The first performance of David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s musical “Here Lies Love” at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles on Wednesday arrives at a moment of heightened political awareness, both in the United States and the Philippines, according to cast members and the show’s director.
The musical, based on the life of former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos, opened its Broadway run in 2023 with the first-ever all-Filipino cast. The current production, directed by Snehal Desai, artistic director of Center Theatre Group (CTG), is particularly resonant given recent events, including protests against federal immigration policies and political challenges facing the Marcos family in the Philippines.
Actor Josh Dela Cruz, who was an ensemble member in the 2012 production at Mass MoCA and now portrays Ninoy Aquino, the late anti-Marcos leader, noted a shift in the show’s impact. “It was something that happened,” he said of the initial staging, referring to the emotional processing of the subject matter among the cast. “Now, it’s something that’s happening—and not just in the Philippines.”
Across the globe, Philippine President Bongbong Marcos, Imelda Marcos’ son, and Vice President Sara Duterte are facing impeachment complaints alleging corruption and violations of public trust. Simultaneously, protests have erupted in the U.S. In response to federal immigration crackdowns, which some characterize as a move toward authoritarianism. Desai acknowledged the timing was not accidental. “I don’t have a crystal ball. I’m planning based on where I feel like we are, and what are the conversations we’re going to need,” he said during a rehearsal break.
Desai highlighted the relevance of the musical’s themes, particularly in the song “God Draws Straight,” which references the role of the church in resisting oppression, mirroring current events in the United States. “The playbook, which is political assassinations, it is censorship, it is martial law, is literally what we’re seeing happen,” he stated.
The production aims to implicate the audience in the Marcos’ rise to power, revealing how leaders perceived as charming can mask corrupt intentions. Desai described the staging as “drenched in glitz and glamour that conceals its darker themes—until it doesn’t.”
Reanne Acasio, who plays Imelda Marcos, emphasized the sensitivity required in portraying a figure whose actions continue to affect many Filipinos. “Doing a show that talks about historical events with people who are all long gone by now is a very different experience than [performing for] people who are still traumatized by these events,” she said. Acasio noted that many Filipino immigrants have been hesitant to discuss their experiences under martial law, and the show has opened doors for conversation and healing.
Chris Renfro, who plays Ferdinand Marcos, said the production has sparked similar conversations within his own family, allowing for a more frank discussion of the Marcos regime. “I’ve begun to connect these little stories that they would tell me, and now I secure to see them with a different color to them,” he explained.
The musical’s structure, beginning with a celebratory tone and gradually revealing the darker realities of the Marcos era, is central to its message. Dela Cruz praised David Byrne’s approach, stating, “I think that’s the brilliance of David Byrne, where he kind of gets you comfortable with an uncomfortable conversation that you will later need to have after the show.”
Desai revealed that the number “American Troglodyte,” which explores the Philippines’ complex relationship with American culture, will be reprised multiple times, each iteration designed to elicit a different response from the audience.
The production has faced past criticism for potentially glamorizing Imelda Marcos and minimizing the atrocities committed during the Marcos regime. In a 2023 statement, show producers asserted that “Democracies all over the world are under threat. The biggest threat to any democracy is disinformation,” and that “Here Lies Love” offers “a creative way of re-information—an innovative template on how to stand up to tyrant.”
Joan Almedilla, who plays Aurora Aquino, expressed hope that the production will inspire audiences to take action against oppressive leaders. “In the Philippines, this story is ‘the government versus the people,’ as opposed to now, ‘people versus people versus people versus the government,’” she said.
