man Himself

    Once the plague was over, he resumed his theater career and joined The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the theater troupe that served as his drama lab for future hits like “Richard III”, “King Lear”, “Othello” and “Hamlet”.

    How did Shakespeare die then? Some people still consider it as a mystery since nobody dies from drinking too hard in one night. One night is not enough to broil your liver but who know how long and how hard had he been drinking prior to that night? Besides, at the time of death, another plague is starting to take over in the form of typhus. Another set of speculations to entertain then.

    Shakespeare Biography: Focusing on the Man Himself

    As for reliving the works of Shakespeare today, I would highly recommend that you watch our take on one of his toughest plays ever staged, “Hamlet“. To get constantly updated about this project and the next upcoming projects that I am currently committed to, please like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

  • Shakespeare and Company Paris Bookstore

    Shakespeare and Company Paris Bookstore

    Shakespeare and Company Paris I found. I understand the initial shock when it comes to the address found in this intriguing bookstore named “Shakespeare and Company”. I was expecting to find it in England, not in Paris. But then again, if not for my curiosity piqued, I will not be motivated enough to explore what is in store for us here through the bookstore’s official blog.

    Shakespeare and Company: A Bookstore in .... Paris?

    Shakespeare and Company is managed by its proprietor, Ms. Sylvia Whitman, a position she inherited from her father, George Whitman, who founded this bookstore. In fact, Ms Whitman was generous enough to share her father’s ideals that he used in putting up this bookstore.

    The highest quality of an individual is to be human. The phrase “to be human” means to follow life wherever it may lead, up and down, down and up, from the bottom of the world to the top, from darkness into light, through each degree of good and evil. As the circle of knowledge widens, life grows more beautiful and heroic. We are part of everything—men, books, cities, railroads—all made from the same atoms and molecules, all living together and dying together, joined into one imperishable unity that can never be divided.

    Hmm, humanist ideals. I know a group in the Philippines that upheld humanist ideals. Then again, it served as the guiding principle that helped Ms Whitman maintain this bookstore. While some folks consider her endeavor as doomed, the transformation that this market is undergoing served as a challenge to her. I know how eBooks have often taken much of the attention away from the physical books themselves. But I applaud her efforts at keeping a bookstore that promotes literary classics. Besides, the online bookstore is already in the works. When will it be launched? No date has been mentioned yet.

    Efforts to promote the bookstore are evident with the way they used social media in updating every bookworm worldwide. They have a SoundCloud page where they air their podcasts, a Tumblr page where some snippets of the bookstore itself are shared and of course, a Facebook page that may have more content than what is found on their blog. It must have been the uploaded photos and shared podcasts that directed much of the traffic to the Facebook page away from the official website itself.

    The creativity level of some of the guests featured here is astounding. Imagine the poetry of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman used in a play as if the 2 poets are answering each other with lines from their poems. That must have been intriguing. What if these 2 literary luminaries had a history with each other? The dramatic reading of the play was also broadcast through this podcast episode on SoundCloud.

    Shakespeare and Company: A Bookstore in .... Paris?

    Despite having a “Shakespearean” reputation, the crew behind Shakespeare and Company try to make an effort to be relevant. Laura Keeling, the Events and Communications Manager of Shakespeare and Company, did not let their nationalities hinder their support for #JeSuisCharlie. A large group from their staff joined the January 11 rally in support for freedom of expression. At the end of the day, literature is still literature after all.

    Shakespeare and Company: A Bookstore in .... Paris?

    For a bookstore, they sure know how to keep the place populated with events that attract fellow literary junkies. It seems like Paris is a nice place to hangout when poetry readings are your thing. Cultural insights and commentary about how some folks would still favor paperbacks over eBooks can be read in their blog too.

    Shakespeare and Company: A Bookstore in .... Paris?

