MANILA – The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) kicked off its celebrations for its 50 year by bringing back one of its biggest and critically acclaimed productions, “Care Divas,” six years after the original musical made its debut.

But this revival is not just about looking back. Given the current global mood, director Maribel Legarda believes “Care Divas,” a funny and candid look at five gay overseas Filipino workers in Israel who work as care givers in the day and drag performers at night, remains relevant.

And it is, with talks about building a wall between the United States and Mexico, and renewed misogyny and anti-LGBT sentiment around the world.

“It’s interesting that with all that’s happening all over the world now, the whole issue of migration, I think it (‘Care Divas’) is still current,” Legarda said.

At the same time, “Care Divas” also resonates for an entirely different reason. “Filipinos love music and PETA has spent a lot of its time trying to evolve original Filipino music and this comes from that whole history of doing that,” Legarda said.

Composer Vicente de Jesus’s songs are easy on the ear with their pop flavor but well-structured for musical theater.

STYLE AND SUBSTANCE

As I noted in my original review back in 2011, “Care Divas” is out and out entertaining but this doesn’t mean that it is all glitter and no substance. Amid the laugh-out-loud dialogue, it manages to touch on the plight of OFWs, the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians, and even suicide bombers.

Playwright Liza Magtoto’s dialogue is ripe with quick wit and gay humor -- which is to be expected given its main characters, such that often it’s like being at a comedy bar where the hosts crack jokes and sing in between.

But Magtoto also provides the audience with plenty to think about. While there is that obvious dilemma of caring for other people while being away from one’s loved ones, Magtoto tosses other issues without engaging in unnecessary pandering.

“Care Divas” manages to dramatically show the perils of being an illegal worker in Israel and the fear of being deported. She even includes the shrewdness of Jewish businessmen without resorting to cheap stereotyping.

Her exploration of the intolerance of Israel toward the Palestinians, brilliantly juxtaposed with the country’s open acceptance of homosexuals, gives “Care Divas” the heft that lifts it from other gay-themed musicals.

YOUNGER DIVAS

De Jesus, who is also part of the cast, returns with the other original cast members Melvin Lee, Ricci Chan, Dudz Teraña and Buddy Caramat.

Six years since they first took on their roles, these actors still bristle with humor and energy as if they have been performing it continuously. The chemistry was tight and their delivery remains fresh and funny.

But seeing the new batch of Care Divas showed just how well written it is since the dialogue still had that spontaneous quality -- no matter who is delivering it.

Red Concepcion proved that his award-winning performance as another drag queen in "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" was no fluke. In fact, he was even more impressive as the optimistic, little Miss Sunshine Chelsea, originally played by Lee, who was rewarded with a Gawad Buhay award for his performance. He effortlessly captured Chelsea's caring and pabebe ways and was thoroughly moving in his solo near the end.

Ron Alfonso as the pragmatic Shai (originally played by De Jesus) and Jason Barcial as the ditzy Thalia (originally played by Teraña) were spot on, but it was Thou Reyes, known to TV viewers for his supporting turns in "Pangako Sa 'Yo" and "On the Wings of Love," who truly pulled a surprise as the crusty Jonee.

With his stocky build and dark skin, Thou's diva turn was memorable yet he also managed to project a sensible, level-headed quality that felt current.

But whether you are seeing the new or the original actors, "Care Divas" is guaranteed to be entertaining and uplifting no matter how many times you watch it.

"Care Divas" runs until March 19 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City.