I was really planning to watch Fuerza Bruta once I heard they were bringing the show to Manila. I know of it, but I had no idea what exactly it was. Problem was, whoever I tried to engage in the idea of watching it, had no idea what the hell Fuerza Bruta was. And since I haven’t seen the show myself, I didn’t really know how to describe it.
I was planning to watch the show maybe end of February, but when Delle and I got premiere night tickets, the rest of our friends decided to watch on the same date, so that we’d all be together. The down side was, it was February 14, Valentines Day, so traffic was a real bitch. Nevertheless, we made it to the Manila Hotel Tent, with about just 10 minutes to spare.
Like the Mamma Mia gala night, it was filled with the who’s who of Manila’s glitterati. Everywhere you looked there was either a celebrity, a politician, a model, or a really rich-looking person. There were free drinks that come with the tickets, and when the show started, we realized why.
When everyone was told to enter the main tent, everyone was abuzz with excitement. I supposed like us, most have an idea of what the show is, but didn’t know exactly what to expect. The moment everyone was in, the show started immediately. If you notice, my photos all have this strange animated quality to it. It was the lights in the tent. It’s not your usual light, it’s like lighting you’d expect from an alien spaceship, or a really trippy dream. At first I hated the idea that because of the lighting, my photos would all turn out weird. But in retrospect, it was perfect, because the weird exposures of the pictures somehow capture the surreal feel of the show. Like the photo below, it’s actually one of the performers interacting with one of the Eigenmanns.
My advice, it’s actually better if you don’t know what to expect. I’m posting pictures, but I won’t describe exactly what’s happening so it won’t spoil the experience. Besides the photos all look a bit freaky, so I’m pretty sure the experience will still be amazing to see live even if you see photos.
That’s also another thing I love about the show. They’re not anal about photos. You can actually bring whatever camera you’d like, and no one will stop you. They’ll just ask you to not use flash photography. I just used my iPhone for the photos. Had I known, I would’ve brought a point and shoot.
So instead of telling you what’s happening in the photos, let me just give you some tips. First, dress comfortably. For girls, don’t wear high heels. There are no seats, so you’ll be standing or walking around during the entire performance. Dancing is encouraged so don’t wear difficult or uncomfortable footwear. Second, it’s not for kids. Maybe teens, but the little ones might find it a bit too intense.
Third, if you like taking pictures, bring a camera. It’s rare to see a show like this that allows photography during the show. Fourth, prepare to be a little wet. Don’t worry, you won’t be soaked, but expect certain levels of moisture. Fourth, it’s not too cold inside, so no need to bring heavy jackets, unless you’re ginawin. Fifth, I suggest you have a couple of drinks before you watch the show. Not stone drunk, but a light buzz would be perfect for the experience.
Lastly, and I believe most importantly, have fun! It’s an interactive show, so bring your fun side. Don’t be a wet blanket, embrace all the craziness the performers throw your way. Don’t be shy or reserved, party to your heart’s content. If you’re game for anything, you’ll multiply the experience exponentially.
The show is pretty quick. You can opt for a late dinner after because you’ll be done in an hour’s time. Unless you want to hang out in the lobby area after, you can go out and regroup somewhere else and have dinner or drinks.
The whole experience was mind-blowing. It’s not really a musical like Mamma Mia, not acrobatics like Cirque, not dance like stomp. It’s got elements of all that, but it’s more a visual and visceral experience. The whole show feels like those dreams I have when I have a fever, like those hallucinations I get when my temperature soars beyond 40 degrees. It’s trippy, it’s freaky, it’s fun.
I don’t know if you’ll actually love it as profoundly as I did, because the vibe of the show isn’t for everyone, but one thing I can guarantee you is, this is something you probably haven’t seen before. It’s nothing like anything I’ve seen so far. I’ve watched many shows in Broadway and here in Manila, but by far, this is the most unique.
And the MUSIC!!! We were unanimous in hoping that they sold CD’s of the music because we were enthralled by the pulsating music that pervaded the show. If the performances were like city lights, the music was like the flying carpet we were on as we viewed the sights. It carried most of the mood of the show. It had this Ibiza feel inside the tent.
The show will run 6 weeks, I think, so try to catch it if you can. Oh trust me, you’ll remember this show long after they leave the country. The name is perfect for the show, Fuerza Bruta trnslates to Brute Force. And that’s exactly what the show does, it takes you by force. It’s not a polite gentleman, it’s a brute who’ll pick you up by the shirt and fling you to the center of the chaos. It’s both calm and frantic, serene and anarchic, poetic and brutal. There’s no explaining it, you’d have to be there to get it. And don’t forget the drinks.
