MANILA – For two Valentine seasons in a row, Filipinos get to spend this romantic day with Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, the notorious couple of the phenomenal best-selling novel “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

Last year, the much-awaited movie version with Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan opened in time for Valentine’s Day.

This year, Vivre Fort Entertainment and 9 Works Theatrical teamed up to bring to Manila the well-reviewed “50 Shades! The Musical Parody,” which opens on Friday, February 12, at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater of RCBC Plaza in Makati.

Featuring a cast from the musical’s New York and Las Vegas productions with several Filipino actors (comebacking theater actress Karel Marquez alternates as Anastasia), “50 Shades!” brings to the fore the perhaps unintentional comedy in E. L. James’ widely panned novel that launched a new category of books dubbed “mommy porn.”

Indeed, the musical opens with three suburban ladies whose book club elects to read “Fifty Shades of Grey” over “The Diary of Anne Frank” and a Martha Stewart recipe book for soup. As expected, they become engrossed with the salacious story, which comes to life onstage in a sort of soft-core cabaret musical presentation. In 69 minutes (or so the voiceover claimed), the stage action would alternate between suburbia and the glossy world of Ana and Christian.

Just as Ana is changed from college virgin to submissive-in-training, so do the three women, who find sexual liberation from the book.

The novel is a treasure trove for comedy and the show’s co-writer and director Albert Samuels was obviously having a fun time mining these and transforming them into hilarious numbers. He includes some of the book supporting characters – Ana’s roommate Katherine, her Mexican suitor Jose and Christian’s brother – and had an "explosive" production number set in the Red Room of Pain, which was re-created onstage complete with a few bondage paraphernalia.

The book’s most memorable quote “I don’t make love” was turned into a full-blown, no holds barred solo for Christian who sings directly to the “sexy ladies” in the audience telling them what he would do to them in dirty yet funny language – including one in Tagalog that would make any conservative blush. It’s a rip-roaring number guaranteed to send the audience rolling onto the theater aisles laughing.

While the book would sometimes launch into euphemisms, Samuels uses explicit language and double entendres to hilarious effect, especially in Ana’s numbers “There’s a Hole Inside of Me,” which American actress Brenna Wahl portrays with biting-lip naivete, and “How Much Can I Take.”

There are even some nods to other musical theater moments, including “Les Miserables” and “Miss Saigon.” Yes, there is also a helicopter scene in “50 Shades!” (but without Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do” playing in the background; Beyonce’s rearranged “Crazy in Love,” however, was used in other parts of the musical).

There’s eye candy, for sure, with a leggy lingerie-clad dancer and two buff shirtless men in tight pants. There’s even one scene of simulated sex right in the aisle such that the musical is recommended for audiences 18 years old and above.

But it’s all in adult fun. Think of it as an extended, explicit “Saturday Night Live” skit. There are corny moments for sure, and some gags felt over-stretched, but for the most part, “50 Shades” is absolutely entertaining – even if you hated or didn’t read the book or watched the movie.

Dump the expensive dinner and make this your Valentine’s Day date.

“50 Shades! The Musical Parody” opens on February 12 and runs until March 1 at the RCBC Plaza, Makati.