A scene from Repertory Philippines' 'Going Home to Christmas.' Jeeves de Veyra

Repertory Philippines' “Going Home to Christmas: A Jose Mari Chan Musical” had me grinning all throughout my time inside the theater. 

Starting with an overture and introducing the huge cast of characters, the production gleefully takes off with a nod to classic musicals, with many easter eggs for long time musical theater lovers to discover.

It’s all so entertaining and I particularly love how it kept on surprising me all throughout the show.

For instance, the first words spoken in this musical are in Tagalog…. without an American accent… in a Repertory Philippines musical.

It’s very meta with adorable self-deprecating one liners and zingers. I take my hat off to the actors who had to “complain” about how one cannot escape “Christmas in Our Hearts” as early as late August with THE Jose Mari Chan himself in the audience, during the first run.

Carla Guevarra Laforteza and Noel Rayos. Jeeves de Veyra

It didn’t seem that this is Rep artistic director Jeremy Domingo’s rookie flight into directing. I loved the inventive staging of certain scenes that could have been one note. This shows in the smooth transitions between the set pieces including a gift shop, rows of those uncomfortable chairs from Terminal 3, and café complete with actual Breville coffee equipment on the bar.  Having a big cast made the stage alive with people, as it should be in a real airport, with people buzzing about, taking selfies, and rushing to wherever they’re going.

The three writers -- Joel Trinidad (working remotely from New York), Luna Griño-Inocian, and Robbie Guevara -- all had separate stories, and this could have been just a series of vignettes. Props to Guevara who made these mini Hallmark Christmas movies fly in formation, weaving threads to give characters a chance to interact and make a cohesive slice of life at the airport.

I thought the self-professed airport guardian Manong Juan (Alfritz Blanche) was one of these threads who humorously had his own first verse of "Christmas in Our Hearts" to reflect what’s currently happening on stage as he sweeps his way around the terminal bumping into the other characters.

A scene from Repertory Philippines' 'Going Home to Christmas.' Jeeves de VeyraIn the lobby are a quartet of carolers ---Dina (Julia Serad), Terry (Roxy Aldiosa), Jaime (Johann Enriquez), Zid Yarcia (Mikko) -- all dressed up in tinsel seemingly on the verge of a big break. All that was missing was a box to throw money into as their harmonies wee just heavenly.

Clearing immigration, we find a lolo (Gary Junsay) and a lola (Carla Martinez) teasing their apo Kevin (Basti Santos) as he first sets foot in the motherland while clearing immigration.

In Local Departures, we find Cebu-bound JD (Floyd Tena) scrooge-ing it up to the agony of his son JR (Neo Rivera) who’s looking forward to meeting up with his “friend,” the excitable K-poppy speaking a million-words-a-minute Raya (Justine Narciso who just happens to be in Manila escorting her Auntie Em (Mayen Bustamante Cadd) home.

Floyd Tena and Neo Rivera. Jeeves de Veyra

Nearby, a cantankerous Arnie (Lorenz Martinez) whose relationship to Josie (Neomi Gonzales) seems to be hitting turbulence as they stress over a delayed flight that may mean missing a cruise. They look to a flashback to a UP isawan back in 1999 looking at their younger selves (Juancho Gabriel and Pappel) to try to course correct their troubled marriage.

At the ever-present airport café, a lovestruck barista Chris (Davy Narciso) is always ready with a hazelnut latte for flight attendant Mona (Krystal Kane) as fellow barista Jas (Rafael Jimenez) and flight attendant Alex (Maron Rozelle) look on.

And lastly, a Barney Stinson-esque pilot Richard (Noel Rayos) hits on FA Pat (Carla Guevara-Laforteza) to the background of Jose Mari Chan’s classics of yesteryear, Philippine Airlines' iconic jingle “Love at 30,000 Feet” and “Can We Just Stop and Talk a While.”

A scene from Repertory Philippines' 'Going Home to Christmas.' Jeeves de VeyraAt times, the musical feels like a full-blown concert. When the spotlight shines on Laforteza, she goes full-on Pilita Corrales with her performance. In the post-show sing-along, Jose Mari Chan came on stage to gush that Repertory Philippines gave his words and his music wings. To which I would say that his words and music made this musical take flight. 

The wings were the constant laughter, the restrained whispers of certain audience members (you know who you are) restraining to sing-along, and Ejay Yatco’s incredible arrangement that made the songs, even the unfamiliar ones, fly around and out of the theater even after the show ended.

“Going Home to Christmas” tells stories of missed connections and rerouted destinations. Of flights that are missed, delayed, late, and miraculously, on time. This has something for everybody with a special appeal for balikbayans who haven’t been home in a long time. 

Jose Mari Chan joins the cast at curtain call. Jeeves de VeyraThis is Repertory Philippines going home to its strengths: amazing music with even more amazing singing, lighthearted comedy, and turning on the tear ducts where it counts. 

To conclude its much awaited first full season, Repertory Philippines certainly sticks the landing with this first-class musical. Go book a ticket now.

Repertory Philippines’ production of “Going Home To Christmas: A Jose Mari Chan” runs weekends at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater at the RCBC Plaza in Makati until December 15, 2024.