By Brontë H. Lacsamana, Reporter

Theater Review: The Notebook: The Musical, presented by Theatre Group Asia

Singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson's music and lyrics, together with Bekah Brunstetter's Tony-nominated book, form the solid foundation on which Theatre Group Asia's production of The Notebook: The Musical builds an immersive, emotional world. The musical adaptation first reached Broadway in 2024, where it earned multiple Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, and TGA's staging now marks the title's first outing beyond that original run.

Audiences who know The Notebook as Nicholas Sparks' bestselling novel or the 2004 hit film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams may be surprised: the show goes beyond the kisses in the rain and the sickly-sweet love story people remember it for. TGA's latest offering uses the stage to explore themes of memory, time, separation, and life-changing choices, largely through its thoughtful depiction of dementia.

"Growing up and coming of age are interesting to think about as things that happen constantly in different parts of your life," said Nicholas Polonio, the Filipino-American director of the show, during a press conference ahead of the gala night at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati, on Sept. 2.

With that in mind, The Notebook: The Musical brings the beloved Broadway title to the Philippines by drawing on the enviable triple-threat-level skill of its Filipino cast. It is also the first international production of the musical — a milestone for Philippine theater's growing footprint in mounting licensed international productions, and an early flagship offering for TGA, which was formed to bring large-scale Western musicals to local audiences with predominantly Filipino casts.

Centered on the love story of Noah and Allie, the show unfolds as a narrative told across multiple stages of their lives. Three sets of actors play the couple: Benedix Ramos and Sheena Belarmino as the Younger pair, Laurence Mossman and Morissette Amon as the Middle, and Rody Vera and Celeste Legaspi as the Older Noah and Allie.

All three couples deliver the deep love and growth expected of their characters, from young adulthood to old age. Benedix Ramos is a strong embodiment of Noah's youthful optimism and determination, and a fine partner to Sheena Belarmino, one of the stand-outs of the entire show, whose crystal-clear, bird-like voice and tremendous acting ability translate into commanding stage presence. Their renditions of "I Paint" and "Sadness and Joy" are simply moving.

For Morissette, an acclaimed singing diva in her own right, the iconic track "My Days" lets her flex her vocal prowess, injecting pure emotion into the melody and belting out high notes — at times to the point that some passages feel like a random, mini-Morissette concert in the middle of a theater production, for better or worse. Most importantly, she shares strong chemistry with Laurence Mossman, who embodies yearning and intensity while bringing an alluring physical stature to the role. Together they make "Leave the Light On" a memorable journey through their feelings.

As the young couple falls in love, their middle-aged counterparts must overcome hurdles to rekindle the relationship, while their older selves struggle to hold on to shared memories. The creative direction by TGA artistic director Clint Ramos and director Mr. Polonio keeps the future ever-present, looking back in time even as scenes shift and change.

Miguel Urbino's set design makes the sweeping story intimate. A single house-like structure serves as the stage's centerpiece, representing the couple's dream home, and is able to move and transform to make way for the nursing home where the older Noah and Allie live. The dock and boat where they first meet are also neat set pieces that stand out as romantic visual symbols of their lasting love.

This places industry veterans Celeste Legaspi and Rody Vera in key roles, onstage for most of the show as timelines merge and sometimes interact. Rather than flashbacks, they are perpetually looking on, as if memory were one shared, eternal space. This allows viewers to see events from different perspectives, across eras and levels of growth.

Both actors stand out in their own ways. Mr. Vera's Noah is a strong, heartbreaking performance as he reads from a notebook to help his wife remember their story amid the haze of Alzheimer's disease. His vocals are reliable, shaky when needed, and ultimately the perfect tone for a man remaining patient despite heartbreak. Ms. Legaspi, meanwhile, does not sing much, as the role requires her to speak more and act out the confusion and frustration of a woman suffering from dementia — and her performance is devastating. That the show centers these characters rather than treating them as bookends is part of what distinguishes the stage adaptation from the film in the popular imagination.

For this writer, "I Wanna Go Back" is the track that best displays the production's strengths. The blocking juxtaposes all three Allies and lets them shine in their own vocal and acting choices, distinct from one another yet cohesive.

The supporting cast also merits mention, with seasoned theater actor Carla Guevara Laforteza the stand-out among them. She plays Allie's mother for the younger and middle versions of the couple and the nurse for the older version, using accents, voice inflections, and mannerisms to separate the two characters while exploring facets of maternal care that shift with time and circumstance.

Ultimately, TGA's The Notebook: The Musical proves there is more to the beloved story than the sickly-sweet scenes of romance and kissing in the rain — though those are part of it, too, and executed very well onstage. The live orchestra elevates the experience and is itself worth the price of admission, delivering musical numbers that hit all the right emotional beats.

The depiction of dementia may bring tears to viewers' eyes, especially those who have lived through it with loved ones, but the show concludes with warmth, hope, and triumph. It is a feel-good experience for hopeless romantics and devoted lovers.

The Notebook: The Musical runs until Sept. 20 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati. Tickets are available now through TicketWorld, priced from P900 to P5,500.