Hooking you right from the beginning, Muli: An OPM Musical gets its audience thinking of the lives they might have lived. Centered around the idea of “what-ifs”, this musical production from writer-producer Chessa Pammit and director Andrei Pamintuan offers an in-depth look at the passage of time, roads we wish we traveled, and the courage to turn away from escape and return to reality.
Talent and Creativity on Full Display
There’s a lot to admire about how Muli puts its production together. From the stage, to the cast, to the performances, the musical oozes with style and substance. Seasoned theater actor Kakki Teodoro leads the cast as Anita, a mother whose what-ifs we follow throughout the musical. Playing her daughter, Kath, is rising OPM star Janine Teñoso, making her theatrical debut. The chemistry between the duo is palpable and entertaining, able to hold your attention as the story unfolds.
The stage design is nothing to scoff at, either. Every element, prop, and backdrop is purposeful and interactive, serving the purposes of the story in creative ways. The love put in crafting the details of the production stands out immediately as soon as you enter the theater.
Despite blending modern technology and techniques to enhance the story, the more traditional theatrical elements still shine in Muli. Its captivating performances, impeccable acting, and well-executed writing ensures that it is still human creativity and artistry that helps us connect to the story it wants to tell.
The Illusion of Escapism and Alternate Realities
We’re all storytellers at heart. More often than not, we tell ourselves these stories; stories of lives we wish we lived, alternate choices we could have made, mistakes we could have avoided. Muli understands that temptation, and spends much of its story exploring what happens when those imagined lives start feeling more appealing than the one in front of you.
While there is an emphasis on the relationship of Anita and Kath, it is Anita’s dreams and fantasies that we follow throughout the musical. We are treated to elaborate sequences of song-and-dance performances as we explore how Anita views her past, her present, and her desired futures.
Amid a sea of “what-ifs”, ranging from fulfilled dreams to past romances, it is interesting that in these scenarios, she is alienated from her daughter, Kath. She’s hung up on opportunities she let pass by, but for all the lives Anita imagines, she never really entertains one without Kath.
Emotional Depth and Redemption
The emotional weight of Muli comes down to its characters. Each relationship is built to be entertaining, intriguing, and profound. We feel the youthful energy of the characters in their flashbacks, the desperate cling to the wall they’ve built when hurt, and the strain their loneliness takes from them.
And, just as equally, we feel their triumph when they overcome the pain that controls them.
By the end, Muli doesn’t necessarily make you stop wondering about your own what-ifs. If anything, it might make you think about them a little more. The difference is that you leave wondering less about the life you could have had, and more about what you can still do with the one you have.
Ready to face your own what-ifs? Catch Muli: An OPM Musical live on select dates from September 11 to 27 at the Globe Auditorium, Maybank Performing Arts Theater. Grab your tickets now!
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