A few hours before the preview performance of PETA’s new musical play “Walang Aray” on Valentine’s Day, lead star Alexa Ilacad was in a silent panic backstage.
She had been sick for a number of days and had missed rehearsals with partner KD Estrada. The two, who have been quickly embraced by fans as the latest loveteam to watch (fondly called “KDLex”), had been allowed by their home network ABS-CBN to expand their wings by trying out musical theater — a first for the two young stars.
Estrada and Ilacad gamely took on the challenge, plunging into daily rehearsals with the ensemble of the venerable theater company PETA and learning their lines and songs. But in the days leading up to their debut performance before a live audience on Love Day itself, the stress, anxiety, and excitement would take their toll, and Ilacad now found herself without a voice.
“I had been sick for a few days na, and dahil dun ‘di kami nakapag-rehearse ng ilang araw (and because of that we weren’t able to rehearse for a few days),” she said, pointing to Estrada who stayed close by, occasionally rubbing her back.
In this interview conducted backstage right after they had successfully closed the show and taken their bows before a cheering audience, the pair still seemed in a daze that they had hurdled opening night.
“I’m just so happy that we survived, kasi ‘yun lang naman ang prayer ko (because that’s all I was praying for): Please let us survive, kasi may sakit ako (because I was sick),” Ilacad said.
“Kanina bago sumalang, di ako makahinga at all, sobrang clogged ng nose ko, ‘di ako makakanta. Sobra ‘yung kaba ko, so I texted my mom: Please pray for me, kasi ganito ang nararamdaman ko, ganyan ganyan (Earlier before I stepped onstage, I couldn’t’ breathe at all, my close was all clogged, and I couldn’t sing. I was so nervous, so I texted my mom: Please pray for me, because I’m feeling this way, etc.)”
Trust a mother to come to the rescue pronto: “Takbo siya dito may dala siyang inhaler (she rushed to me with an inhaler),” said Ilacad of her mom.
“Nag-steam din ako ng face, lahat ginawa ko (I also steamed my face, I tried all).”
Come the show itself, all that hard work paid off: Ilacad and Estrada acquitted themselves impressively, according to audience members. ABS-CBN’s talent management head Lauren Dyogi, the pair’s mentor, was seen in photos afterwards proudly hugging his wards onstage.
Ilacad had some of the most punishing songs in the musical, which uses original pop-rock music by Vince Lim to flesh out its satirical, Gen-Z take on the Severino Reyes sarsuwela “Walang Sugat” (libretto by Rody Vera). Playing the feisty sarswela star Julia, Ilacad said she would start the play all knotted up inside — until she is done with her first big solo, “Huwag Mo Akong Saktan”.
“Basta natapos na ‘yung kanta na (once I’m done with the song) ‘Huwag Mo Akong Saktan,’ I can breathe, I’m chillax,” she said.
“Kasi ‘yung ‘Huwag Mo Akong Saktan’ is the highest song in the play (because ‘Huwag Mo Akong Saktan’ has the highest notes in the play),” Estrada added.
“Sobrang challenge sa akin habang nagba-balance ako ng naka-heels dun sa parang stool, na may action, may acting, may lines (It’s a big challenge to balance myself in heels on a stool while there’s action, acting, and I have my lines),” explained Ilacad. “Bago kumanta nung song, isang buong 500 ml [of water] ang nauubos ko (before I sing the song, I can drink an entire 500 ml of water). But after, okay na, a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
Estrada had a different set of problems to grapple with. “Nung mga unang rehearsal, nabubulol talaga ako sa mga lines ko kasi pabilisan tapos super kailangan ma-project (During the first rehearsals, I would really get tongue-tied with the lines, because I had to speak fast and project my voice),” he recalled.
“That’s one of my two problems — ‘yung pronunciation and pagpa-project ng boses ko kasi I speak very softly as a person (pronunciation and how to project my voice since I speak very softly as a person).”
“But parang na-overcome ko ‘yung barrier na ‘yun dito sa theater (I think I was able to overcome that barrier because of theater), and I’m very proud of myself for doing it,” he added.
“Deserved!” said Ilacad, giving her partner a beaming look.
So how are they finding their musical-theater experience so far?
“Iba talaga (it’s totally different),” Estrada said. “Kasi ‘pag rehearsal wala masyado nanonood (during rehearsals there is no audience), or just the director and some other people. Pero iba ‘pag me live audience talaga (But it’s really different when there is a live audience). Sa live audience, I would say mas nakakakaba (it can be more nerve-wracking). But when you make them laugh or when you make them smile, it gives you more energy.”
“May nabibigay siya na certain high sa’yo (you get a certain high) as a performer, when you know that they’re enjoying [the show],” added Ilacad. “Kahit pagod kami (even if we’re tired), when we hear them laughing, or their reactions, kilig, etcetera, nakaka-engganyo, nakaka-energize siya (it’s very encouraging and energizing). Gusto mo pang galingan (you want to do better)!”
Estrada: “Yes!”