Lea Salonga and Her Partner from Les Miserables Team Up for Fun Home

“The biggest difference would be [from the New York staging]… we’re not in the round. In New York, I was in the very front row…my feet were on the stage….which is weird,” said Eric Kunze, Lea’s Marius in Miss Saigon 23 years ago. Now he will star as Bruce Bechdel opposite her character Helen Bechdel. Bruce is Alison’s (played by Cris Villonco) complex father, who is also a part-time mortician and home restorer, while Helen is Allison’s distant mother, who is also an English teacher and a former actress.

Contrary to its title, the musical digs deep into the stability of family relationships and its effect on an adolescent female trying to come to terms with her sexuality. In Lea’s words, what makes the material so affecting is that the characters are real people we have actually encountered and even loved. “These are people that have been in your life for years and years and years…how do you shake that? How do you shake an aunt who’s not treated well by her husband, or, how do you take those people away from you when these are people you love and have been a huge part of your life?”

Based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir of the same title, Fun Home features music by Jeanine Tesori  and book and lyrics by Lisa Kron. It was the most awarded and acclaimed musical of 2015, having won 5 Tony Awards including Best Musical. When her father dies unexpectedly, graphic novelist Alison dives deep into her past to tell the story of the volatile, brilliant, one-of-a-kind man whose temperament and secrets defined her family and her life. Moving between past and present, Alison relives her unique childhood playing at the family’s Bechdel Funeral Home, her growing understanding of her own sexuality, and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father’s hidden desires.

Produced by Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group, the musical will be directed by Bobby Garcia. Joining him in the creative team are musical director Ceejay Javier, vocal director ManMan Angsico, choreographer Cecile Martinez, lighting designer Adam Honore, set designer Faust Peneyra, costume designer Oz Go, sound designer Kevin Heard, video designer GA Fallarme, and hair and make-up  stylist Johann dela Fuente.

Fun Home is recommended for ages 13 and up. Parental supervision is encouraged for those below 13 and children under the age of 7 are not allowed inside the theater. It runs for a limited engagement of 18 shows from November 10-27, at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza Makati.

Tickets are available by calling Ticketworld at 891-9999.