Barefoot: Review of ANTHROPOLOGY: Computerized Catharsis

March 13, 2026

Software engineer Merril (Jenny Jamora) was the legal guardian of her younger half-sister Angie (Maronne Cruz) who had mental health issues. One year ago, Angie never came back from school and was eventually given up for dead by the police investigating her case. Merril never moved on from her loss, and decided to "resurrect" Angie by programming an algorithm fed with all the data Angie had on her phone and laptop. 

Seeking closure, Merril asked "AI Angie" to tell her more details about the day Angie disappeared. As required by "AI Angie," Merril needed to reconnect with her ex-girlfriend Raquel (Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante) and their estranged mother Brie (Jackielou Blanco) to ask if she could access their devices for more digital information which may help. One day, "AI Angie" suggested that the real Angie may actually still be alive. 

Barefoot Theater Collaborative's offering for Women's Month this year is a play written by a female playwright Lauren Gunderson, directed by a female director Caisa Borromeo, and starring an all-female cast of four. Gunderson described "anthropology" as "a feminist sci-fi thriller that asks how we imagine the future and who is allowed to survive it." Borromeo called it "a play about connection - between sisters, ... between logic and emotion."

In the middle of the black box theater was a raised circular stage. There were tracks on its outer rim, so Merril can move her box furniture around. There were four monitors strategically-located around the stage, where we can all see AI "Angie." The most mesmerizing feature of Sarah Facuri's set was this big white disc that moved above the main stage, which created an illusion of technological futurism, as enhanced by D Cortezano's lighting effects. 

The Stage

Jenny Jamora is not new to futuristic plays, as she had once played a detective investigating online crime in "The Nether" (Red Turnip, 2017). Her Merril was hoping her "AI Angie" can somehow help her move on from her sister's death, but her science project actually opened up more wounds -- between her, her sister and people around them.  Always the sensitive actress, Jamora totally surrendered to Merril's pain and passion to see things through.

Maronne Cruz has been a standout performer in all the productions I've seen her in, even in smaller roles, like the prophetic raven from "Horse and a Boy," the worldly maid in "Othello," the sexy stewardess from "Company," the neurotic friend from "Waitress," to last year's "We Aren't Kids Anymore." Her role as Angie has got to be the most impactful role even if most of it was as a AI avatar on a computer monitor, saving her best for the powerful finale. 

MIkkie Bradshaw-Volante's Raquel was left out in the cold when Merril prioritized her sister's death over their relationship. Bradshaw-Volante was able to portray the nuances of a woman caught between still being in love with a former lover and her own testy relationship with said lover's sister. Film actress Jackie Lou Blanco tackles a thankless role of a repentant mother whose drug addiction caused her to abandon her daughters in the past. 

The Cast at the Curtain Call

AI is truly dominating the way we live in this generation. You can ask your phone's AI app any question and it can answer back with full details almost spontaneously, in any language. People have made their AI apps their personal friend who can provide a shoulder to cry on and words of advice or solace. Gunderson provokes thought of AI "replacing" a departed loved one, but also warns us about the risks of losing true human connection because of it.   

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"anthropology" runs from March 13 to 29, 2026 at the Doreen Black Box Theater in Arete in the campus of the Ateneo de Manila University. Tickets at P2500 (Premium) and P2200 (Regular), from Ticket2Me (LINK).  They implement a 𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙲𝚃𝙻𝚈 𝙽𝙾 𝙻𝙰𝚃𝙴 𝙰𝙳𝙼𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 rule because of the intimate nature of the play. Latecomers will not be admitted once the show has started.  The play runs for 1 hour and 40 minutes without an intermission. 

Here are the links to my reviews of the two other plays by Lauren Gunderson that I have seen:

SILENT SKY (Repertory Philippines, 2018) (LINK)

THE HALF-LIFE OF MARIE CURIE (MusicArtes, 2024) (LINK)

IdeaFirst: Review of ABOUT US BUT NOT ABOUT US (2026): Moral Manipulation

March 9, 2026

In 2023, the first (and so far, only) Summer Metro Manila Filmfest was held. Best Picture was a film entitled "About Us But Not About Us," which also won Best Director and Best Screenplay for Jun Robles Lana, and Best Actor for Romnick Sarmenta. This was practically a two-hander, with Sarmenta and co-star Elijah Canlas sitting at one table in a cafe talking throughout the length of the film. Many viewers felt as if they were watching a play, and now, three years later, Lana himself adapted his screenplay to become a real play, directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio.  

Ericson (Romnick Sarmenta) was a gay 40-something English Literature professor in UP. He had a 22-year old student Lancelot (Elijah Canlas), who was being physically abused by his stepfather. Concerned for the boy's safety, Eric allowed Lance stay in his condo unit. Eric's partner of 17 years, Marcus (Epy Quizon), disapproved, finding the arrangement very inappropriate. Coincidentally, Marcus was Lance's favorite Filipino author, hailing him as the "Nick Joaquin of his generation." One day, Marcus died from a drug overdose. 

For those who have seen the film, watching Sarmenta and Canlas relive their characters Eric and Lance on the stage was surreal. Watching the film already made us feel very queasy, but actually eavesdropping on their conversation on stage was more intensely discomfiting. Eric was compassionate by nature, and Sarmenta portrayed Eric's helplessness so well, even shedding real tears.  Lance was not as innocent as he looked, and Canlas's subtle transitioning between opposite nuances was impressive.  

In the film, Marcus was just a topic of their conversation, or when there was a "flashback" about him, either Sarmenta or Canlas would "become" him. In this play, Marcus is a fully fleshed out character played by a third actor. The effortlessly realistic way Epy Quizon portrayed this complex literary genius finally made Marcus a three-dimensional tragic figure. HIs death was underlying reason why Eric and Lance met. As Quizon's stage presence was so strong, we certainly felt Marcus's presence even when he was mostly offstage.  

