MABINING MANDIRIGMA

Casting female leads to portray Mabini is a brave and wise choice, since gender is not the focus but the brain. Nonetheless, it ultimately adds little to the overall impact.

Even though Mabini is the lead, Aguinaldo always steals the spotlight. David Ezra has a powerful voice, enough to fill the venue. Despite his character’s questionable choices, his performance is undeniably worth cheering for.

The title “Mabining Mandirigma” is not suitable. Mabini’s ideologies aren’t fully dissected. It’s ironic that he is hailed as the “Brain of the Revolution,” yet the script offers little insight into how his mind actually works.

Halo-halo ang mga naipakita. Naging checklist lang ito ng ilang historical events. Nagpakita sila ng iba’t ibang eksena, tapos hindi na pinagtagpi nang maayos. Abrupt ang mga transition. Parang PowerPoint ang program flow. Nakasalalay parati sa text na nasa screen kung nasaang bahagi na sila ng kasaysayan.

Minsan, may mga mukha at name tag pang ipinapakita para lang malaman kung sinu-sino ang mga karakter. Hindi naging malikhain ang paraan ng kanilang pagkwento.

Too wordy ang mga lyrics. Too preachy ang mga dialogues. Kapag kinakanta nila ang mahahabang linya, ang hirap na niyang pakinggan. Parang lecture siya na tinapalan lang ng paulit-ulit na tono. Kaunti lamang ang mga awiting may recall.

Kahit mahaba ang mga usapan, kulang pa rin. Gumawa pa sila ng summary sa dulo upang sabihin ang mga nangyari sa dula at sa bansa. Ang hirap hindi mag-react dahil totoo naman ang kanilang sinasabi. Ngunit bilang isang musical, hindi ito sapat.

It only means that the scenes can’t stand on their own. They always have to be explained through lengthy dialogues, summary statements, and text presentations.

The show has the tendency to use history as a hook to win approval. Since it aims to fight for the country, you have no choice but to like it. Otherwise, your nationalism might be questioned.

After watching, you'll somehow feel good since you're supporting something that is on the right side of history. Production value, however, is a different story.