One More Chance the Musical: Loyal Adaptation with Room to Grow

It's finally here! Last night, the press, sponsors, showbuyers, and other supporters of One More Chance the Musical witnessed the full production during the Press Night.

PETA went all out for the show's run, decking out the venue with a photo area, neon lights displaying an iconic line, and a "freedom wall" encouraging attendees to send messages to someone they regret or have learned from.

Before delving into my thoughts, I want to preface this from a place of love – my love for one of the most iconic films of its era, my appreciation for PETA's work, and my fondness for certain Ben&Ben songs.

As mentioned during the press conference, the show remained loyal to the original script. The iconic lines fans would expect are all there. Perhaps too loyal, as I was unprepared for a runtime that felt longer than three hours. Some of the initial scenes, even when set to wonderful music, crawled at a sluggish pace, almost dragging me towards the next scene. The choices regarding the set, and the occasional lengthy setup times, contributed to this sense of drag. However, sparks from Via Antonio's portrayal of Anj and the entertaining choreography kept me engaged.

As a musical, the sound mixing could have been better. The cast comprised wonderful singers, but as an audience member, the strikingly varying volumes occasionally made some of the best parts of the songs too loud, breaking the potential harmony. Even in some solos, great singing felt like shouting.

As someone living with major depressive disorder, I disengaged during the hospital scene. The use of "Leaves," focusing on the line "I said all will be alright in time," rubbed me the wrong way. Any recent article on mental health would advise against telling someone in crisis that everything will be okay, as they often lack the capacity to care about the future when already overwhelmed. "Di Ka Sayang" could have been a much better fit, and the comedic cue on how the character was coping should also be changed, as it makes light of how some people legitimately cope with a depressive episode.

I had no issues with the acting. Aside from Via Antonio's comedic prowess shining through, Sam Concepcion effectively reminded us of how toxic Popoy can be most of the time. Jon Abella's JP was extremely relatable and endearing. It's just a shame that I won't be able to witness how great the other actors are, as all shows have been sold out.

I really appreciated how the costumes, mainly through the intentional and effective use of colors, directed the narrative.

Knowing how PETA handles productions, I'm completely hopeful that there will be continuous improvement. I'm looking forward to seeing future runs of this iconic counterpart to the film of my generation.