Tovic Salvador

Luigi Quesada, Maronne Cruz, Myke Salomon, Gio Gahol, and Gab Pangilinan. Photo from the Facebook account of Barefoot Theatre Collaborative

Article (news)

Fred Hawson

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17481366246042025052502050_500527590_18001475684786369_3442553639617810564_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Luigi Quesada, Maronne Cruz, Myke Salomon, Gio Gahol, and Gab Pangilinan. Photo from the Facebook account of Barefoot Theatre Collaborative </div>For its 2025 season opener, the latest show being staged by Barefoot Theatre Collaborative is Drew Gasparini&#x27;s &quot;We Aren&#x27;t Kids Anymore.&quot;This is a very unique show in that there is no story with a defined plot being told, nor any spoken dialogue to speak of. Instead, the actors are performing a series of 19 songs about Gasparini&#x27;s journey to adulthood. There was also a moving poem by Keith White recited before the last three songs were performed. The show opens with the five cast members making their entrance onto the stage. However, since there are no words of dialogue to put things in proper context, it was not immediately clear who these people are, how they are related to each other and where they were at that moment.The opening song &quot;Hello, My Name is Drew&quot; suggested that all five members of the cast represented different aspects of the personality of the songwriter, Gasparini.The first Drew who entered the stage would appear to be the actual physical person of Drew, here portrayed by Myke Salomon. It was he who sang those charming songs with an innocent homespun vibe that told the story of Drew&#x27;s family, like his siblings (&quot;Danny &amp; Andrew,&quot; &quot;Little Sister&quot;) and his parents (&quot;The Essence of George,&quot; &quot;Mom Could Play Guitar&quot;). The latter two were Salomon&#x27;s best songs in the show, and he sang them with palpable filial loyalty.The other four actors would seem to be playing various other personae within Drew. The most damaged one would seem to be the Drew played by Gio Gahol, particularly with his heartbreaking song &quot;Snow,&quot; about his experience with cocaine.Another Drew in pain was portrayed by Luigi Quesada, who delivered the Keith White poem, and immediately followed it up by belting that powerful ballad of self-redemption, &quot;I&#x27;ll Stick Around.&quot;Gab Pangilinan&#x27;s crystal clear soprano resonated in the theater with songs like &quot;On the Edge,&quot; &quot;Caught in a Loop&quot; and especially the self-deprecating &quot;Faking Cool.&quot;Maronne Cruz had a richer lower register, evident in songs like &quot;Turn the Page&quot; and the title song &quot;We Aren&#x27;t Kids Anymore.&quot; My favorite song of the whole show was the song Pangilinan and Cruz sang as a duet -- &quot;On and On and On&quot; -- an absolute beauty of a song I have on repeat.The fantastic live singing performances of this cast were undoubtable, as they nailed all those vocally-challenging songs. In fact, I think they should record their own soundtrack album.  However to be honest, since there was no dialogue, audiences may not be able to figure out Gasparini&#x27;s message right away during the show. They would need to listen to the songs on Spotify a few more times in order to understand the lyrics better, then it hits you harder.<div>&quot;We Aren&#x27;t Kids Anymore&quot; runs at the PowerMac Center Blackbox Theater at Circuit Makati until May 25. </div><div> </div>This review was originally published in the author&#x27;s blog, “<a href="http://3xhcch.blogspot.com/2025/05/barefoot-review-of-we-arent-kids.html">Fred Said</a>.”

This is a very unique show in that there is no story with a defined plot being told, nor any spoken dialogue to speak of. Instead, the actors are performing a series of 19 songs about the journey to adulthood.

This is a very unique show in that there is no story with a defined plot being told, nor any spoken dialogue to speak of. Instead, the actors are performing a series of 19 songs about the journey to adulthood.

Theater review: Barefoot's 'We Aren’t Kids Anymore’ deserves own cast album

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Lifestyle

Theater review: Barefoot's 'We Aren’t Kids Anymore’ deserves own cast album

Fred Hawson

Published May 25, 2025 09:31 AM PHT

|

Updated May 25, 2025 01:29 PM PHT

Read More:

theater review

Barefoot Theatre Collaborative

We Aren't Kids Anymore

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.