‘Bongga Ka, ’Day!’: Atasha Muhlach proves naysayers wrong as Annie Batungbakal

MANILA, Philippines, September 21 ------ After facing online bashing in the weeks leading up to her first lead role in a musical, Atasha Muhlach got to prove the naysayers wrong during the successful opening night of “Bongga Ka, ’Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical” at the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT) on Friday.

In the elaborate production with multiple moving parts, yet tightly staged under the direction of Chris Millado, Atasha embodied the titular character, Annie B — the dispatsadora or shop assistant from Frisco — with wide-eyed charm and surprisingly sharp comedic timing.

She also had palpable onstage chemistry with both of her leading men — Sam Concepcion as Romer, the playboy heir to the House of Pasion, whom Annie develops a crush on, and KD Estrada as her neighbor and first love, Burn, a folk-rock musician.

More importantly, Atasha showed what weeks or months of serious preparation could bring to the stage. Cliché as it may sound, but it wasn't hard to see that she put her heart and soul into the performance. The STAR learned that she worked with four coaches — for vocals, acting, dancing, and speech — to best flesh out her role in the musical, which draws from the ’70s Manila Sound music of the iconic band Hotdog.

Among those who witnessed that preparation up close was veteran singer and vocal teacher Sweet Plantado of The CompanY. In a social media post addressed to the actress-singer after the opening night, Plantado wrote: “I am witness to how hard you’ve worked for this role, your preparations, the ups and downs, but you soldiered on.”

“Seeing you on stage doing what you’ve always dreamed of doing, shining, giving your all and enjoying... I’m beyond proud of the actor and person you’ve become!” she also posted.

Atasha likewise earned praise from her castmates. John Lapus, who was a delight in the dual roles of Tarurit, owner of the Coco Banana disco bar, and Tito Tambay, the neighborhood bully who pesters Annie, told The STAR after the show, “We’re so happy, and we’re so proud of Atasha, kasi galing siya sa sakit and yet andito siya, and did a great job on our opening night.”

“We’re so happy. Thank you, Lord! Thank you sa aming audience na na-appreciate kami nang bonggang-bongga,” he added.

Source: philstar.com