This production featured two plays by renowned absurdist Eugène Ionesco: Ang Kalbong Soprano and The Lesson. For Soprano, Exzell Macomb, Peanuts Valerio, Gelo Brillantes, Ia Solis, Reg de Vera, and Mel Pante form the cast of this riotous play about the futility of communication. The ensemble does a good job at maintaining the energy level and rapport the crazy material demands, so kudos to the actors.
In The Lesson, a colonial professor (Mikey Panopio) seeks to teach a native student (Bea Gulinao). The student begins enthusiastically, but becomes more and more unnerved as the Professor moves to new material and grows angrier at his perception of the young one’s ignorance. His maid (Mon Querubin) reminds him to watch his health and not go too far, but he ignores it. The play ends with a reversal of the savage and the educated. It paints a violent picture of the horrors that arise when one imposes one’s will on another.
Mikey Panopio’s professor is engaging, especially in his gradual transformation from reserved teacher to vicious primitive. Bea Gulinao also delivers a tremendous performance as the student. It takes great courage and effort to engage in such violent scenes and Bea pulls it off quite well. The performance of these two together was so gripping that you can feel the audience fear for her safety in the final scene of the production (which left her tied to the four corners of the theater while precariously lying spread-eagle on a rickety table). Intense!
In The Lesson, a colonial professor (Mikey Panopio) seeks to teach a native student (Bea Gulinao). The student begins enthusiastically, but becomes more and more unnerved as the Professor moves to new material and grows angrier at his perception of the young one’s ignorance. His maid (Mon Querubin) reminds him to watch his health and not go too far, but he ignores it. The play ends with a reversal of the savage and the educated. It paints a violent picture of the horrors that arise when one imposes one’s will on another.
Mikey Panopio’s professor is engaging, especially in his gradual transformation from reserved teacher to vicious primitive. Bea Gulinao also delivers a tremendous performance as the student. It takes great courage and effort to engage in such violent scenes and Bea pulls it off quite well. The performance of these two together was so gripping that you can feel the audience fear for her safety in the final scene of the production (which left her tied to the four corners of the theater while precariously lying spread-eagle on a rickety table). Intense!
Summer of ’42 (Blue Repertory)
This was a musical based on the 1971 coming of age film of the same title. The story follows teen friends Hermie, Oscy, and Benjie’s summer on Nantucket Island with the second world war as the backdrop.
The plot really reminds me of an odd welding of Malena and December Boys. Despite the themes and scenes expected of a coming-of-age story, though, the material still maintains to be heartwarming. With its staging in a small venue and the authentic ensemble performance, this turned out to be an intimate and enjoyable production. Even former Philippine Jesuit Provincial Fr. Danny Huang, S.J. enjoyed the show and blogged about it.
The plot really reminds me of an odd welding of Malena and December Boys. Despite the themes and scenes expected of a coming-of-age story, though, the material still maintains to be heartwarming. With its staging in a small venue and the authentic ensemble performance, this turned out to be an intimate and enjoyable production. Even former Philippine Jesuit Provincial Fr. Danny Huang, S.J. enjoyed the show and blogged about it.
High School Musical the Ice Tour (Disney and Araneta Entertainment)
I’ve been a big fan of skating (both for sport and entertainment) since I was a kid. I’ve seen a lot of “Holiday on Ice” shows since my childhood so I thought it would be fine to see this. I’m not that big a HSM fan, so I wasn’t really expecting much when I saw this.
The show was generally enjoyable, but not as exciting as other Disney on Ice productions. Iba talaga pag may mascots on ice na magaling magskate! The plus was that there were some numbers that actually translated well and turned out better on the ice. For instance, the “Bet on Me” solo by Troy from the second movie just looked awkward with Zac Efron prancing around the golf course. The song was well-suited for the ice and turned out as a high-energy solo number that showed off the performer’s skating skills.
Most memorable were those who played Ryan, Sharpay, and Troy. The first two were especially excellent skaters and their over-the-top characters just belonged on the ice. Just as you thought Ryan’s character couldn’t be any more flamboyant, they have him spinning while donning shiny, studded ensembles. Hehe. The rest of the ensemble lacked the energy required by the production- something noticed by other viewers as well. It also didn’t help that some of the guys portraying teenage kids already had very evident bald spots, haha.
Had a minor tick with this production since the backdrop-screen that was supposed to work that night didn’t and they didn’t tell the crowd! As I knew there was something wrong (I usually research about shows I watch before seeing them), I wrote a complaint letter to the Araneta Coliseum management and they replied two weeks later with an apology. They even offered a discount to a future Disney on Ice production and free patron tickets to the Tony Hadley/Spandau Ballet show (which my mom enjoyed).
The show was generally enjoyable, but not as exciting as other Disney on Ice productions. Iba talaga pag may mascots on ice na magaling magskate! The plus was that there were some numbers that actually translated well and turned out better on the ice. For instance, the “Bet on Me” solo by Troy from the second movie just looked awkward with Zac Efron prancing around the golf course. The song was well-suited for the ice and turned out as a high-energy solo number that showed off the performer’s skating skills.
Most memorable were those who played Ryan, Sharpay, and Troy. The first two were especially excellent skaters and their over-the-top characters just belonged on the ice. Just as you thought Ryan’s character couldn’t be any more flamboyant, they have him spinning while donning shiny, studded ensembles. Hehe. The rest of the ensemble lacked the energy required by the production- something noticed by other viewers as well. It also didn’t help that some of the guys portraying teenage kids already had very evident bald spots, haha.
