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Rant and Rave: The King and I

Rating: 3.5 What happens when a Broadway musical and an all-star Filipino cast are thrown in together? An absolutely sensational performance, I have to say. Despite stiff competition from the other Broadway show The Phantom of the Opera, The King & I has definitely held its own in a stage as large as the Newport…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Nine’

Rating: 3.5 The tagline of this particular show says, “Be Italian”, and while some of the dialogue is indeed in Italian (and sometimes even French), one does not need to have an understanding of these foreign languages to appreciate Nine, produced by Atlantis Productions. The play is headlined by a powerhouse cast who prove to…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Phantom of the Opera’

Rating: 4.0 After being dazzled by plays and musicals like Cinderella, Cats, and Mamma Mia at the famed Cultural Center of the Philippines, another Broadway hit has made its way to Manila: the Phantom of the Opera. The long awaited show did not disappoint, as evidenced by the crowded room and sold out tickets; the crowd included both Filipinos…

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Rant and Rave: Cirque Du Soleil’s Saltimbanco

Rating: 2.5/4.0 After a successful stint with Varekai last year, Cirque du Soleil returns to Manila and its eagerly awaiting fans with the usual bright costumes, spine-tingling stunts and cheeky clowns in Saltimbanco. Just as its predecessor had done before, Saltimbanco offers its Filipino audiences with the chance to once again because immersed in the…

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Rant and Rave: ‘The Selection’ by Kiera Cass

Rating: 2.0/4.0 A few hundred years into the future, North America crumbles and becomes a new country called “Illea”. In this new country, the Prince must choose his future bride from a lottery of potential princesses. Another dystopian read has found its way to the shelves and it is none other than The Selection by…

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Rant and Rave: ‘The Lizzie Bennet Diaries’

Rating: 4.0 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is one of the leading foundations of the most common love story subplots, at least in this day and age: that is, a working class girl who has a certain prejudice against a wealthy man, who is a little too proud to pronounce his true intentions, but…

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Rant and Rave: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

A fantasy world still seemingly real, set in various locations, carrying subplots that are just as interesting as the main plot? Confused? Throw all of that in – plus just the right amount of trivial romance – and you have City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare. City of Lost Souls is the fifth instalment…

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Rant and Rave: Sting Powerpacq

The People’s Champ has confirmed it, ladies and gentlemen. It’s got Manny Pacquiao hooked, but don’t worry, it’s nothing too illegal. The sensational multi-division boxing champion is on… Sting Powerpacq. This latest addition to the powerhouse Sting Energy drink line up is finally up for grabs, and is causing quite a stir among athletes and…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Insurgent’ by Veronica Roth

If bookstore shelves are any indication, dystopian literature seems to be all the rage for young adults these days. More people, especially the young, have taken an interest to reading titles on those particular shelves. There are some people who oppose this section of the bookstore – saying that the books there are not of…

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Rant and Rave: ‘The Serpent’s Shadow’ by Rick Riordan

Rating: 2.5/4 Rick Riordan redefines Egyptian mythology, once only associated with archaeologists and their mouldy artifacts,  in his latest novel, The Serpent’s Shadow. The third and final installment to the Kane Chronicles series, Riordan once again wields his wand to prove his worth as a magician, as he produces a satisfying conclusion that leaves Carter…