“They’re out to kill us.”

This is how prized thespian and “Talentadong Pinoy” judge Audie Gemora jokingly referred to GMA-7 and ABS-CBN 's move to join the talent show bandwagon in view of the success of his TV5 show.

“[But media] is a free enterprise. Capitalism is not necessarily right but we have to live with it. [Anyway] it’s a healthy competition,” Audie told Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online in an interview held at The Roxy along Tomas Morato in Quezon City. 

Audie thinks “Talentadong Pinoy” appeals to the audience because “[it’s for] everybody… [kahit] matandang walang ngipin puwedeng mag-perform.. Makuha lang niya ang kanyang 15 minutes of fame, happy na siya dun.”

And although the competition among networks has escalated, Audie does not feel pressured but only concerned with his contribution as a judge.

“Ang pressure lang sa akin sa show ay kung ano ang masasabi ko na educational and entertaining,” he shared.

Seeing that television is “a limited and an uneducated market,” the actor hopes that his stint in the show would somehow elevate people's awareness on differentiating between what's truly entertaining.

“[I do this] by telling [the contestants] what’s lacking with their act. Kahit papaano, in-e-educate ko ‘yung mga tao,” said he.

Audie admitted that he went for the “fringe benefits of being a celebrity” in order to help theater gain more media exposure.

“Kasi if you’re just a theater actor, ‘pag gumawa ka ng play, wala namang mag-iinterview sa’yo. Kahit anong klaseng trabaho ang gawin mo, kahit nagsusuka ka na, hindi ka i-ko-cover kung hindi ka celebrity,” he explained.

However, Audie said it’s still not easy to produce a play nowadays, given the wide array of entertainment choices that people have.

“It’s not like before, when we started in Rep [Repertory Philippines], the tickets were 50 pesos. There was no competition. Now, there are more options for people. You can go to the mall… eat at a restaurant.

“Mas marami kaming challenges now. It’s not the same world,” said he.

Audie divulged the biggest challenge that hampers the overall success of a production.

“[It’s] economics. Mas mahal na ngayon mag-produce, [and] it’s harder to get a return on investment.. ‘Pag tinaas mo ang production cost, magmamahal ang ticket mo, mas konti ang makaka-afford na manood.

“Before watching [a play], mag-iisip muna ang isang family na hirap kung willing silang magbayad ng 1,000 pesos [for a] ticket. If you’re a family of four, 4,000 pesos na ‘yun, equivalent to a week's worth of grocery,” he said.

And because Audie believes people are more discerning nowadays, “you just have to give them a taste of what a good show is.”

Audie is in the title role of Repertory Philippines' "Sweeney Todd," the Tony Award-winning musical featuring the music of Stephen Sondheim.

“Sweeney Todd” tells the story of a barber who avenges the abduction of his wife by an influential devout admirer, Judge Turpin. Sweeney returns to Fleet Street after disappearing for 15 years, and obtains assistance of pie-maker Mrs. Lovett for his killing spree.

According to a Repertory Philippines press release, Audie had thought of producing "Sweeney Todd" himself.

"[Because] for athletes, it's the Olympics; for actors, it's 'Sweeney Todd,'" said he in the release.

He added that the musical is an art piece that has to be performed with precision "because the ear has to be trained for this particular type of music."

"The challenge is to bring the listener to that space where the dissonance is actually harmony," he said, adding that in "Sweeney Todd," "so it is!"

Audie thinks Filipinos could relate to the play because its lead character shares similarities with Simon of “El Filibusterismo.”

“[Ang] character ni Sweeney is close to the character of Simon sa ‘El Fili,’ [in that] the latter also avenged what happened to Maria Clara. This guy [Sweeney], he avenged what happened to his wife, so pareho,” he said.

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Mrs. Lovett), Liesl Batucan (beggar woman), Robbie Guevara (Beadle), Robbie Zialcita (Pirelli), Franco Laurel (Anthony), Lena Mckenzie (Johanna), Marvin Ong (Tobias), and Roger Chua (Judge Turpin) comprise the rest of the ensemble.

Directed by Baby Barredo and Michael Williams, with musical accompaniment by the FILharmoniKA under the baton of Gerard Salonga, “Sweeney Todd” will run from Nov. 14 to Dec. 13 at Onstage Greenbelt, Makati City.

For ticket inquiries, call 887-0710, 888-0887 or log on to www.repertory.ph or Ticketworld 891-9999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph.