June 13, 2024
Playwright: Hans Pieter Arao
Director: Hazel Gutierrez-Marges
A video about an incident of "demonic possession" of a child becomes viral online. Lawyer Ifan (Jel Tarun) sought out the child's father Manong Odie (Jonathan Tadioan) to tell him about the real reason for the supposed "possession." He needed Odie's cooperation to file a case against the Mayor for allowing the continued operations of a big company responsible for his son's condition. However, Odie owed his livelihood to that same company.
The topic may have sounded interesting on paper, but the execution was very dry. The set is only a bare stage with a line projected on the floor and back wall, like the central line of a street. The two men were engaged in a rather rambling conversation, with several words unintelligible for me. One thing which was evident from the first scene to the end was the lawyer's sweating in the heat. I sure it meant something, but I can't guess it.
Playwright: Lino Balmes
Director: BJ Borja
It was a lazy rainy night at the fire station. 28 year-old fireman Austin (Ross Pesigan) was on duty. Suddenly, a woman (Ge Malacaman) ran into the office from the rain for what seemed to be an emergency. When Austin asked her what she needed, she asked him to give her a name. She mysteriously told him that she was his future child who was yet to exist, and she will come to pass only when he gives her a name.
The premise of this play was so innovative, I had never heard anything like it before. True, it asked me to suspend a lot of disbelief, but I was entranced by the eloquence of Balmes' script. With the way Malacaman delivered the woman's arguments why she wanted to be born, I would have been convinced. Pesigan has always been a charming and reliable actor, and that is why we totally understand Austin's decision, whether we agree or not.
This is my favorite play of Set A.
Playwright: Rick Patriarca
Director: John Mark Yap
Ryan (Shaun Ocrisma) got infected with HIV from his ex-boyfriend Jake (Esteban Fulay, Jr.). They broke up but they still kept in touch, supporting each other through their condition. One day, Jake unexpectedly met a handsome internet influencer Mike (Rap Robes). Jake did not dare reveal his health status nor consent to have penetrative sex with Mike. After one month of such frustration, Mike had enough of Jake's lame reasons.
I had seen three VLF plays by Patriarca before -- the hilariously profane "Hapagkainan" (2016), the insightful "Birdcage" (2017) and the outrageous "Wanted Male Boarders" (2019). Compared to the others, the topic of HIV/AIDS tackled in "Love on the Brain" was rather too familiar already. But of course, the patient count continues to grow, education about it is still important. The complicating issue of how HIV will impact one's popularity and clout as an influencer will resonate with the Gen Z LGBT set.
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