Prior the advent of motion pictures are stage plays based on writings of famous playwrights and poets. This year, Ayala Malls Cinemas includes in their screening programs world-class stage plays filmed in high-definition (HD) format from London’s National Theater Live and operatic performances from New York’s Metropolitan Opera, offering a whole new way to experience a more intimate form of art onscreen.

This September, the British Embassy launched its seven month-long campaign "This is GREAT Britain" that aims to show the very best of Britain's culture. The celebration commenced with the presentation of the National Theater Live’s stage play "Coriolanus" starring Tom Hiddleston. Filmed in HD, the play was screened last September 3 at Ayala Malls' Greenbelt 3 Cinemas with a program at Greenbelt 5 Fashion Walk preceding the screening. "Coriolanus" also ran for two days (September 5 and 6) at Greenbelt 3 cinemas that was made available for the moviegoing public.

In a recent statement from British Ambassador Asif Ahmad, he mentioned that "We are very fortunate to have Ayala Malls Cinemas as our partner for the screening of National Theater Live's Coriolanus, which will give Filipinos a glimpse of the world-class theater performances from London's West End."

Hiddleston, best known globally for his role as Loki in "Thor" series, plays the titular role in "Coriolanus" that was written by William Shakespeare. The story centers on a conflicted man named Coriolanus - hero and defender of Rome. When an old adversary threatens Rome, the city called on to Coriolanus to defend their country. Famine threats the city, the citizens' hunger swells into an appetite for change and on returning from the war, Coriolanus must confront the march of real politics and the voice of an angry mob threatening to throw him out of his hometown.

Succeeding the well-received and much raved about debut of "Coriolanus" in HD from London's West End staged plays, Ayala Malls Cinemas will soon release stage plays that are also filmed in HD from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The lineup of plays filmed in HD will play every second Tuesday of the month starting this October 14 at 6:30pm featuring "Rigoletto" that will be followed by "Rusalka" on November 18 and "Otello" onDecember 16 for the year 2014 and will continue until the year 2015 with "La Bohème" on January 13, "Werther" onFebruary 10 and "The Enchanted Island" on March 3.

For more information and online ticket purchase of Ayala Malls Cinemas' upcoming MET Opera plays in HD, visit www.sureseats.com and like Ayala Malls Cinemas on Facebook. Follow them too on Twitter @mysureseats.

What happens when two kids embark on a magical adventure to find happiness?

The Bluebird of Happiness follows the unforgettable adventure of poor kids Mytyl and Tyltyl search of a mythical creature called the bluebird of happiness. They are accompanied by their dog, their cat, and a candle in human form named "Light" who help them on their journey. Together, they explore wondrous and mysterious lands and meet interesting and enchanted characters in their quest for true happiness.

They visit "The Land of Memory" where they encounter their long dead grandparents, "The Palace of Night" where nightmares and horrors creep from dark corners, "The Forest" filled with trees who have a grudge against humans, "The Land of Luxury" that holds all kinds of riches and bounty, and "The Land of the Future" where sadness is unknown and “The Graveyard” where they must face their worst fears. Despite of all the places they visit they end up where they started and find that the "Bluebird of Happiness" is right in their own home.

“It will be an unforgettable, magical adventure for all families,” says Trumpets President Audie Gemora on why he chose this project to mark Trumpets’ musical comeback. “Trumpets prides itself with productions like The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Joseph The Dreamer, Little Mermaid, among others. Now, we’ve found an apt material for our comeback and have assembled an artistic team composed of the finest artists in the local musical theater scene including director and librettist Jaime Del Mundo, composer Rony Fortich, musical arranger Mon Faustino, scenographer Mio Infante, lighting designer John Batalla, and choreographer Nancy Crowe.

Audie promises that The Bluebird of Happiness will have all the elements that made audiences love previous Trumpets productions.

The Bluebird of Happiness will start enchanting families at the Meralco Theater from September 27 to October 20, 2013. For tickets, contact the Trumpets office at 901-4364 or TicketWorld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph. For more details, Like the Official Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/BluebirdbyTrumpets) and Follow the Official Twitter Account– (@TheBluebirdMNL)

