By PABLO A. TARIMAN
THE Atchison family in London is a classic case of devoted performing artists managing between engagements and parenting.
Six times a week, Gia Macuja Atchison is singing the role of the former first lady’s maid, Estrella Cumpas, in the rock musicale, “Here Lies Love” at the National Theater while her husband, violinist Robert Atchison, leads an orchestra at the Lyceum Theater for the regular run of “The Lion King.”
During engagements, Gia gets backstage visits from her daughter, Abigail, 9 and Jamie, 6.
To be sure, the singing actress admits it isn’t easy doing mothering and singing all at the same time. “I often wish I had three of me. I like doing my best in everything I do — as a performer, a mother, a wife. I like giving all that I’ve got, sometimes maybe even ‘too much’ at the expense of my health. But now that I am in the thick of things, I realize I can only do so much. My mother often reminds me — you can only try your best and do one thing at a time. I get home at midnight after the show, and then wake up at 7 a.m to do the school run in the morning. My husband and I had a very long discussion before I decided to take on this job. We knew it was going to have a great impact on our family life and it has. But we are getting a lot of help from friends and family and for that we are very grateful.”
Since it is opening last October 13, “Here Lies Love” created by musician David Byrne and DJ/music producer Norman “Fatboy Slim” Cook has been getting its share of good reviews many of which single out her role as the ill-fated maid of the former first lady.
The culture magazine of the London Sunday Times noted her performance thus: “The one character who really stands out, who you want more of is Imelda’s childhood friend and later her maid, Estrella, played by Gia Macuja Atchison: the real voice of the people.”
Earlier in London, Gia sang the role of Ellen and Gigi in “Miss Saigon” and Nala in “The Lion King.”
And still much earlier in Manila while she was studying with Maestra Mercedes Matias Santiago, she was singing opera workhorse with ease like Mozart’s Queen of the Night aria in Magic Flute and the mad Scene in Lucia di Lammermoor.
She admits it took a while for her to realize what she needed to do to make the songs work for her. “I am so used to singing all these big show songs to show off high notes and all like my part in ‘The Lion King’ or the role of Gigi in ‘Miss Saigon.’ And here I am in this rock musical where Estrella’s songs rely mostly on the lower register of my voice in contrast with the songs of Imelda. But I do enjoy telling a story with her songs, with that particular percussive beat that really helps drive them. I find Estrella’s story is heartbreaking. She gave everything to Imelda to help bring her up, was a good friend and support without asking anything in return. She encouraged Imelda to pursue her dreams. Then when Imelda came into power, she denied she even existed and was paid off to shut up and keep her side of the story. Hers is a very sad story to tell.”
Believing that there are no small roles (only small actors), she set off to prepare for the part even if it meant literally overhauling her persona. “To be completely honest, I never thought of myself as an Estrella Cumpas. I have always played quite glamorous roles throughout my career in the theatre. So I had to ‘de-glamorize’ myself completely. I shed off all the make-up and made it a point to wear plain clothes to rehearsal and nothing to make myself feel sexy or beautiful in order to make me feel the complete contrast to Imelda whenever we rehearsed. I believe Estrella’s beauty and strength comes from something within — something very truthful in her heart.”
To prepare for the part, she read the book of Carmen Pedrosa, “The Untold Story of Imelda” and used a lot of the information there to justify some of her acting approach to the role.
Gia said there is a lot more to the show than it being based on the life of Imelda Marcos.”The underlying theme is how power corrupts, changes people and how it can be misused. I cannot believe that Imelda Marcos is still in a position of power now after everything she has done. We try and stay away from taking political sides, even though the show can be viewed by some as a highly political. I feel very proud to finally play a Filipino in a musical about the Philippines here in London. It’s almost surreal having to be ‘more Filipino’ when most of the time, we are always required to portray other nationalities in different productions. Now we finally get to celebrate being Filipino and share that with the British public in a very unique way with the legendary David Byrne in nothing less than The Royal National Theater.”
In the first music run of the musicale, she couldn’t help but hug Byrne. “I was in tears thanking him for writing such a beautiful piece about the Philippines. With respect to the foreign cast members and audiences, I think the show touches the Filipinos in a really deep, distinct way. David is such a wonderful writer, and collaborating with the music of Fat Boy Slim is just genius!”