August 17, 2025
Siamese twins Daisy and Violet Hilton were the star attractions of the circus sideshow owned by the Boss. One day, musician Buddy Foster invited his friend Terry Connor, a talent scout for the Orpheum Circuit, to go check out the twin's act. Impressed with what he saw and heard, Terry paid the Boss extra to interview the girls more. He believed that they can do much better as a novelty singing act on the vaudeville circuit than where they were now.
I had watched this musical "Side Show"(book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Henry Krieger) when it was staged by Atlantis in 2018 (MY REVIEW), so I already know that it was based on life of real pair of Siamese twins. I now learned that the version I watched back then was that of the 2014 Broadway Revival. This version to be staged by the Sandbox Collective this year was the original 1997 Broadway Production version, preferred by director Toff de Venecia for being completely sung through, with a darker, more political edge.
I noted that only 10 full-length songs were held over from this original to the revival -- "Come Look at the Freaks," "Like Everyone Else," "The Devil You Know," "Say Goodbye to the Freak Show," "Who Will Love Me as I Am?," "Leave Me Alone," "Private Conversation," "One Plus One Equals Three," "You Should Be Loved" and "I Will Never Leave You." Those who had seen the revival will see and hear a lot of new songs here, like that eerie "Tunnel of Love."
De Venecia also used some modern theater techniques here, notably the use of live cameras to project images taken on or off stage on to screens behind both sides of the bleachers. This was best used in the song "Leave Me Alone" where the twins were arguing about men in the makeup area backstage, but we see them singing live on the screens. This must have been how Rachel Zegler's "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" number in the latest "Evita" played out.
The Hilton twins I caught was the pair of Krystal Kane and Molly Langley. Both ladies were vocal powerhouses, but their harmonic blending was melodious. Kane captured Daisy ambitious streak, as Langley caught Violet romantic side. They looked much younger than their alternates Marynor Madamesila and Tanya Manalang-Atadero, so they seemed more vulnerable against the men exploiting them, making us feel more protective for them.
Reb Atadero Terry had a slimy charisma, while Tim Pavino' Buddy had us fooled. (CJ Novato and Vien King alternate as Terry and Buddy respectively. Jon Santos' Boss was intimidating and ruthless. (He also played the cameraman as well as a film producer.) Even as early reviews pegged Marvin Ong as the actor to watch for Jake, alternate Joshua Cabiladas was just as powerful in his portrayal of the protective Cannibal King, especially the when he ended his solo number "You Should Be Loved" with dramatic flourish.
The ensemble included Arion Sanchez, Chan Rabutazo, Fay Castro, Daniel Wesley, Ian Hermogenes, Mikee Baskiñas, Pamela Imperial, Pappel, Raflesia Bravo, Red Nuestro, Reine Paisley, and Rhap Salazar. The set was designed by Mike Dalacat, enhanced by the lights designed by Gabo Tolentino. The glamourous gowns of the twins and the costumes of the freaks were designed by Carlos Siongco.
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The Sandbox Collective's production of "Side Show" runs at the PowerMac Center Blackbox Theater, Centris, Makati from July 26 to August 17, 2025, with shows on Thursdays and Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays and Sundays, 3 pm and 7:30 pm. Tocket prices at P2,900 (VIP), P2,700 (Premium) and P2,500 (Regular). The show runs 2 hours and a half, with a 15 minute intermission.
Update: TWO MORE SHOWS on August 24, at 3 pm and 7:30 pm! Tickets at Ticket2Me at this LINK.
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