    William Shakespeare is still relevant today because the generations that he inspired keep his memory alive. This is also the reason why Ikarus Productions will stage “Hamlet” at DITO Bahay ng Sining in Marikina. In case you haven’t realized yet, I will be playing the title role of Hamlet. To constantly get updates and teasers regarding me and the play that I will headline, please like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

  • Top 5 Musicals

    Top 5 Musicals

    What could be the safest bet or measurement when it comes to identifying the top musicals today? It doesn’t have to be new as all musicals listed below have revivals. Performed worldwide to universal acclaim, the key for spotting them is in the kind of playlist worth saving to your mp3 player.

    Sure, a nice libretto would need a solid storyline to go with the LSS-inducing tunes. But after listening to the songs on repeat mode, do you still feel like reliving that day when you first saw these musicals? Let’s analyze the list that I came up with.

    Top 5 Musicals

    – Les Miserables

    The story of a bread thief that found salvation, Les Miserables dared question the definition of a good person. While addressing the fact that being a good person does not automatically erase the criminal record aggravated by violation of the parole conditions, it also addressed the kind of law enforcement done in France in the past. Jean Valjean did what he can to repay the kindness that the benevolent bishop did for him by paying it forward to Fantine and later on to Cosette. But these are nothing to Javert who chose to focus on the letter of the law. Confrontations and the precursor to the French Revolution were set to music that stays within your consciousness long after you have watched your first show.

    Top 5 Musicals

    – The Phantom of the Opera

    One of the first romance-thriller musicals that became a major hit, “Phantom” was less of a morality play and more into examining Christine Daae’s mind. She has Daddy issues for sure – a weakness that the Phantom easily exploited. The grand orchestral sound looming above this magnificent musical gives me goosebumps from that first notes pressed on the organ to the blasting score produced to complement the falling chandelier. Every time you watch it again, you end up realizing that the Phantom is such a charmer. It might have been the mask that really provided the trick. With music that resonated through the halls reverberating up to the ceiling, sometimes the fallen chandelier can be viewed as an after effect of the booming orchestral sound just waiting for that hanging set of lights to drop.

    Top 5 Musicals

    – Cabaret

    One of the earliest musicals that dared tackle edgy themes, Cabaret did not shy away from the roots of Nazism while performing upbeat tunes. If Les Miserables used the rising disappointment of the proletariat towards the ruling class as a subplot, Cabaret used the depressing state of Germany months before the Nazis came to power. Sometimes you end up viewing the song-and-dance numbers as attempts to lighten up the mood until you see the Master of Ceremonies performing “If You Could See Her Through My Eyes” with a dancer wearing an ape mask. It even ended up supporting the perception about its lead character, Sally Bowles. The happiness ends up looking like a facade for Sally while the happiness is used as a tool by the Master of Ceremonies to comment on issues like racism and changing social norms through songs performed. The ending struck a nerve at how things have changed the moment the Nazis have secured their hold on political power.

    Top 5 Musicals

    – Chicago

    Upbeat music sung with lyrics leaning towards sex and violence, the song-and-dance numbers end up as commentary about the justice system. Billy Flynn was spot on in referring to the system as a circus. So why bother pretend to be serious about the trial of 2 of his clients, Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart? Just “Razzle Dazzle” them and “they’d be begging for more”. Little wonder “Chicago” ended up as one of the musicals with the most reruns today. For a musical score that is heavily dependent on jazz, even the casual musical fans accustomed to contemporary pop music end up enjoying the Prohibition-era genre through this musical.

    Top 5 Musicals

    – Miss Saigon

    Miss Saigon attracted controversy even during its premiere due to its “depiction” of Asian women as sexpots. It even angered some conservatives at how Vietnam War was used as a background for this edgy musical. But did the upbeat tracks cover up the stench and squalor of Saigon at the height of the Vietnam War? No. If ever there was a musical that addressed the melancholy and depression felt across the country through music, it was Miss Saigon.

    It also presented well the point of view that each character harbored in these war-torn territories. “Dreamland” and “The American Dream” presented best the delusions of The Engineer. “Sun and Moon” and “The Last Night in the World” presented the genuine love between Kim and Chris. 2 of the most depressing songs in the repertoire are “I Still Believe” and “The Sacred Bird”, both sung by Kim. The only song maybe where almost everyone pretended to be happy is “The Heat is on at Saigon”. Music not only gave us LSS-worthy hits but it served as an effective tool to push the story forward.

