Any material that has something to do with Beauty or Looking Good really hits me. Primary reason is the fact that I was once a "Big Elephant" who happened to experience the social pressure and disgust about the way I look. They always told me that, "You're really beautiful but you're just too heavy."
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Concept of Beauty
Each of us feels the pressure (ipokrito ka kung sasabihin mong hindi), consciously or unconsciously, to somehow look good (in whatever way). And nothing's bad about that. What makes the concept of "looking good" bad is the wrong notion of a lot of people that pursuit of happiness can be answered through acquisition of beauty. That's precisely the main idea of "Skin-Deep."
Each person has the desire to be loved. While attraction is initially based on physical attributes, finding true love is a different issue. Because we think that the only basis for attraction is physical, there's a tendency to be pressured to look good to please people. But in the end, no matter how good looking we are, we still don't end up acquiring true happiness that we long for. Meanwhile, other people think that a change in physique can change a person's character. Which is again a flawed thinking.
Undergoing medical procedures to look good is fine. It depends on the reason. If it's due to pursuit for "TRUE HAPPINESS", it's doubtful if it can bring anyone to euphoria.
All of these ideas were effectively communicated in the play in a funny but touching way.
So Real
All the actors were great. The conversation and character portrayal came out naturally. Isay Alvarez's voice never fails to amaze me. For an overweight-strong woman, Bituin Escalante's performance was just natural. May Bayot was a revelation. I never got to watch "Himala" so I didn't have an idea how she plays on stage. She was so great. Her delivery of witty punch lines was perfect (sagad sa buto ang tawa mo). It was so natural. Just imagine (a not corny) Elizabeth Ramsey throwing out witty jokes.
It's also interesting to note the acting improvisation. Instead of putting in gym equipments, they utilized the actors as the equipments. It makes sense and it leads the audience to imagine. Similarly, the part where Siso had to rescue Chonggo from drowning in the pool made use of improvisation well. Of course, they couldn't put in a swimming pool or a big aquarium just to show the drowning scene. The musical scoring (sound of water) and the acting helped the audience to understand the scene.
No Last Song Syndrome
The music is not something that will leave you with a last song syndrome. Unlike with Zsazsa Zaturnnah wherein as far as I know I can remember (and can still sing) at least three songs (Didi's Nakasisilaw na Liwanag, ZZZ's Babae na ako, and Ikaw ang Superhero ng Buhay ko), so far I can't recall a particular song from the Skin-Deep that I can sing. But that doesn't make it bad. More than associating it as a musical (remembering songs and singing-out-loud after the show), one can remember it as a great comedy-play with sense.
Interesting Production Design
The good thing about staging shows in your house theater is the ability to have flexible stage set-up. I just love the rotating stage. Aside from that, you also have more ways to experiment on technology. The lighting was great too (may part na parang iyong hologram sa Simoun ang dating).
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This is the first PETA production I've watched (as far as I can recall). And I'm looking forward to watching more. Hmmm, I just have to get used to the audience. They are normally students who are a quite less-disciplined (retouching during break as if kasama sila sa nagperform at as if may manonood sa kanila. Well habang nagmemake-up meron, after that wala na). J But it's good that they are being exposed to theater.
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