Ang Bayot, ang Meranao, at ang Habal-Habal returns-- Nood na! [reposted from Gibbs Cadiz]

Wrote about this a few months ago. Along with Floy Quintos's Ang Kalungkutan ng mga Reyna, this was one of the best plays in this year's Labfest.

-----

The promo from Gibbs Cadiz:

“Rogelio Braga’s Ang Bayot, ang Meranao, at ang Habal-Habal sa Isang Nakababagot na Paghihintay sa Kanto ng Lanao del Norte, directed by Nick Olanka, offered sharp and witty dialogue in a tightly packed and slick conversation. Repartee zipped merrily along between actors Joey Paras and Arnold Reyes, as they played an odd couple who offered enlightening and insightful points on the many guises of discrimination: political, geographical, religious, workplace-related, gender or otherwise.


"Hilarious and never preachy, Ang Bayot deserves a run that should be as long as, or longer than, its title. Hopefully, itinerant actor Paras will stay in Manila long enough to be recast in order to preserve the great timing he and Reyes share.”




Those were Walter Ang's words in his Inquirer review of last July's Virgin Labfest 4, where Ang Bayot was one of 15 new plays showcased.

Walter--and many others, I imagine (need I say I'm one of them?)--would be happy to know that Ang Bayot will be restaged on Wednesday, Oct. 29 (8 p.m.) and Thursday, Oct. 30 (4 p.m. and 8 p.m.) at the CCP's Tanghalang Huseng Batute, again under Nick Olanka's direction.

Easily the best-reviewed play in the festival (more here, here and here) along with Floy Quintos' Ang Kalungkutan ng Mga Reyna (which eventually got Palanca-ed), Ang Bayot will form one-half of a twinbill of Ogie Braga plays, the other half being Ang Mga Mananahi, directed by Elmer Rufo. [UPDATE: Paul Santiago, not Elmer Rufo.] Mananahi was also featured in the Labfest, but in a staged reading format.


The UP Repertory Company is mounting the special run for the benefit of internally displaced people mostly in North Cotabato and other conflict areas in Mindanao. Proceeds will go to the Sinag '87 Foundation, a Davao-based organization that helps internal communities in Sitik, Manaulanan, Punol and Paidu Pulangi. The front desk will also accept donations in cash and in kind on the performance dates. (More details in Ogie Braga's blog.)


And, yes, the two acclaimed actors of Ang Bayot, Arnold Reyes and Joey Paras, will be back to reprise their roles. However, since Arnold can't make it on all the showdates, Joel Molina (fresh from Dulaang UP's Isang Panaginip na Fili) will alternate with him.


Tickets (P250 each) are available at the CCP Box Office, UP Repertory Company (Z 0915-5881782, Gelene 0916-6125404, Ogie 0918-7797982 or 0926-8122336), Young Moro Professional Network (G108 Jocfer Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue QC. c/o Aradelria Belleng 0920-6529066), UP Office of the Student Regent (Vinzon's Hall Basement, UP Diliman, c/o Shan) and UP Muslim Student Association (Vinzon's Hall, UP Diliman c/o Tani Basman).