June 27, 2024
Playwright: Dingdong Novenario
Director: George A. de Jesus III
Playwright and theater director Dominador Gonzales (Joel Saracho) had been named as one of the candidates for National Artists. Oliver Torres III (Bong Cabrera) went to Gonzales's place to congratulate his former mentor and lover, whom he called Dmon. Oliver once wrote plays, but was now focused on a career in the corporate world. He asked Dmon to collaborate with him to stage an old play they had collaborated on before. Dmon was not interested.
Watching this live was so much more entertaining than its staged reading form I saw back in VLF 2020 via online video. Like before, Novenario still dropped a lot of updated pop culture and current events references, from the critic who gave negative infinity ratings to the girl who opened her laptop during a play. Saracho and Cabrera slayed the insidiously explosive script, delivering every line dripping with sarcasm, with AJ Sison completing the trio as Dmon's ward Edward.
Playwright: Zheg Arban
Director: Delphine Buencamino
Since he was a child, Cadet 4th class Anghelo Perez (Jao Catarus) was prepared by his late father and his older brother (Gino Ramirez) to enter the Philippine Military Academy. Their father wanted both his sons to follow in his footsteps to be PMA-bred military officers like him. Unfortunately, Perez became the target of bullying by his upperclassmen. Anghelo tried his best to withstand the abuse, until he could not.
The dynamic directing decision of Buencamino to bring Arban's powerful script to life with energetic choreography created such a galvanizing effect on the audience. The ensemble of new young actors performed solidly -- especially Earvin Estioco and James Lanante as the bullies, Aksel Panlilio as the roommate, and Catarus in the vulnerable central role. Even if this was the second time I've seen this play, its sensitive and respectful ending still packed quite a punch.
Playwright: Andrew Estacio
Director: Nazer Salcedo
For its inaugural presentation, the Inang Bayan Theater Company was presenting a play about "Jocelynang Baliwag," known to be the "Kundiman ng Himagsikan." About two weeks prior to opening day, the playwright/director (Adrienne Vergara) brought in the dramaturge (Kath Castillo) who was seeing the play for the first time. Much to the director's dismay, the dramaturge's suggestions were transforming her play into something totally different.
For theater fans who have long-wondered what the role of a dramaturge was to a theater production, Kath Castillo educates us, and then some. Soprano Rachella Jasmin Balunes, baritone Enso Lapresca, pianist Dane Hinol, plus "senior" actor Andrew Cruz gave their all to deliver the comedy, but the radiant Adrienne Vergara was effortlessly ebullience personified. The beautiful kundiman singing of Ms. Mia Bolanos brought this play to a specially fitting conclusion.
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