WICKERMOSS: REVIEW: n Addis Ababa and Witnessing RENT The Musical!

Ponder no more. I traveled these cities in just one night. Well, not literally of course. First off, thanks to Hazel for posting her review of the prize she got from The CLC Giveaway May 2011. It gives me a pleasant feeling when I see that the person is really satisfied with what I gave them, more so I see them sporting it. I mentioned to her that as much as possible I give out products in which I myself use and believe upon. Here she is wearing the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Addis Ababa. She pulled off the hot pink lips considerably well, agree?

Click here for her own review!

Going back, I waited for the day that I would finally get to watch the musical play RENT. I am a sucker for plays that's why. I always tend to miss it when they came over to SG. I was so in a hype when I found out that there will be a re-run by 9Works Theatrical. I was like a little kid dying to ride a freakin carousel. Excuse me for being such a RENThead, but I’ve been in love with this Broadway musical since my college days.

RENT is a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical and was written by Jonathan Larson as an imaginative retelling of the classic Giacomo Puccini opera, “ La Boheme ” set in the gritty Lower East Village of New York City. It's the unforgettable and timeless story of a group of starving bohemian artists.

Despite poverty and illness, they all learned to struggle with life and survived during the rise of a mysterious, deadly disease – AIDS. Eventually, they all learned to fall in love and found their voices through a universal message of hope for everyone.

Socially relevant, youthful, and moving, RENT lives on, along with the affirmation that there is “No day but Today.”

The stint that we managed to watch showcased Ciara Sotto's pole dancing skills as Mimi. I can say that she has carved a new niche in the theater world with this one. She appeared very beautiful and even glamorous on stage, hardly resembling a sick drug addict. Gian Magdangal is, as usual a good stage actor. It was my second time to watch him do the lead role, after The Wedding Singer. He plays his role in a very natural way. Not going overboard, at least.

Gian Magdangal's reel and real partner in life, Sheree Bautista also reprised the role of Mimi. I wondered how did she attack the role herself? Oh well. Overall, the play will drag you into its wit and emotions, you’ll spend 2 and a half hours being puzzled, laughing, falling in love, laughing, getting pissed, crying, laughing, and smiling- yes! in that order... From the gay couple to the passionate love scenes, aaahhhh... too indescribable. Rent was all sex, drugs and rock & roll!

I loved it when Ciara did the split-pole act..while singing live! Whew! Attagirl!!!

It was also refreshing to see familiar faces on stage again. My friend Peach Atilano (3rd from left), OJ Mariano as Tom Collins (2nd from left), the computer genius and Job Bautista (1st from left) as Angel Dummott Schunard, Collins' drag queen street musician lover. I swear they're the most controversial couple. Job did a magnificent Job? haha.

5* for Job, yay!

My friend Peachy Pie.

papa E , tho sleepy -nonetheless enjoyed. err,see that evident smile from ear to ear? LOL.

Thanks 9Works!

Here is me wearing the NYX Addis Ababa Soft Matte Lip Cream.

Get it @ Digital Traincase. Sol is a very trust-worthy seller and she has authentic items too!

Perfect match for my top eh?

So after the play, dinner's up ahead. Heavy rain? Not a spoiler, so we went straight to....

Midnight Mercato @The Bonifacio Global City, The Fort it is! Thank God for this is the answer to late-night hunger pangs!

papa E and I agreed to roam around and just meet at our table after 10 minutes. We will see what we both got. From the wide array of food choices, we wanted to see what our palate that night dictates us.

I was too hungry to take photos, aside from the fact that people are still coming over despite of the heavy downpour. People who reside around BGC are really lucky. So this is what caught my fancy. Chef Resty's Roast Beef Pasta combo. The Q was a blockbuster, blardy hell! Curious much? Moreso, starving much! The oozing juice from the roast beef carving station was to die for.

And my love for heart cliché was ignited when I saw this.

I wanted to bring this home for my heart cliché collection . I don't have the 'heart' to eat it so I gave it to papa E. You know how greasy the foods I ate right? Mann, the lip cream seems to be stuck on my lips..it doesn't wanna fade off! Well, am not complaining!

Btw, what do u call this pinkish gulaman/sago drink? I used to love this when I was a kid.

So tiring. From Rent's New York city to Ethiopia's Addis Ababa to The Fort in Taguig City.. who wouldn't be? Heading home, I wanted to sleep in the car. Oinky Oinky! But then the photography freak in me won, so I grabbed my cam and do my usual stuff. Not really much sight on the road tho...