Had a minor tick with this production since the backdrop-screen that was supposed to work that night didn’t and they didn’t tell the crowd! As I knew there was something wrong (I usually research about shows I watch before seeing them), I wrote a complaint letter to the Araneta Coliseum management and they replied two weeks later with an apology. They even offered a discount to a future Disney on Ice production and free patron tickets to the Tony Hadley/Spandau Ballet show (which my mom enjoyed).
Hinabing Pakpak ng Ating mga Anak (Dulaang UP)
Gaya ng sinabi sa programa nito, ito ay mga hinabing alaala, panag-inip, at pangarap ng napabayaang kabataan. Itiuring din ito ng manunulat at director na si Dr. Anton Juan, Jr. bilang elehiya sa alaala ng batikang manunulat-pambatang si Rene Villanueva.
Walang isang pangunahing kwentong masusundan sa dulang ito, subalit ang mga imahen at ideya ay iisa sa pagpapakita ng kasalukuyang pang-aabuso at kahirapang nararanasan ng maralitang batang Pilipino. Anton Juan, with production designer Leo Abaya, dreams up great theatrical images as usual. Dexter Santos complements the imagery with beautiful, symbolic movement: sometimes violent and unsettling to drive home the point. It’s these impressive stagings that have kept me coming back to DUP productions recently.
Walang isang pangunahing kwentong masusundan sa dulang ito, subalit ang mga imahen at ideya ay iisa sa pagpapakita ng kasalukuyang pang-aabuso at kahirapang nararanasan ng maralitang batang Pilipino. Anton Juan, with production designer Leo Abaya, dreams up great theatrical images as usual. Dexter Santos complements the imagery with beautiful, symbolic movement: sometimes violent and unsettling to drive home the point. It’s these impressive stagings that have kept me coming back to DUP productions recently.
Although the visuals were spectacular, I’d have to agree with Gibbs’s view that “not one character was vaguely human”. In the end, it is hard to feel for the children nor the narrators. Dahil din mga ideolohiya lang ang nagbubukod sa maraming maliliit na kwento, sa pagtatapos ng dula, konsepto lang din ang naiiiwan sa manonood: hindi mabuo ang karanasan at damdaming tumatagos.
Pahaya (Theater Arts Seniors)
I was a bit disappointed since I was expecting it to be the same level of production as in the previous year's Fluid. The production had three plays: Bahay-bahayan by Jacky delos Reyes, Tagay by Jo-Anne Quintos, and Isang Libong Tula para sa Dibdib ni Dulce by Layeta Bucoy.
The first play was about two sisters hiding from soldiers in the time of the Japanese occupation. It was uneventful in the first part and dragged a bit for me. What revived it towards the end were the leads' portrayals as abused women. Kind of reminded me of Ellas Innocentes at one moment, even. The finding of the gun was a dark Deus ex Machina that came at an odd time. It was as though the scene happened just so a conflict could be put in the story.
The second play dealt with friends talking about their lives over a round of drinks. Central to their conversation are the events leading to one of their own's decision to join the communists in the mountains. Of course, we predict his demise in the first few minutes of the play. The story is uneventful even with the dramatic things supposedly happening in their lives. There was simply something lacking in characterization that we fail to feel anything in the end.
Isang Libong Tula was the highlight of the production for me. Leave it to Layeta Bucoy's writing to save the day. A friend who has seen this done by UP's Dulaang Laboratoryo said that their portrayal here was more artistic, even with scenes rife with sexual tension and innuendos. (Oh, and in true Bucoy fashion, the play conjures up religious imagery and there's another incestuous scene in there as well). Nicolo Magno's portrayal of the mentally-challenged balut-vendor was especially notable.
I hope the BFA TA majors graduating this year were able to generate funds for their year-end thesis with this production. I'll certainly look forward to their year-end productions. With what the previous batch has done and left us with, though, they sure have big shoes to fill.
The second play dealt with friends talking about their lives over a round of drinks. Central to their conversation are the events leading to one of their own's decision to join the communists in the mountains. Of course, we predict his demise in the first few minutes of the play. The story is uneventful even with the dramatic things supposedly happening in their lives. There was simply something lacking in characterization that we fail to feel anything in the end.
Isang Libong Tula was the highlight of the production for me. Leave it to Layeta Bucoy's writing to save the day. A friend who has seen this done by UP's Dulaang Laboratoryo said that their portrayal here was more artistic, even with scenes rife with sexual tension and innuendos. (Oh, and in true Bucoy fashion, the play conjures up religious imagery and there's another incestuous scene in there as well). Nicolo Magno's portrayal of the mentally-challenged balut-vendor was especially notable.
I hope the BFA TA majors graduating this year were able to generate funds for their year-end thesis with this production. I'll certainly look forward to their year-end productions. With what the previous batch has done and left us with, though, they sure have big shoes to fill.
2 comments:
Hey, isn't Entablado also doing "Isang Libong Tula"? I haven't seen it in Paghaya, but I liked Entablado's staging. What do you think of it?
Hi Gerry. Thanks for commenting. Yes, ENTA's doing "Isang Libong Tula..." as part of their "EXPRES" production. I haven't seen it yet, but I have seen five of the ten plays in the set. I'll probably write about it sometime in the future after I catch all the plays. Just check my main site: dappie2002.multiply.com
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