Interview by Sherry Amatenstein
It’s not a job for the faint of heart to take on the lead role in Here Lies Loves, the dazzling ‘poperetta’ by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim that offers the audience an aerobic experience along with a unique and dazzling show.
Enter Jaygee Macapugay, who confidently steps into the designer stilettos of the character she portrays- the disco loving, shoe addict wife of the disgraced Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The inventive musical biography charts Imelda’s path from small town beauty contest winner to First Lady and first class hedonist.
Macapugay started with the show as a swing and understudy for Imelda, taking what would be center stage if the musical had one on October 20th.
Theater Pizzazz caught up with Jaygee a few hours before she hit the moving set cum dance floor at The Public for a recent performance.
YOU WERE UNDERSTUDYING FOR RUTHIE ANN MILES AS IMELDA – SO WAS THIS AN ALL ABOUT EVE STORY WHERE YOU DID EVERYTHING YOU COULD TO WREST THE ROLE AWAY?
(Laughing) Ruthie was working on the piece since 2011 and I wanted her to feel very comfortable if she ever got sick that the role would be in capable hands. She would come up to me after I went on for her and be grateful. I called out for the first time last Sunday and my understudy took over. I knew the role would be in good hands. Everybody here is wonderful at what they do.
THIS IS YOUR SECOND TIME PLAYING IMELDA. WHAT IS YOUR CONNECTION TO THIS WOMAN?
Yes I played her in a musical at Pan Asian Rep. I’ve been able to be the lead in the two Filipino shows that came to New York in the last few years. I have to separate out who Imelda is as a person.
YOU WERE BORN IN CHICAGO BUT YOUR GRANDFATHER SERVED IN THE FILIPINO ARMY DURING WORLD WAR TWO AND YOUR PARENTS IMMIGRATED HERE. HOW DOES THAT HISTORY COLOR YOUR PORTRAYAL?
There are a lot of emotions for me wrapped up in Here Lies Love. My parents were there during Imelda’s time so it was very powerful when my family came to the show. The majority of the cast is Filipino American. We feel Pinoy Pride – our term for representing our nation internationally – showing this story to non-Filipinos, which is the majority of the audience.
UNLIKE A PROSCENIUM SHOW YOU ARE CHEEK-TO-CHEEK WITH THE AUDIENCE – DANCING AND SINGING TOGETHER. HOW HARD WAS IT TO GET USED TO THIS FORMAT?
I started my career as a performer at Disneyworld. Here Lies Love isn’t Tarzan Rocks at Animal Kingdom but I got comfortable with a hand held mic interacting with everyone.
The show’s audiences give me strength. There’s an electric energy as we shake hands and dance together on the moving platforms.
WHAT’S YOUR MOST INTERESTING AUDIENCE ENCOUNTER SO FAR?
The day Steven Sondheim came to see the show I missed the last step on a short flight of stairs and an audience member helped me up! We gave each other a look that said, “You saved me!”
IMELDA HAD 1,060 PAIRS OF SHOES. HOW MANY DO YOU WEAR AND HOW MANY BLISTERS DO YOU GET AT EACH PERFORMANCE?
Everyone expected there would be dozens of shoe changes but David Byrne decided that’s not what the show is about – there are only three. I wear LaDuca dance shoes, which are comfortable, but I get big knots. Pressing my foot against a ping-pong ball helps with the tightness.
