‘Bagets’ musical digs deeper into friendships, mother-son relationships

MANILA, Philippines – As soon as upon a time, a era of younger individuals who grew up with out cellphones turned to buddies for enjoyable and leisure — and someplace in the course of shared laughter and attempting occasions, turned their friendship right into a second dwelling. 

That is what the beloved, iconic ‘80s film Bagets instilled to the hearts of an entire era via screens 4 a long time in the past. That barkada feeling is ready to linger this time on stage, because the movie will get its first musical adaptation via Bagets The Musical. 

The unique coming-of-age movie follows highschool youngsters Tonton, Topee, Arnel, Gilbert, and Adie as they navigate via life of their final yr of highschool. The characters had been initially portrayed by William Martinez, JC Bonnin, Raymund Lauchengco, Herbert Bautista, and Aga Muhlach, respectively. 

Ten actors will breathe life into these 5 teenage boys. 

Alamat member Tomas Rodriguez will carry the awkward however humorous spirit of Gilbert on stage. Becoming a member of him within the forged are different P-pop artists, Milo Cruz (Xerenade) as Tonton — the group’s mischievous highschool repeater — and Ethan David (G.A.T.) as Arnel, the conyo (wealthy) and go-with-the-flow buddy. 

The P-pop stars will play the characters alternately with different forged members: Noel Camia Jr. as Gilbert, Migo Legitimate as Tonton, and KD Estrada as Arnel. 

Jeff Moses and Sam Shoaf will painting Topee, the athletic buddy with Hiligaynon roots. Lastly, taking over the position of Adie, the charming however confused sweetheart, are Mico Hendrix Chua and Andres Muhlach, son of the character’s unique actor Aga. 

All 10 actors have appeared in a number of movies and reveals on TV previous to the stage manufacturing. Nonetheless, apart from Noel, KD, and Mico, Bagets The Musical marks the principle forged members’ first look in theater.

“I can see their starvation, and that’s what counts,” the musical’s director Maribel Legarda stated, when requested the way it’s like working with the principle forged, who’re largely comparatively new to the craft.

Refining ‘Bagets’

The unique film Bagets follows the buddy group from their first day as seniors in highschool as much as their commencement in 1984. This specific setting stays true within the musical adaptation. 

Nonetheless, in keeping with the manufacturing group, some parts from the unique movie had been tweaked within the new script with a purpose to resonate with right this moment’s “worth system.”

They didn’t specify which components had been modified within the musical. Nonetheless, within the movie, minors Adie and Topee had been paired up with two older ladies — one thing frowned upon in right this moment’s society, after over 40 years for the reason that film’s launch.   

“You’re not simply speaking to people who find themselves caught within the ‘80s. They had been within the ‘80s however they’re now within the current, with the present discourse on what’s politically appropriate,” the director stated. “‘Yung job namin (our job) is definitely to balanse (steadiness) what’s prior to now that’s good, and what must be tweaked for the present.”

Aside from the boys’ college and private issues, the unique film additionally touched upon their household dynamic.

“Siguro makakarelate din po yung kabataan at iba pa — hindi lang po kabataan — sa aspeto ng when your loved ones is just not your property, you search for different properties. At yung mga bagets, yung naging tahanan nila is yung barkada nila,” Noel stated.

(I feel the youth and different generations — not simply the younger ones — will relate within the side of when your loved ones is just not your property, you search for different properties. And to the boys, that dwelling turned out to be their buddy group.) 

The musical deep-dives into the boys’ relationship with their moms, who had been portrayed as both busy, overprotective, or emotionally absent within the movie. 

“This specific stage adaptation focuses on the boys’ relationships with their moms,” stated Carla Guevara Laforteza, who will play as Adie’s mother. “Our moms and our youngsters within the viewers will be capable of perceive why the moms are performing that means, and why the children are performing that means. It’s actually extra of a miscommunication, misunderstanding.”

Becoming a member of Carla within the casts’ mom lineup are Neomi Gonzales (Ana, Topee’s mother), Mayen Cadd (Ditas, Arnel’s mother), Ring Antonio (Luz, Gilbert’s mother), Natasha Cabrera and Kakai Bautista (alternating as Delia, Tonton’s mother). 

Refinements apart, the musical nonetheless carries the core of Bagets: discovering dwelling within the consolation of grand and mundane moments shared with buddies , and on the identical time, rising up and determining what it means to be a person. 

“I feel the most important factor that we need to do, actually, is as a lot as potential [be] in a position to painting that barkada feeling — the essence of what an ensemble actually is,” Andres stated.

“Yung mga bagets dati, yung means nila of leisure is yung isa’t isa — magkasama sila, [kung] anong journey ng barkada nandoon. Sana ma-inspire din namin yung mga kabataan [ngayon] to exit, get [off their] telephones, [and] be with [their] buddies,” Jeff stated. 

(Younger folks used to entertain themselves by being with one another — doing regardless of the group cares to do. I hope we encourage right this moment’s youth to exit, get off their telephones, and be with their buddies.) – Rappler.com 

Bagets The Musical will run from January to March 2026 at Newport Performing Arts Theater. Tickets can be found on Newport World Resorts Field Workplace and Ticketworld.

Deanne Reese Imperial is a Rappler intern finding out journalism on the College of Santo Tomas.