Beyond the Ballads: The Bodyguard’s Filipino Twist on Family, Fame, and Sisterhood
The Philippine staging of The Bodyguard The Musical dives into forbidden love, family dynamics, and the fierce bonds of sisterhood
If you’ve ever belted out Whitney Houston classics like “I Have Nothing,” “I Will Always Love You,” or “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” then you’re in for a treat. This September, 9 Works Theatrical brings the much-anticipated Manila staging of The Bodyguard The Musical, based on the iconic film starring Houston and Kevin Costner.
The local production stars Christine Allado as Rachel Marron and Matt Blaker as Frank Farmer, alongside a powerhouse ensemble of today’s top theater talents, ready to bring one of the world’s most beloved musicals to the Filipino stage.
Rachel Marron’s Filipino Twist
For Christine, playing the role of Rachel Marron is a dream come true.
“It’s so nice to come home in such a long-running musical, a show that is timeless, that has music of a certain generation,” says Christine, who has starred in international productions like The Prince of Egypt, Hamilton, and Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Rachel is known for her powerhouse vocals, and Christine is more than ready to take on the challenge. But for her, it’s Rachel’s emotional arc that makes the character special.
“She has a real arc—trying to reconcile her values while learning to let someone in. And in the end, she chooses herself. She says, ‘I’m enough.’ That’s powerful.”
Bringing Frank Farmer to Life
Matt Blaker knows there are big shoes to fill stepping into the role made famous by Kevin Costner, but he’s embracing the challenge with a fresh perspective.
“I bring my own personality and experience into it. My version of the bodyguard is a man in turmoil, struggling between what he wants and what his duty is.”
Matt also teased a culturally specific scene exclusive to the Manila production.
“There’s one scene where Frank embraces Filipino culture a bit more. That’s all I can say for now,” he smiled.
A Story of Family and Sisterhood
While Rachel and Frank’s love story is iconic, the Manila production dives deeper into a rarely spotlighted arc: family.
In both the film and the musical, Rachel has a son, Fletcher, and a sister, Nicki, who becomes entangled in tensions around Frank and family priorities. For Christine, this layer makes the story more relatable to Filipino audiences.
“We wanted to show that Rachel, despite everything, is the bodyguard of her own family,” she explained, referring to Rachel’s role as a protective mother, sister, and career woman.
“She’s chasing her dreams and that one moment in time. But first and foremost, she’s a mother. So, you’ll see that side of her—the mother, the sister, the performer.”
“She loves her family. But she also loves her career. It’s about juggling all of that to keep herself—and everyone else—happy.”
Sisterhood and Misunderstood Love
Sheena Palad, who plays Nicki, hints that audiences can expect emotional friction between the sisters.
“She’s very loving to her sister, but the sister does not see it,” Sheena said of Nicki and Rachel’s dynamics. “ It can resonate with the situations right now because Rachel is a superstar. She’s swamped, and this act of love that she’s doing to provide for her family is not being seen by her sister.”
Sheena uses the concept of “love languages” to explain their conflict: “There are a lot of love languages, right? However, the type of love Rachel is showing her sister is not being appreciated because she’s not speaking the same love language. She’s not speaking the love language of the sister, and she feels like she’s undervalued.”
“There’s a miscommunication, and it’s important in a family to have that clear communication.”
Beyond the drama, Nicki also steps in as a maternal figure to young Fletcher.
“It’s more like protecting him from all this madness that he doesn’t understand yet. And Nikki is there to protect him and protect Rachel as well.”
Back to the Past, and Introducing the Present
Whether you’re a millennial or Gen X parent reliving the soundtrack of your youth, or introducing your Gen Z kids to a 90s classic for the first time, The Bodyguard The Musical offers a rare blend of nostalgia, drama, and timely lessons about love, loyalty, and the balancing act every modern parent knows well.
The Bodyguard The Musical opens September 26 at the Proscenium Theater.
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