Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s ‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’ isn’t just a musical – it’s a mirror.

Written and composed by Drew Gasparini, this 19-song cycle, first staged in 2019, finds new life in Manila under the director of Rem Zamora. With musical direction by Myke Salomon and Farley Asuncion, the production transforms the stage into a shared emotional landscape, where five performers – Gab Pangilinan, Maronne Cruz, Gio Gahol, Luigi Quesada, and Salomon himself – embody different facets and stages of Drew Gasparini’s life.

The minimalist set, designed by Joey Mendoza and Hershee Tantiado, features a raised square stage bordered by wooden benches, with the band situated in the center. This configuration ensures that the vocals are elevated and not drowned by the music, allowing the lyrics to take center stage. The lighting design by D Cortezano plays a pivotal role, shifting to emphasize mood, memory, and meaning, effectively expressing the weight of each scene.

Despite all performers portraying “Drew,” we loved how each actor still brought their own personality and depth. It was my first time to witness Luigi Quesada and he is a revelation, his performance radiating vulnerability and capturing the aching uncertainty of adulthood. During “I Wish I Never Met You” and his standout moment featuring Keith White’s poem, Quesada delivers the emotional breaking point of the show – a reminder to hold on even when the world feels too heavy.

Gio Gahol embodies Drew’s shadow self, with every cuss and fidgeting of his lighter, he shows the darker thoughts we hide and the truths we fear, serving as a quiet, powerful force that whispers the questions we often avoid: Am I enough? Will I ever get there? Will I ever be okay?

The band, placed visibly on stage, becomes a living part of the narrative, amplifying every emotion with sonic strength. The sound design of Aron Roca ensures that the music complements rather than overpower the vocals, allowing the lyrics – the confessions – to take center stage.

Myke Salomon, with his unmistakable presence, anchors the show with commanding vocals, especially in “Danny and Drew”, a song that traverses childhood innocence to adult disillusionment with heartbreaking honesty. Gab Pangilinan and Maronne Cruz reignite the chemistry we saw in Othello, this time through “On and On and On,” a searing duet that captures both nostalgia and regret.

With only a handful of performers and musicians on stage, the production still feels full – not in scale, but in soul. This is a show where every note, every line, every flicker of light is loaded with intent.

We Aren’t Kids Anymore doesn’t offer easy answers. It sits with you in the discomfort. It reminds you that growing up isn’t a destination – it’s an endless becoming. The message is clear and deeply felt: surrender, feel it all, but don’t give up.

You can still catch We Aren’t Kids Anymore at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati, until May 25, 2025. You can get your ticket via bit.ly/waka2025tickets.

Here’s to hoping this powerful, soul-baring piece gets the extension or re-run it clearly deserves.

#WeArentKidsAnymore #WAKA2025 #KidsNoMore

About the Author

Apple Gamboa is the Life Editor of SubSelfie.com.

She is also the Senior Executive for Corporate Communications for Canon Philippines.

She was previously a Media Relations Manager for Ogilvy Philippines and an interview and field producer for GMA News programs Quick Response Team and News to Go. She was also a producer of lifestyle TV shows and documentaries. Travelling and music are her passion, and taking risks is her reality medicine. Journalism 2010, UST. Read more of her articles here.