Written by Matthew Escosia
October 27, 2023

While watching Silver Lining, I can’t help but be reminded of an article published by Psychology Today, which explored how unearthing a more vulnerable part of you from the past can help you transform into a much stronger person for today and tomorrow.

The author Bob Taibbi aptly referred to it as “healing the past in the present.” It allows one to approach old wounds and even current problems from the position of an empowered adult rather than that of a frightened younger self.

The characters of Silver Lining, an all-new Filipino musical directed by PETA Artistic Director Maribel Legarda and written by Jack Teotico (music and lyrics) and Joshua Lim So (book and lyrics), touched on this premise by having its characters recall a part of themselves that they have been trying to avoid for years.

It follows Leo (Ricky Davao), Anton (Joel Nuñez), Raul (Raul Montesa), and Josie (Nenel Arcayan), long-time friends who are planning to create a stage musical based on their lives during the 1970s. To tell their story, they cast a group of actors (led by Albert Silos, Noel Comia Jr., Jay Cortez, and Sara Sicam) to play their younger counterparts. Trust and relationships will be challenged as they develop their new project along the way.

With its musical-within-a-musical as a backdrop, Silver Lining narrates both the lives of its characters during the 1970s and the post-pandemic present. The former period sees the early stages of the Philippine Martial Law with the ensemble on revolt against dictatorship, while the latter follows the generational gap and at times chaotic dynamics between boomers and the millennials/Gen Zs.

The musical cleverly juxtaposes its complex narrative threads through songs, hilarious banter, and at some points, breaking the fourth wall. But what makes Silver Lining an entertaining watch is its tenderness.

It never tries to be overtly extravagant, and by keeping itself grounded and very much resonant to the now, it was able to capture a lot of emotional beats needed especially in its heartwarming ending. Silver Lining also implies that it is semi-biographical, with flashes of images featuring real-life individuals that may be connected to the show’s creators.

For its humble intentions to be a generally positive show, Silver Lining undoubtedly achieves it. It’s always inspiring to see a new original Filipino musical, which is a rarity considering the amount of work needed to create and produce it. Go see it and have a blast!

Silver Lining is having its second and final weekend run this October 27 to 29 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza.