LEA: NO STAGE MOM, JUST A PROUD ONE TO NIC

LEA SALONGA IS DEFINITELY NO STAGE MOM, just a proud one to her one and only child, Nic Chien.

- Nathalie Tomada

The media recently got a rare glimpse of their dynamic during the press conference for the Philippine run of "Into the Woods" under Theater Group Asia. They're both part of the powerhouse cast of the Stephen Sondheim musical — though not as mother and son — which weaves popular children's fairy tales such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack and the Beanstalk into a shared story with a subversive twist on the so-called "happily-ever-after" ending.

Lea portrays The Witch, a role she did 30 years ago, in a Singapore production, when she was just 23. The 19-year-old Nic, on the other hand, plays the character Jack.

Articulate and funny, Nic appeared like a pro fielding questions about sharing the stage with his mom. The global theater icon, who's soon to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was just a few seats away, quietly and proudly looking on.

"It's nice but sometimes, you know, I just want some space from my mom. Other people get to say that they want space, but I can't do that because I'm always with her," Nic quipped.

"She's incredible, right? But the thing is, it's funny because everybody reacts so freshly towards how amazing my mom is. But because I'm around (her) all the time, I'm just like, okay, it's another Tuesday. I mean, working with my mom... everyone will think she's amazing, and she is! But for me, she's just my mom."

During rehearsals, he recalled asking co-actors, "How do you not stay bored when we're watching the same thing over and over and over again? (And people are like), 'I just watch your mother.' 'I am inspired by her.' And I'm like, okay, that helped me so much (laughs)."

He added, "I mean, (working with her is) not that different from every day because I'm with her all the time. People might expect a more nuanced answer, where I'm gonna be like, 'Wow, I didn't expect this new side of you.' No, it's my mom, she's the same everywhere.