    You may have noticed how all of the musicals listed here involved themes that were edgy. It broke the myth that musicals tackle only happy themes. Obviously, some of the musicals listed used upbeat tunes to push the story forward. But it does not make the theme any less heavy. You get to realize that the moment you read the lyrics. Do you agree? Feel free to share on the comments’ section below. Don’t forget to like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

  • Top 5 Disney Movies

    Top 5 Disney Movies

    Ah, Disney! The brand that made it cool to be a kid and great to sing along to animated movies. Nobody is too old for that stuff. In the course of having your daily dose of Disney goodness, favorites cannot be avoided. But we will limit it to 5. I will make it random too because choosing among them is already too much to handle, what more if we rank them.

    Top 5 Disney Movies

    – Toy Story

    The story of Woody and Buzz serves as a reminder to kids about pride and prejudice. And first born children with self-esteem issues can relate. Whenever a new kid arrives in the house, it becomes the center of everyone’s attention, not you. You’re still a kid but the new kid is, well, new. It’s the same self-esteem issue that Woody felt upon the arrival of Buzz Lightyear. Woody is still the same toy. He is still fun to play with for his owner and cool to hang around with for his fellow toys even if he barely concealed his disdain for Buzz. Also, Buzz’s talents that Woody lacked just worsened the bitterness. When 2 “co-workers” find themselves in the same situations, they are forced to cooperate with one another. They end up discovering each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It took forever for Woody to realize that but at least they found great friends in each other.

    Top 5 Disney Movies

    – Finding Nemo

    Nemo, just like some kids, got fed up with his dad who constantly told him that he can’t do much without him. Sure, Nemo’s Dad will forever be scared of what could possibly happen to his half-finned son. But every parent discovers their inner courage every time their offspring is in trouble. Nemo used to be embarrassed of his dad’s cowardice or lack of self-confidence in him. But, like some relatives, the only way they get to prove each other wrong is when catastrophe strikes. And also, Dory. She’s not as useless as you think she is. It’s her short-term memory loss that might even endeared her to some viewers. Getting voiced by Ellen DeGeneres is a major factor though.

    Top 5 Disney Movies

    – The Lion King

    According to some critics, “The Lion King” is this generation’s “Bambi”. Mufasa’s death was a rude awakening to some kids as to how their recklessness can cause death of a parent. While Simba found solace in the “Hakuna Matata” lifestyle, the fact that his uncle’s crime of killing his father has yet to be brought to justice. Of course he had to take responsibility over the death too. While he may never bring back his father’s life, the best he could do is restore the kingdom to its old glory by facing his uncle head on. As to why some writers compare it to Hamlet, it’s more about the father-son vs uncle dynamic. Remove the madness quotient and everything else is kid-friendly.

    Top 5 Disney Movies

    – Wall-E

    If ever there would be one film to recommend to parents with toddlers that can’t speak yet, it would be Wall-E. With 75% of the movie having no dialogue and just dependent on the characters’ action to get the story going, it served as the best homage to silent films without having to go black-and-white cinematography-wise. It was on second viewing that some fans realized its slight anti-technology statement where all humanity has

    relocated to a different planet and become totally dependent on machines. And it all started when Wall-E found a seedling that might be a tree if nurtured well. With the help of another robot, EVE, they end up exploring how humanity needs to be restored, not overpowered, by technology. If that sounds like the best statement against films like “I, Robot”, then I don’t know what else could be.

    Top 5 Disney Movies

    – Frozen

    Disney’s most famous animated film to date where girl power is best expressed. It also served as the best balance between the gender roles. Our lead female characters here, Elsa and Anna, are still princesses in distress. There are men available to save the day for them – the prince and the ice vendor. There are almost no wasted characters in this film because almost everyone served a purpose including that pesky monarch. In fact the pesky monarch ended up becoming a story device in how princes are portrayed in the past – the kind of man who can save the day by marriage to the princess. The safest spoiler that I can share here is it’s one of those Disney movies that did not end with the prince and the princess getting married.

