Don’t be fooled by the spooky poster. This dark-comedy Filipino musical is a rollercoaster of emotions guaranteed to bring tears, from sobbing monologues to hilarious punchlines.
Known for producing original Filipino stage plays rooted in mystery and thriller genres, Studio A Productions, which recently staged Makara: The Musical, brings back its best-selling play, Tulog Na, this time as a full musical.
Tulog Na has had 136 shows and welcomed more than 20,000 audiences over two years, making it one of the production’s most requested titles. For its musical adaptation, actress and comedienne Marietta ‘Pokwang’ Subong joins the cast as Rose, the protagonist, marking her theatrical debut. The show now features ‘Tulog Na’ by Ebe Dancel, the OPM anthem that inspired its title.
A dark comedy set inside a morgue
To be honest, I was quite nervous walking into the theater. As someone who had a last memory of my aunt seeing her in a morgue, my anxiety was through the roof. Seeing lifeless bodies, the gloomy lighting, and the eerie audio sent chills down my spine. The production did an impressive job of making the space genuinely unsettling. It felt like we were stepping into a horror story.
In Tulog Na: The Musical, the story unfolds in a mortuary owned by Rose (Pokwang) and her husband, Mal (Basty Batistis). When night falls, strange things start to happen. Lights flicker, uncanny voices, and Rose appears to hear things that others don’t. Yet she remains unfazed, showing that she even talks to her ‘stone-cold clients’.
But as the story progressed, my anxiety gave way to laughter and tears.
The audience engaged with every punchline and quirk with a loud laugh. I love how the humor is embedded in a taboo story such as death. At the center of it all is Rose, whose personality feels familiar. She’s the wife or mother who gets easily irritated, raises her voice when frustrated, yet remains loving and caring. Pokwang perfectly embodies Rose. Her delivery, mannerisms, and comic timing make the character feel incredibly natural.
The cast, a mix of seasoned and rookie performers, also brings characters that feel familiar. Tamara (Cherry Morena) could be your friend who seems fine but quietly struggles with depression; Alya (Zeny Sevilla) could be your nosy neighbor; Angela (Eunice Somintac) could be a relative; and Jojo (Jeremy Manite) could be your colleague.
I won’t reveal too much because discovering their stories is part of the experience. The powerhouse cast includes Victor (Gamaliel Tan), Biyang (Cary Faith Rodolfo), Rochelle (Primitivo Moscare Jr.), Rex (Nicollo Gutierrez), Josie (Rea Farrah Era), Grace (Rachel Libres), Gelo (Kaiser Cortina), Karen (Geann Rose), Lily (Jenna Vanderson), and Vince (Leon Vanderson).
What I loved most was how their performances felt intimate. It’s as if they’re my friends and I’m just listening to their stories. Each had their own spotlight, and the heartfelt songs moved me to tears. I found myself crying buckets in the second act.
Beyond the dark comedy, Tulog Na makes you ponder your own life and mortality. The storyline, the monologues, and the music beautifully capture how fragile and swift life can be. The sorrow of each character is a stark reminder that people often take things for granted.
While I do love its narrative and sporadic comic relief, it felt like some of the scenes were stretched and could’ve been shortened. Half of the show becomes emotionally heavy, with characters unloading their trauma one after another. I do understand this helps validate the pain they carry, but the repetition can feel overwhelming.
The show is promoted as suitable for audiences as young as 10 years old. However, the script contains a few instances of profanity and expletives. There are also themes of violence and abuse against women. While these may serve a purpose in storytelling and establishing certain characters, parents bringing younger children may want to take note.
An intimate theater experience
As for the venue, the intimate setup at Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Ayala Malls Circuit perfectly suits the play. Whether you’re seated on the sides or in front, the short distance between the stage and the audience makes it feel engaging.
I was also impressed by the scene transitions, particularly with the plot twist at the end. It was seamless, allowing the story to move without disrupting the momentum.
The only letdown for me was the technical issue in the audio. Some recorded segments had inconsistent volume levels. There were times the audio was raspy and static, which was really uncomfortable to the ears.
After the show, I had a chat with the production’s writer Danna Bernardino and marketing director Russell Tee. They shared that the musical adaptation introduced new characters compared with the original version, with some stories inspired by their own experiences. That made the production feel even more personal. The deaths and grief they’ve experienced became part of the creative expression behind the play.
At its core, Tulog Na: The Musical is a macabre mirror of human life, reflecting our fears, regrets, and the fleeting nature of time. I loved how the humor was woven into a story about something we rarely talk about openly-death.
And perhaps that is what makes the play resonate. There’s something distinctly Pinoy about finding something to laugh about even in the midst of dread.
By the end of the play, you can’t help but realize. What’s more terrifying? Death itself or the weight of regrets you leave behind?
Tulog Na: The Musical show dates have been extended until September 27, 2026, at the RCBC Theater in Makati City.