‘The Bodyguard’ musical in PH production
They say it is difficult to protect a political leader when confronted by a determined assassin. This was shown that tragic day in November 1963 in Dallas, Texas, when the popular US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
It was partly his fault, for he insisted on riding in an open car although there was some feeling against him in Dallas. And the bodyguards were unable to prevent the outcome.
Around that time, I was a staffer of the Manila bureau of the Associated Press, and in 1970, Pope Paul VI was in town.
He had a speaking engagement in some area outside Manila, probably Novaliches, and we, members of the press, who were gathered around eager to interview him, were roughly shoved aside by the pontiff’s Italian bodyguards who shouted at us in English.
I was so mad that all I could do was shout back at them, “This is not your country!” Not that it proved anything.
Eye on the throng
Flashforward to 2025. The Catholic Church has a new superstar (next to the Lord Jesus and Mother Mary, of course) in the person of Pope Leo XIV.
He is all over Facebook, followed by enthusiastic crowds, cuddling babies, blessing impaired children, smiling and waving at hundreds if not thousands.
He is always followed by bodyguards, men in black coat and tie, keeping an eye on the throng, occasionally gently pushing away an overeager devotee. And I haven’t even mentioned the Vice President and her hundreds of bodyguards!
Premiere
This rambling, disjoined thoughts on celebrities, bodyguards and assassins now bring us to the heart of the matter: 9Works Theatrical and Rockwell’s “The Bodyguard The Musical,” the stage version of the 1992 highly popular film which starred Kevin Costner and the late Whitney Houston.
The musical’s book was written by screenwriter and playwright Alexander Dinelaris, adapting the screenplay of the film’s director, Lawrence Kasdan.
The Philippine production of “The Bodyguard The Musical,” directed by Robbie Guevara with musical direction by Daniel Bartolome, had its premiere on Sept. 26 at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell Center, Makati, and will run until Oct. 9.
West End stars
Fresh from successes in London’s West End, Grammy-nominated Christine Allado plays celebrated rock star Rachel Marron. Matt Blaker, another West End star, is Frank Farmer, the titular bodyguard.
To be heard in the stage version are “Run to You,” “I Have Nothing,” and “I Will Always Love You,” songs popularized by Houston.
Allado and Blaker recently met with the media to talk about their roles and their other projects together, including a successful team-up at West End.
Additional elements
From what I remember about the film, there is a threat to the life of the wildly popular singer Marron (Houston), and Farmer (Costner) must be on the lookout for the possible assassin among Marron’s adoring crowd. Of course, singer and bodyguard fall in love, this being a love story.
For veteran actor Raul Montesa, who is the play’s codirector, “the musical is very similar to the film, even the [movie] lines added. But we put in a few elements to help the audience visualize. So there are things you will not see in the film.”
“We strove for a totally different perspective, the complete look for a certain scene,” he added.
Guevara said “We all need some sort of ‘bodyguard’ in our lives—to protect us, guide us, emotionally, physically. It doesn’t have to be just one person.”
“Actually it should be a lot. A family, a group of friends, trusted colleagues. Without a ‘bodyguard’ or ‘bodyguards’ we will all be lost,” the director said.
