Review of BAGETS THE MUSICAL: Adolescent Anxieties and Angst

January 24, 2026

In 1984, "Bagets," a coming-of-age film written by Jake Tordesillas and directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes, was released by Viva Films. It starred William Martinez, JC Bonnin, Herbert Bautista, Raymond Lauchengco and Aga Muhlach as a close-knit gang of unruly high school seniors going through various problems with parents and girlfriends. It was a big success at the box office, launching the careers of these young actors, especially Muhlach. 

After spawning an immediate sequel (also in 1984), as well as a remake television series (2011 to 2012), it was inevitable that a stage adaptation would also happen and it came into being this year. Because it also had a best-selling soundtrack album of popular hit songs, it was logical that this theatrical version would be a musical. It a production of Newport World Resorts with The Philippine STAR and Viva Communications, staged by PETA Plus. Leading the creative team are director Maribel Legarda. The colorful 1980s era costumes were designed by Hershee Tantiado, while the retro 1980s choreography was by JM Cabling. 

The script written by J-mee Katanyag followed the story of the film faithfully. Things started with their expulsion from exclusive school and transfer to a new school for senior year, but Tonton here seemed to be an old friend already, not Topee's cousin that they just met. They also drove around the city, and all the way to Baguio, in an actual red motorized dune buggy. Details like Tonton's family speaking in Ilocano and Topee's family speaking in Hiligaynon were left intact. Lines like "Vienna sausage na lang" and "spaghetti for long life" were lifted verbatim. Katanyag did tweak the final mother-son scenes of all the boys so they felt more emotionally-impactful now than how they were written in the film. 

As expected musical director Vince Lim used hits from the original film soundtrack to be sung in this musical. Of course, Gary V. original "Growing Up" was still the opening song number. Chona Cruz's version of Sheena Easton's "Telefone" was performed in a fun scene with the whole ensemble. Raymond Lauchengco's two big hits "So It's You" and "Farewell" was sung during the same circumstances as the film.  Other songs may not exactly be scenes where you may expect them to be. The JoBoxers 1983 hit  "Just Got Lucky" became a comedy song number about hilarious Gilbert's circumcision experience, with a giant syringe and all. 

Surprisingly, the producers were also able to license a number of major 1980s hit songs for the show. Ivy's scene watering the garden became a number with dancers dressed like flowers set to the tune of Torch's 1983 version of "Build Me Up Buttercup." A-ha's 1984 hit "Take On Me,"  Madness' 1983 hit "Our House," Wham's 1984 hit "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," Industry's 1984 hit "State of the Nation," Ric Segreto's 1982 hit "Loving You" and even the traditional holiday hymn "Silent Night," were all re-arranged with new additional lyrics. Some new lyrics, English and Tagalog, could not be understood well while being sung, so they sounded awkward, especially those ballad versions of upbeat songs as reprised in Act 2. 

Oddly, most scenes were set in the boys' homes, not in school. The centerpieces of Ohm David's production design were three huge two-storey modules which where moved around an held together by hard-working stage crewmen. Each module had one room on top of another with stairs where various characters (especially the Father) going up and down to go from one "house" to another. These modules were also repurposed to represent other places, most notably the disco where they spent New Year's Eve, as enhanced by Jonjon Villareal's lights and Bene Manaois's video projections. There was also two giant sliding panels that divided downstage from upstage and these were used in startling effect in the accident scene. As this was only the second show of the run, there were some set and sound hitches, which should be addressed in future shows. 

The members of this gang were: Tonton (Migo Valid, alternate Milo Cruz) was the oldest, having already repeated fourth year high school. Topee (Jeff Moses, alternate Sam Shoaf) was the martial law enthusiast. Gilbert (Tomas Rodriguez, alternate Noel Comia, Jr.) was the class clown. Arnel (KD Estrada, alternate Ethan David) was the spoiled rich kid. Adie (Mico Chua, alternate Andres Muhlach) was the romantic boy-next-door type. Among the five boys I saw, Estrada and Chua were the most assured in singing and acting, as the others still had obvious stage neophyte self-conscious jitters. Moses (whom I first knew from his film "Under the Piaya Moon") was impressive with his flying kicks. Rodriguez's slapstick comedy scenes did connect well with the girls in the audience. 

Very much in focus for this musical are the relationships of the boys with their mothers, who became mahjongg-mates themselves. Business owner Delia (Kakai Bautista, alternate Natasha Cabrera) was the mother of Tonton. Film actress Ana (Neomi Gonzalez) was the mother of Topee. Housewife with a buy-and-sell sideline Luz (Ring Antonio) was the mother of Gilbert. Society matron Ditas (Mayen Cadd) was the mother of Arnel. Busy writer Virgie (Carla Guevara-Laforteza) was the mother of Adie. In a cute casting gimmick, the fathers of all the boys were only played by one actor -- Gie Onida. These actors are all tried-and-true veterans stage actors and singers, no question that they all nailed their roles as written. 

Playboy Tonton got hopelessly smitten with smart sensible Rose (Yani Lopez). Gilbert can't express his feelings for cheerful Melissa (Brigitta Marilla). Arnel's aristocratic attention was caught by student activist Janice (Sam Marasigan). Adie fell head over heels over his mother's married friend who moved in next door, Ivy Christine (Ava Santos). In the original film, Ivy and Christine were two older women who got involved with Adie and Topee respectively, but they were integrated into one character here. Frankly I did not really feel any instant romantic chemistry between any of these pairs yet, but I believe this chemistry will eventually improve the more shows they play together. 

The rest of the ensemble playing the teachers, housemates and classmates include Yna Arbiol, Andrea Babierra, Jana Baniasa, Misha Fabian, Mia Micucci, Air Paz-Pablico, Abi Sulit-Racho, Ada Tayao, and Abegail Turiano, Jon Abella, Ivan Arboladura, Roi Calilong, Carlos Canlas, Jay Cortez, Moi Gealogo, Gerald Magallanes, John Moran, Arnel Sablas, Vyen Villanueva, and Dan Wesley. Towards the end of the second act, Moran and Calilong, playing officers of the Parent-Teacher Association, broke the fourth wall to address the audience directly for a fun interactive activity which had everyone (yes, including me) up and enjoying. 

Teenagers of the mid-80s who stanned the original Bagets cast are all pushing age 60 now. Watching those iconic 80s songs and dances being performed onstage can surely make them relive their own high-school memories. Granted Gen X may not know any of these new Bagets boys, except perhaps they are curious to see Andres Muhlach play the same role his father Aga played.  However, seeing the whole audience in the Newport Performing Arts Theater getting up from their seats and dancing "Just Got Lucky" and "Growing Up" in unison was certainly proof positive enough of this show's undeniable fun, irresistible nostalgia appeal. I am just hoping that the boys get would over their opening week nerves to be able to perform, especially sing, with more on-point focus in the coming shows. 

The whole cast at the curtain call

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"Bagets The Musical" runs from January 23 to March 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. It is produced by the Newport World Resorts with Philippine STAR and VIVA communications, and staged by PETA plus, in cooperation with Sun Life Philippines.