    How about you? What are your favorite Disney films so far? You may have your reasons for picking them from gender sensitivity, honesty about technology or how it hit some nerves in your personal life. Also, a little favor. Please like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Muchas gracias.

  • Top 5 Hamlet Facts

    Top 5 Hamlet Facts

    Watching some previous versions of Hamlet get me thinking how taxing this role can get. At first I thought I would have a field day playing this role. I’m unapologetically crazy anyway. But I forgot that it is still Shakespeare after all.

    So exploring the role ended up discovering several interesting facts about the play itself. The origins, the records it held and the limits of being crazy applied on the role to remind the audience that while Hamlet’s sanity is going nowhere, he still tried to put up a facade of being “normal”.

    Top 5 Hamlet Facts

    – Hamlet is based on Amleth

    Amleth is the tale of a young Viking warrior who comes home to find his father murdered and his mother marrying his uncle, a presumed attempt to avoid a power vacuum. What power vacuum when the son usually succeeds the dead king? Anyway, Hamlet was performed in the early 1600’s which is proof that even way back then, adaptations of European literature is already common.

    Top 5 Hamlet Facts

    – Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play ever

    That’s how indecisive Hamlet is in plotting revenge. He got too preoccupied with acting forlorn, depressed and antisocial that he can’t even bring himself to do it or did he? It makes the question “To be or not to be?” almost irrelevant to the scheme he concocted to push his uncle to come clean whether he killed his own brother for the throne or not.

    What possibly lengthened the play was the series of soliloquies recited here. Again, another sign of indecisiveness on Hamlet’s part as he puts too much effort on contemplating his revenge that all he ever accomplished is a series of monologues directed to himself.

    Top 5 Hamlet Facts

    – Hamlet, in turn, has an opera adaptation too

    3 of Shakespeare’s straight plays have had opera adaptations and Hamlet is the only one in French. With music by French composer Ambroise Thomas, it was shorter compared to the 4-hour long version of Shakespeare. Some versions even show Hamlet cutting himself on the torso and his forearms to stomach the sight of his mother marrying his uncle less than 2 months after the king died.

    There was even a version that did not mind presenting Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, as a sex-starved widow. Either she really was in the play as Shakespeare intended or some directors chose to present the opera in the twisted point of view of Hamlet.

    Top 5 Hamlet Facts

    – Hamlet is about madness, real and faked

    The challenge for the actor is to avoid going over-the-top when the character is feigning madness. The challenge for the audience is to guess which parts are legitimate crazy and which parts are just pissing the rest of the characters off. Hamlet seemed to enjoy the attention he’s getting from the craziness he exuded ever since he fell into depression.

    The real insanity that is easiest to spot in this play is how Hamlet pushed Ophelia away from him. His mother’s marriage to Claudius really ruined his view of women as said in the line “Frailty, thy name is Woman!” So before Ophelia would get a chance to cheat on him, Hamlet pushed her away.

    Top 5 Hamlet Facts

    – Hamlet’s full original title is “The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark”

    It due time it simply got referred to as “Hamlet” since much of the story revolved around him. The word “tragedy” in the title sounded like a spoiler although some deaths are not physical.

    I am excited to play Hamlet next month. Expectations are high. I welcome the pressure because an actor has got to what an actor has got to do. No regrets. Roles like this can really get you thinking how therapeutic theater can get. It will be staged in February although you have to keep yourself posted for updates for the particular dates. Just like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano to learn about them first. See you around.

  • Kublai Khan Facts I Learned Playing Him

    Kublai Khan Facts I Learned Playing Him

    Kublai Khan (1215–1294) was Genghis Khan’s grandson, the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire and the founder of China’s Yuan dynasty. He won the throne in a civil war against his own brother, took southern China with the help of Persian siege engines, and ruled it through Chinese-style government from a new capital where Beijing stands today. I got to know him well when I played him on stage, so here are the five facts that stuck with me most.

