been there seen that 2008-1

You have to love academe for its relatively flexible schedule and the free shows you get into every now and then. I have a full academic load, but it’s nice to have time to relax and do what I love best. This kind of stuff just balances out my hectic academic life as a teacher and graduate student in the sciences! Here’s to a full year of theater-hopping!

Some productions I’ve seen this Jan to mid-Feb 2008.

KUDETA (Tanghalang Pilipino)
-Wrote about this in a separate blog entry already. Mario O’ Hara is the best!

PAKIKIPAGSAPALARAN NI PILANDOK (BFA-TA Senior Thesis)
-Nice material for a children’s play. Hope they stage an improved prod for lots of kids so they can appreciate Filipino folklore and theater at an early age.

CHILDREN OF THE SEA (BFA-TA Senior Thesis)
-Award-winning play by Glenn Mas. Wonderful production design by JJ Ignacio and intense performance by Trency Caga-anan. The movement during “sea scenes” was intense and well-crafed too. Enjoyed this simple show.

LAST ORDER SA PENGUIN (Teatro Kolehiyo ng Miriam)
-I first saw this play back in 2003 when Teatro Tomasino brought it to ADMU. I enjoyed it more the second time around. Panahon talaga namin yung ilang cultural references and situations. Siguro mas nag-enjoy rin ako ngayon dahil tumatanda na at mas malapit na ang concerns ng characters sa akin. Haha. Napabili tuloy ako ng kopya ng UP-published book pagkatapos. A genuinely fun production to see, especially for the great ensemble of actors. Runs until the 16th.

HAMLET (Repertory Philippines)
-Rep’s new take on Hamlet is visually stunning. Great production design, costumes, and music. I find it a bit hard to reconcile the over-all look with the characters’ emotions and some of the situations, though. I’ll be looking forward to seeing Cris Villonco (Ophelia) in future productions. Niccolo Manahan (Hamlet) gave clear deliveries of the famous lines and soliloquies, but there was something lacking. Litaw talaga na pinag-isipan ang kilos niya bilang prinsipe— kabaliwan na maskara lamang. Nagustuan ko iyon, pero parang may lalim pa rin na hindi ko maramdaman na nakita ko sa ibang Hamlet na napanood ko dati. Gibbs Cadiz explains it best in his article, so go see his site! (gibbscadiz.blogspot.com) Plays until the 17th.

WAYSIDE CAFÉ (ADMU School of Humanities)
-First staging of an old Tony Perez play. It was great seeing Dr. Ricardo Abad act! Simple and short (only 30 minutes), but interesting. Packed with the messages of the uncertainty of life and letting go in just a short span of time. I loved how they converted the Ateneo Art Gallery into an intimate performance space.

HAKBANG SA HAKBANG (Tanghalang Ateneo)
-Filipino translation of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure by Mr. Ron Capinding (my high school Filipino teacher). I’ve always found Shakespeare in Filipino to be interesting. May ibang dating at pag-unawa talaga tuwing sa sariling wika mo napapanood ang mga klasikong akda niya. Liked the disco feel and the translated material. I wonder how Ser Ron thought of using the look and movement of the disco era? My friends were thinking that it may have to do with the Marcos-era. Since the play was about justice, law, and transparency in thought and actions, perhaps the era just fit in: partying is allowed, but it is monitored, controlled, and tempered by the law and those in charge. One actress stood out for us: the girl playing Isabella (we saw the show Feb.7,2008.) She really delivered her lines well and had a powerful presence onstage. My friend and I were reminded of a younger Diane Laserna when we watched her. We hope to see her with leads in more prods. The play runs until the 16th.


SOME PRODUCTIONS I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS:

Skin Deep (PETA)
Orosman at Zafira (DUP)
Tanikalang Ginto (ENTABLADO)
EJ (TANGHALANG PILIPINO)