MULI: An OPM Musical Review – Nostalgia, Love and “What-Ifs”

MULI An OPM Musical Review | MULI: An OPM Musical Review — Cover Image: The cast of "MULI: An OPM Musical" during the preview night. Photo: Lord Acuña

MULI: An OPM Musical takes us on a journey through forgotten dreams, quiet sacrifices, and finding your way forward.

Oftentimes, life throws curveballs our way, and it's in these moments that we make big decisions. Some of them, we stand by, while others leave us with regrets. These questions about our choices and the directions we take are at the heart of MULI: An OPM Musical, which I watched during its preview night. This new Filipino musical features 11 original songs and follows Anita as she faces the choices she has made and the paths she could have taken.

Anita's Pop Star Dream

It all starts with Anita, played by Gawad Urian Award-winning actress Kakki Teodoro, and her daughter Kath, played by Janine Teñoso, cleaning up their house. Kath stumbles upon an old video recorder containing footage of her mom’s audition for a singing contest. Anita finds it cringey, but soon bursts into an electrifying performance of Ya Girl, looking every inch the pop star. It gives the audience a glimpse of what could have been if she had pursued her dream of becoming a singer.

90s to Early 00s Nostalgia

After learning about her mother's dream, Kath suggests that it's not too late for Anita to unleash her talent. MULI then takes us back to the 90s and early 00s, complete with dial-up internet, mIRC, jail booths, and other familiar details from the era. This part of the musical shows Anita's high school years before she meets her husband, Maki, played by Marvin Ong. Her best friends, Juls, Mito, and Detski, played by Justine Peñe, Baus Rufo, and Marynor Madamesila respectively, support her from the beginning. The nostalgia works particularly well because these details aren't simply there for decoration. They help establish the world Anita grew up in and the dreams she once had.

A Big "T*ng Ina Mo" to Corrupt Politicians

A T-shirt with Filipino expletives – part of MULI's merch. Photo: Lord Acuña

MULI also touches on a subject that feels particularly timely in the Philippines: corruption. One scene shows Kath refusing her mother's help because of where the money comes from. The moment is followed by a song number filled with Filipino expletives. Judging by the loud applause from the audience, the performance was arguably the show's biggest crowd-pleaser.

Anita's Love Interests: Maki and Ian

The second half of the show gives us a clearer look at Anita's romantic relationships. Maki and Anita share a number together, but their big confrontation scene later reveals the complicated history between them. Then there's the cute guy Ian, played by Vien King, who Anita performs with in a talent show at their school. The two share some genuinely kilig moments, and their connection adds another layer to Anita's story.

A Heart-Wrenching Reveal

Towards the end, MULI delivers a major emotional reveal that puts some of Anita's earlier actions into a different perspective. It also brings the musical's themes of love, loss, regret, and the things we struggle to let go of into sharper focus. The emotional weight of the scene is heightened by a moving song shared between the mother and daughter. It's one of the moments where the musical's title and its central ideas really hit home.

Verdict

The cast of MULI after the preview night | Kakki Teodoro, Janine Teñoso, Baus Rufo, Vien King

The cast of MULI after the preview night: (clockwise) Kakki Teodoro, Janine Teñoso, Vien King and Baus Rufo. Photo: Lord Acuña

MULI: An OPM Musical perfectly captures the nostalgia that many millennials will relate to. Its references to 90s and early 00s pop culture, technology, and school life make the experience feel familiar. But beneath the laughs and throwback moments is a story about love, grief, sacrifice, and all the "what-ifs" we carry with us. It explores how the choices we make can shape our lives, as well as the dreams and relationships that we leave behind.

Kakki Teodoro excellently plays Anita, bringing both the larger-than-life pop star persona and the more vulnerable sides of her character to the stage. Janine Teñoso is also promising in her musical theatre debut, particularly in the emotional scenes she shares with Kakki.

MULI is a funny, nostalgic, and deeply moving musical. More than anything, it leaves you wondering whether you would make different choices if given the chance to do it all over again.