JessicaRulestheUniverse.com

They had us at the title. How could we resist something called Rak of Aegis? Apart from the cheeky Tagalized reference to the American musical celebrating cheeseball Eighties music, hair and fashion, it mentions the awesomeness that is Aegis. Aegis, the band whose tonsil-shredding songs of lost love and dashed hopes were the soundtrack of the Oughties. Aegis, whose inimitable power ballads plumbed the abyss of romantic sentimentality. To call their music “a guilty pleasure” is condescending and clueless. To understand the concept “Pinoy”, one must engage with the phenomenon of Aegis.

Part of the thrill of watching Rak of Aegis is wondering whether the actors will fall into the “floodwaters”.

We had expected a local homage to Rock of Ages, with “Halik” and “Basang-Basa Sa Ulan” instead of the hits of Def Leppard and Journey—a nostalgia trip affectionately mocking recent pop artifacts. After all, Rock of Ages is just a compendium of songs arranged around a flimsy tale of aspiring musicians. How could we set the bar so low? We should be made to sing “Halik” three octaves higher than the original, as the in-theatre announcements threatened spectators who made phone calls or sang along while the show was in progress.

Reviewed in our column at InterAksyon.com. Thanks to Earnest for making us watch Rak of Aegis, and to Leloi for letting us in. (We still owe you a T-shirt photo.)

Rak of Aegis, onstage at the PETA Theatre Centre on Eymard Drive, New Manila. Tickets at ticketworld.com.ph. Visit the PETA Facebook page.