BOTO.... Another Musical

Boto-boto-boboto-bonana-fanna-fo-foto-fee-fy-momoto-boto

Written by Vince De Jesus, Liza Magtoto, & Anj Heruela
Directed by Phil Noble

February 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 26-28, March 5-7, 2010
10am and 3pm

This play on voter's education is not just about the election, but about being a concerned citizen that may want change. Set in vaudeville style, the play is cast with 10 actors who do multiple roles in multiple stories. Generally episodic, the narrator, who plays an instrument live and sings some originally composed tacky campaign jingles, weaves the stories and comments on the scene and segues to the next. He may sometimes ask the audience for their opinion on controversial issues. Generally, the scenes may sound serious, but the attack is really comedy.

The stories follow the chronology of the election process, thus beginning with the voter's registration and ending with the need for vigilance even after election.

The first story is about an idealistic TEENAGER who wants to register, but his jaded GRANDPARENTS, supported by his apathetic cousin, try to stop him and question his idealism. This is followed by the episode on a couple who rely on vending bananaque and occasional work in construction for their income. As the WIFE tries to go to the miting de avance of a candidate she hates, she and her HUSBAND fight for their own opposing candidates, but actually in so doing, fight about the qualities they hate about each other.

We then center on the AMO and YAYA. The amo requires her personal staff to vote for a particular candidate who perpetuates political dynasties and feudal politics. Truth is, yaya wants to end her feudal relationship with her amo, who is ironically like a daughter to her, and she can't bring herself to vote for that questionable candidate, who may be the amo's secret lover.

A series of "what if" situations are then shown, exhibiting a future where automated machines may dictate the winner or where training schools for future leaders may be run, but the question is who will program these machines and run these schools?

The narrator then asks if automation may prevent cheating, and he sings about situations where it may not, thus necessitating the voter's vigilance.

One of such situations involve vote buying, which happens to a bloc of voters - the gay parloristas. The unity of this bloc of voters may break when one of them become disgruntled with recent events and think of leaving the country. But then, they are given more "equal" opportunities if they do vote for a certain candidate.

Guarding the process after the votes through people's participation in governance becomes the theme in the story about a voter who is thrown into our own world, and who comes from an ideal parallel universe. She tries to assert her right as a citizen, and discovers she can employ the people's initiative to oust their mayor. Instead, she is hounded by authorities. Her twin in this parallel universe couldn't care less, but she is the one imprisoned instead.

A miting de avance happens and all candidates fight for their posts. In a production number involving a sexy dancer and grandparents who indignify themselves, they later strip themselves of the gimmickry and along with enlightened voters, say simply what they want. The narrator leaves the audience with a question about what they want for their country, and how they may want to get it.

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