David Byrne is bringing his disco musical "Here Lies Love" back to Broadway. The musical, composed with Fatboy Slim, premiered off-Broadway in 2013 and tells the story of Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines. The show features an all-Filipino cast and is invested in the synthetic sound of karaoke, a cultural staple of Filipino lives. Byrne's musical is an immersive experience, with the seats in the orchestra section removed to create a dancing arena. The show has gained new relevance as another Marcos, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., also known as Bongbong, is now in power in the Philippines.
The article discusses the creation and concept of David Byrne's political musical, "Here Lies Love." Byrne explains how he was inspired by the People Power Revolution in the Philippines and the idea of audience immersion in a club-like atmosphere. He also discusses the inverse arc of the play compared to his previous work, "American Utopia," where the audience changes instead of the characters. The article also touches on the intentional gaps in the play, such as not including Imelda Marcos' infamous shoe collection or the killings during the Marcos regime, to create a bodily response in the audience. The play is critical of the Marcos regime but also allows the audience to experience how Filipino people felt they were seduced.
