She’s lucky she now has her own career in theatre which started when she played the young Katy de la Cruz in “Katy”.
“Nagbakasakali lang ako roon when I took the audition,” she says. “At sobrang kaba ko kasi puro magagaling ang mga nakasabay ko. I was so surprised nang ako ang mapili.”
She got rave reviews for her performance alongside veterans like Isay Alvarez and Robert Sena. Now, the three of them are together in PETA’s “Rak of Aegis”, a rock musical based on the songs of the Aegis Band like “Halik”, “Luha”, “Sinta” and “Basang Basa sa Ulan”. The play is written by Liza Magtoto and helmed by Maribel Legarda.
Isay and Robert are not a married couple in the story but former lovers. Robert is married to Kakai Bautista and Aicelle is their daughter. Isay is their barangay captain, a single mom whose love son, Poppert Bernadas, is in love with Aicelle who’s named Aileen. Also in love with Aicelle is the boatman, Jerald Napoles.
Aicelle shows her lung power and gifted pipes in various numbers. Which one is the most difficult for her? “The songs toward the climax and the end, kasi nagbi-build up yung emotion mo and you still have to sing. Talagang very challenging.”
She seems to have a special connection with Isay and Robert? “Yes, kasi after working with them in ‘Katy’, they really treat me like their own daughter. They’re very supportive and help me interpret my songs and my role well. Talagang mino-motivate nila ako for me to give my best in each scene. As Aileen, mahirap lang kami rito and I want to help my parents by posting my video habang kumakanta sa youtube para mapansin ako ni Ellen Degeneres at sumikat ako. We live in a community na forever lubog sa baha and it’s celebrates the resilience of the Filipino spirit in times of adversity like Ondoy. May actual baha sa loob ng theatre at makikitang lumulusong kami talaga rito with matching bangka pa.”
“Rak of Aegis” is showing up to March 9 at PETA Theater. Get tickets at Ticketworld at 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph or www.petatheater.com.
