Joanna Ampil: From one Kim to the next
Joanna Ampil, who played the lead role of Kim in “Miss Saigon” twice, has words of advice to Rachelle Ann Go, Frenchesca Farr and others eyeing the coveted role in the long-running play.
“Portray the character from the heart. They want to see something original, completely different. They like to see rawness.”
Joanna has been singing from the heart so much, she has played the pained Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar, the troubled Eponine in “Les Miserables” and others.
Now, she’s playing the down-and-out Grizabella in the London production of “Cats.” And she didn't even have to go through the required preliminaries for all those who want to join the cast.
“They were kind to me,” recalls Joanna. “I didn't have to go through the preliminaries. They just gave me a brief history of the show. Then they told me I’ll be prepared for my audition the next day. That was very sweet of them.”
Can you blame fellow hopefuls for feeling insecure around Joanna?
“I saw a friend of mine who played Christine in ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ When she found out I as auditioning, she said ‘it’s unfair!’ It was so funny! That’s okay, since she’s my friend.”
Now that her friend’s fears have been confirmed, Joanna is bent on giving Grizabella all the angst and her character is known for.
Art imitating life?
“I like martyr roles,” Joanna beams.
Not that she’s a martyr in real life. Joanna walked away from a marriage gone wrong and admits she has become even stronger. She learned to decide for herself at 17, when she lived on her own in London where “Miss Saigon” was staged.
Her advice, this time to teens living by their lonesome?
“Lots prayers. Trust your survival instincts. You will go through a lot of lessons in life. The hardest lessons is when you feel betrayed by the person you trust.”
Her saving grace, Joanna adds, was – and continues to be her family. She didn't mind paying huge phone bills to sob on the phone while a member of the family listened many miles away.
Today, Joanna doesn't feel as deprived, even if her family is on the other side of the globe while she hops from one European city to the next as the new Grizabella. As the only Filipina in "Cats," Joanna will be away for seven months, including rehearsals.
When she comes home in early September, Joanna will plunge herself into something she has sorely neglected. She’ll be recording an album for her kababayans again. Joanna has yet to decide on the title and final track list, but she’s sure it will include a revival of Nonoy Zuniga's hit ballad “Init sa Magdamag."
Joanna hopes she can make up for lost time – time she spent away from the Philippines as an actress in international stage plays.
For Joanna, nothing is too late as long as you're passionate about it. So it's on with the show, this time for fellow Pinoys.
And another international stint beckons?
Well, Joanna can always cross the bridge when she gets there. Meanwhile, we can think positive and look forward to hearing the voice that has impressed audiences in role after international role this past decade and more.
