Jett Pangan Most Successful Rock Singer To Cross Over As Theater Actor

WITH THE MAGIC of theatre, the Tony Award winning best musical “Nine” transports you to Italy to “Be Italian” while troubled film director Guido Contini (played by rock singer turned theatre actor Jett Pangan) agonizes on his art and his women, told in a non-linear structure. As Guido, Jett is on stage all the time and goes on a nerve-wracking rollercoaster ride of emotions. He is alternately arrogant, lost, amorous, hopeful, confused in a compelling performance.

In the original Fellini movie on which this was based, “8&1/2”, the Guido role was played by Marcello Mastroianni and in the Hollywood version of the musical, by Antonio Banderas. Jett maybe Asian but he does the role superbly.

He gets competent support from all his women: Menchu Yulo as his wife Luisa, Cherie Gil as ex-Follies Bergere star now film producer Liliane Lefleur, Eula Valdes as the film star Claudia Nardi, Carla Guevara Laforteza as the mistress Carla Albanese, Ima Castro as the prostitute Sarraghina, Sitti Navarro as the Lady of the Spa, Yanah Laurel as film critic Stephanie Necrophorus and Jay Glorioso as Guido’s mom. Costume design is bay New York-based designer Robin Tomas (son of Tessie) with CJ Javier as musical director. “Nine” is on its second weekend at RCBC Plaza Makati. For tickets, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or Ticketworld at 891-9999.