CHARACTERS (in order of appearance)

o Tyltyl – Anton Posadas / Guido Gatmaytan

o Mytyl – Alessa Zialcita / Chimmi Kohchet–Chua

o Mama Tyl - Mayen Bustamante–Cadd

o Berylune - Jennifer Villegas–dela Cruz

o Tylette - Lynn Sherman

o Tylo - Robie Zialcita

o Light - Carla Guevara–Laforteza

o Grandpa Tyl - Steve Cadd

o Grandma Tyl - Joy Virata

o Night - Joel Trinidad

o Father Time - Raymund Concepcion

ADULT ENSEMBLE (in alphabetical order)

o Peachy Atilano

o Ems Bolaños

o Carlos Canlas

o Steven Conde

o Leroy Dela Fuente

o David Shawn Delgado

o Pamela Imperial

o FJ Jorvina

o Charley Magalit

o Amiel Mendoza

o Jun Ofrasio

o Jay Pangilinan

o Noel Rayos

o Tracy Santuyo

o Mark Tayag

o Kakki Teodoro

o Mabelle Bangayan-Ti

o Chino Veguillas

The cast singing Money! Money! Money!

I went inside the CCP theatre without much expectation because I did not like Mamma Mia! the movie version at all. I was just psyched to have the privilege to watch a Broadway musical. One of the things that is listed in my bucket list. But the Mamma Mia! cast definitely changed my mind and as Sara Poyzer  (played Donna Sheridan in the musical) said during the Mamma Mia press conference “The experience of watching the show live makes it better than the movie…” and she was right!

The story of Mamma Mia! is set on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of Sophie Sheridan’s wedding, she goes on a quest to discover the identity of her father and brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. Not expecting that all of them will be coming back to the island to see her mother, Donna Sheridan. Sophie finds a way to discover who is her father without her mother discovering the mess she created.

There is still room for improvement in the way the lead actor Sophie Sheridan interprets some of the acts in the musical, but her energy more than compensates some of her minor lapses in the play. Since I do not have any point of comparison aside from Meryll Streep, I must say that I like Sara Poyzer’s version of Donna than that of Streep’s. I particularly loved her performance on “The Winner Takes It All”. One of the most heartfelt scenes in the play.

Kate Graham as Tanya, my favorite character in Mamma Mia! Is telling her “minor “ admirer to leave her in peace.

Tanya (Kate Graham) and Rosie (Jennie Dale)  are definitely the scene stealers in my opinion. They are just funny and they were able to pull off their song numbers really really well. I can say that they have the talent of not just singing the songs but actually making the audience feel what the words of the song are saying. The Ensemble are particularly awesome! I might be a little biased because of my guy crushes but they are successful in putting the oomph! to the play.

Note to the women and half-women: The men are just…eye candy!

Sophie and her friends reading mum Donna’s diary

Stage Design was just as cool in the eyes as that of the play. I like how the costumes blend in the blue, khaki and white undertones of the stage.

The question really is Mamma Mia! worth your money? I must say hell yeah! This is the first time that I actually danced like crazy and sang along the music…in a theatre play and not in a bar! I must say that the singing is not that good as I expected from a Broadway play, but the play is not known for the cast to belt out difficult tunes. The musical gave me a profound respect to the band Abba and the amazing capability of the songs to tell a story. As Sara Poyzer said in my vernacular before they queued their last song of the night “Gusto nyo pa?” Do you want more? In her british tongue. Definitely I would! I would like to catch it again before the show ends on February 19.

Showbook rating: 4 spotlights!

Your homework before you watch Mamma Mia!:

Memorize the following songs from Abba

1. Honey, Honey
2. Money, Money, Money
3. Mamma Mia
4. Dancing Queen
5. Our Last Summer
6. Lay All Your Love on Me
7. Super Trouper
8. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
9. The Name of the Game
10. Voulez-Vous
11. SOS
12. Does Your Mother Know
13. Slipping Through My Fingers
14. The Winner Takes It All
15. When All Is Said and Done
16. Take a Chance on Me
17. I Have a Dream (song)"/"Thank You for the Music

• Leave the ala-Regine Velasquez singing expectations at home and possibly…10 feet under the ground
• Pack the happy pill and
• Have a bloody good time!

Tickets are available at TicketWorld outlets at selected National Bookstore branches, Robinsons Department Store (Galleria, Malate, Metro East, Festival Mall & Starmill Pampanga) and Ayala Center (Greenbelt 1, Glorietta 4, and Trinoma Mall Cinema Booths) and  at the TicketWorld Office at 6793 Ayala Avenue, Suite 701 V. Madrigal Building, Makati City.  Call (632) 891-9999  or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.  Ticket Prices:  P750, P1000, P1500, P2000, P2500, P3000, P3500, P4000, P4500, P5000, P5500, and P7000. Senior citizens enjoy a 20% discount.