Except for a few minor edits in some scenes, the lines spoken in the play followed those in the film almost to the letter, gripping as ever, maybe more. However, since the pacing of the play was rather slower than that of the film, that may give the audience a little more time to ask questions in their heads about certain details, from why a jarring confession of an alter Twitter account had to be revealed, to how a masterpiece novel like "Teorya ng Mga Tanong" could have been based on an assumed love triangle which was practically just discovered. 

Sarmenta, Canlas and Quizon at the curtain call. 

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The IdeaFirst Company 's ABOUT US BUT NOT ABOUT US ran from February 14 to March 8, 2026 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, Ayala Malls Circuit, 2F Circuit Lane, Makati City. Tickets cost P3,920 (VIP), P3,360 (Orchestra Center), and P2,800 (Orchestra Side) via Ticket2Me. 

Alternate cast included Noel Rayos (for Eric), Jao Catarus (for Lance) and Andoy Ranay (for Marcus). Supporting cast included Jack Denzel Gaza and Herbie Go (as the waiter) and Geraldine Villamil (as the chair of the UP English Dept.). Strictly for mature audiences only.    

After the closing show, producer Perci Intal announced that there will be a rerun of ABOUT US BUT NOT ABOUT US on October 9 to 25, 2026. 

TP: Review of MABINING MANDIRIGMA (2026): Scintillating Shaira

March 7, 2026

"Mabining Mandirigma: A Steampunk Musical," with book by Dr. Nicanor Tiongson and music by Joed Balsamo, was first staged in 2015, retelling the life of Apolinario Mabini from his academically-gifted youth in Lipa, Batangas, to his days as the confidante and adviser of Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo in 1898 to his death at age 38 in 1903. This historical story from the turn of the 19th century was told with an eye-catching steampunk production design. It swept the Gawad Buhay awards, winning in 12 categories, including Outstanding Original Musical. 

One of its most distinctive features was the casting of a female actor to portray the male lead character Mabini. This bold casting decision came about because they wanted Mabini's voice to stand out among the male characters he interacted with in several key scenes. Delphine Buencamino originated this role in 2015 in an award-winning turn. In succeeding restagings, Liesl Batucan and Monique Wilson with understudy Hazel Maranan, have also taken on this challenge over the years, and every one of them turned in strong successful performances.

For this latest revival, it was Shaira Opsimar's turn to play Mabini.  She just recently hit a career high in 2024, when she won the Gawad Buhay for Best Female Lead Performance in a Musical for "Walang Aray." Last year, she displayed more of her awesome belting prowess in NWR's "Delia D." and Arete's "Si Faust." Aside from the intense dramatic moments in the book as Mabini dealt with frustrating and maddening situations beyond his control, the songs Mabini had to sing pushed Opsimar to the lowest and highest limits of her extensive range. 

On opening night, Emilio Aguinaldo was played by David Ezra, who had been alternating in this secondary lead role with originator Arman Ferrer from the 2016 restaging to this present one. Classically-trained power tenor Ezra brought dignity to this role who had to balance the idealistically patriotic advice of Mabini with the essential financial support promised by the Illustrados. His highlight  was "Pagbibitiw ni Mabini" where Miong has to belt incredible high notes steeped in emotion, reminiscent of "Gethsemane" in "Jesus Christ Superstar." 

The Illustrados in this new production are played by MC de la Cruz (as Pedro Paterno), Jonathan Tadioan (as Felipe Buencamino), Roby Malubay (as Benito Legarda) and Marco Viana (as Felipe Calderon). As before, they stole their scenes with their snarky lines and snappy funk choreography. This time, their costumes and make-up looked more androgynous that how I remembered them from before. The Illustrados also had powerful songs to sing, but just when I thought we'd finally hear Marco belt, he would shift to speak singing. 

The role of young Pule was usually played by a male actor -- Marco Viana in 2016, Phi Palmos in 2016 and Paw Castillo in 2019. This time, they were inspired to cast an actual young singer-actress Ynna Rafa as Pule, consistent with a female adult Mabini. One of the strongest female singing voices in local theater -- Ms. Tex Ordonez-de Leon -- played Pule's mother Dionisia. Gelo Molina (alternate is Earvin Estioko) played Pepe, the caretaker of disabled Mabini after polio, still armed with a sense of humor and a sense of hope for the youth of the country. 

As this smaller stage of the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez was more up close to the audience than that in the old CCP Little Theater, everyone and everything -- Sir Toym Imao's steampunk set and props, the late James Reyes's costumes, the late GA Fallarme's projections, the actors' hairstyles and makeup -- can be more clearly appreciated in deeper detail.  The rest of the Artistic Team includes Denisa Reyes and Richardson Yadao for Choreography, TJ Ramos for Sound and Musical Arrangement, and Roman Cruz for Lighting. 

The ensemble includes Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan (also Dance Captain), Anya Evangelista (also Understudy for Apolinario Mabini), Mark Lorenz (Swing), Sarah Monay (Swing), Rey Corregado, Heart Puyong, Murline Uddin and Sofia Sacaguing. As before, the show still ended with the cast going out of character to enumerate current socio-political issues which parallel those during Mabini's time. Like Mabini, we should not be cowed to speak out about them. Judging from the rousing audience reaction to that finale, that message was loud and clear.   

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Tanghalang Pilipino's "Mabining Mandirigma: A Steampunk Musical"  runs March 6–29, 2026 at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, Pasay City. Tickets (at P2000 for VIP and P1800 for Regular) can be bought from show buyers (LINK), Ticketworld (LINK) and Ticket2Me (LINK). 

My review of the 2015 maiden production of "Mabining Mandirigma" is posted HERE.