The return of Your Evening With Pilita
Pilita Corrales’ iconic television show, Your Evening With Pilita, as directed by Mitos Villareal snapped off the air with martial law’s declaration. It made a return as A Night of Friendship: Your Evening With
Pilita And Eric as megged by Leo Rialp on the vibrant evening of Dec. 2 at the swanky 1,740-seater The Theatre of Solaire Resort & Casino.
In the annual concert hosted by tenor Eric Cruz, Pilita guested outstanding performers the country ever produced such as Basil Valdez, The CompanY, Lisa Cabahug and Lemuel dela Cruz, with regular cast members Dyords Javier and the Halili-Cruz Dance Company by the superb back-up of the 18-piece AMP Big Band led by Mel Villena. The playlist included timeless tunes swirling in our heads.
Your Evening
With Pilita featured songs of universal feelings of love, loss and good times that squeezed banter between the host’s thematic solos and special tunes by guests went on air in 1965 over Channel 3 every Wednesday from 9 to 10 p.m.
Pilita has been bringing stage spin-offs of the TV show abroad but this was the first time she reprised it in grand style in the country. The ageless Pilita appeared from top stage, taking off with Kapantay
ay Langit, accompanied by the signature sensuous swaying of her shapely body, at points bent backward to reach higher notes.
Eric’s quirky sense of humor was full of surprises that he and Dyords kept the audience laughing and puffing between numbers. He claimed the next gap as his own with a heartfelt rendition of This is the Moment.
The CompanY then showed it is Asia’s premiere vocal harmony act. Moy Ortiz of The CompanY recalled how he got a recording contract upon guesting in Pilita’s show. The group did an unheard of mambo arrangement of More
Today Than Yesterday. Arranged by the superlative creative Moy, Evolution involved the band and audience, kicking enthusiasm and spinning energy.
A legend walked up when Basil took center stage. He retained his charismatic flawless voice that mesmerized the entire hall. His George Canseco medley massively appealed. The Michel Legrand medley with Pilita was matchless in contemporary classicism and romanticism.
When the chandeliers lowered, the Halili-Cruz dancers entered to lead into the Classical Suite with Eric introducing it with Amore Perduto. Lisa upped the romance level with If You Are But A Dream, Lemuel with A Word Outside and Pilita
with Full Moon and Empty Arms. Medleys specially in Pilita’s Visayan songs painted bigger, brighter and larger canvases. Veering the show away from the modest while focusing on the luxuriant, sometimes pure genius, other times just playful but always gratifying. In-keeping with the season, the Christmas Suite followed with Dyords and ballerinas executing comedic ballet in Pasko Na Naman. The entire cast participated in the Simbang Gabi medley. Lemuel and Lisa ended with Feliz Navidad. Eric provided an exceptional wrap in the Pasasalamat number, his voice soared through it all. When Pilita launched A Million Thanks to
You, fans recognized the signing off. A thunderous standing ovation signaled collective approval of a magnificent return.