    Interest in Kublai Khan came back when Netflix’s Marco Polo series started streaming in December 2014, with Benedict Wong as the Khan. The show ran for two seasons until 2016. TV takes creative liberties, so let’s look at the history. He is not in the same league as his legendary grandfather, but once he became emperor he set out to conquer the lands the old man never took.

    Painting of Mongol horsemen riding in procession in Kublai Khan's time

    1. He became Great Khan by defeating his own brother

    Most of his relatives backed his younger brother, Ariq Böke, as the next Great Khan, and Ariq Böke held his own great council (kurultai) to claim the throne. Kublai contested it, and the result was the Toluid Civil War of 1260–1264. His brother Hulagu was his only sibling ally, and princes from North China and Manchuria backed him too. Ariq Böke finally surrendered in 1264. Kublai spared his brother’s life and kept him imprisoned, but not his top supporters.

    Ancient stone Buddha statue carved into a cave wall

    2. His early interests leaned towards philosophy and Buddhism

    Before he was emperor, Kublai invited the Chan Buddhist monk Haiyun, one of the top monks of northern China, to Karakorum in 1242 and learned Buddhism from him. He was so impressed that the son born the next year was named Zhenjin, “True Gold”. Later, the Tibetan lama Phagpa became his Imperial Preceptor. That curiosity also pushed his interest in China and the philosophies taught there.

    Red stone relief of a bearded man playing a flute

    3. Persian siege engines helped him break southern China

    The idea of the Mongols taking the Song dynasty’s huge, walled cities sounded impossible. What they lacked in numbers they made up for with engineering. In 1271–72 his nephew Abaqa, ruler of the Ilkhanate in Persia, sent him two engineers, Ismail and Al al-Din. They built counterweight trebuchets, later called “Muslim trebuchets” in Chinese records, that threw stones of around 90 kg (about 200 lbs). Those machines crushed the defences of Xiangyang, which surrendered in March 1273 after a siege of about five years. Southern China fell completely by 1279.

    Pillared hall of an old Chinese palace with red columns

    4. He ruled China through its own system of government

    Kublai kept many Chinese officials and advisers and ruled with Chinese-style institutions. In 1271 he gave his dynasty a Chinese name, Yuan, and Chinese history counts the Yuan among its official dynasties. Today the Mongols are one of China’s recognised ethnic groups, alongside the Han, Tibetans and Uyghurs.

    Portrait of Kublai Khan over a mountain landscape

    5. He conquered China but kept Chinese culture alive

    Many conquerors try to erase the culture of the land they take. Kublai let Chinese culture stay, like China was the crown jewel of his empire. He moved the capital from Karakorum in Mongolia to Dadu, also called Khanbaliq, on the site of present-day Beijing. Seeing their heritage respected, many Chinese scholars agreed to serve in his court. Little wonder Chinese history remembers him so differently from other invaders.

    Want the other side of the story? Read my 5 interesting facts about Marco Polo’s life, the Venetian who said he served at Kublai’s court.

    Playing Kublai Khan on stage

    All this reading was homework. In 2015 I played Kublai Khan in Marco Polo The Musical at the CCP, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, after playing Baron Tegan in earlier runs. I wrote about it in back to Marco Polo the musical playing Kublai Khan. A big dare, because it’s the most prestigious theater in the country, the character is way older than me and the songs have a high and low vocal range. If you ever need to age up for a role, my theater makeup guide covers the basics.

    Kublai Khan FAQ

    Who was Kublai Khan?

    He was the grandson of Genghis Khan, Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 and the founder of the Yuan dynasty of China. He died in 1294.

    How did Kublai Khan become Great Khan?

    He won the Toluid Civil War (1260–1264) against his brother Ariq Böke, who surrendered in 1264.

    Did Kublai Khan really meet Marco Polo?

    According to Marco Polo’s own book, yes. Polo says he spent years at Kublai’s court and served him on missions around the empire.

    Why is the Yuan dynasty called Yuan?

    Kublai chose the Chinese name Yuan for his dynasty in 1271, which helped him present himself as a legitimate Chinese emperor.

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