What
is it about the Filipino audience that can fill huge venues featuring foreign
acts and only have around a hundred people watching “Sayaw ng mga SENIORita,” a
high-caliber Filipino play?
My
jaw literally dropped when I saw the small clique of people inside the 1,074-seat
AFP Theatre a quarter of an hour prior to the published performance time. I
thought to myself: where is the Filipino theatre audience?
To think that there are people who fly in from the provinces or who forego major meals just to buy tickets for concerts.
When Lupang Hinirang was played, I was in tears!
When Lupang Hinirang was played, I was in tears!
Penned
by Jose Javier Reyes, Sayaw ng mga SENIORita is his long awaited comeback after
a 23-year hiatus from theatre after he wrote the musical Katy in 1989.
Sayaw
ng mga SENIORita, directed by Jun F. Flavier Pablo, is a poignant, brutally
honest play about aging gays that goes beyond RA 9994. Portraying gays as
people and not just sexual predators, Jose Javier Reyes veers away from the
stereotype and in the end, (at least for me) delivers a stern warning. With an
in your face ruthlessness to it, the language is quite vulgar, and when you
identify with any of the characters, some of their lines are bound to hit you
and hurt like crazy.
The
major roles were essayed by no ordinary mortals but by thespians and directors.
Director Soxy Topacio as Rading De Guzman, antique dealer and birthday
celebrator who was feted with a surprise party marking his 60th natal
day; Director Joel Lamangan as Terry Mangubat, a very stringy businessman;
Director Manny Castañeda as Dr. Gerry Almario, aesthetic and cosmetic surgeon to
the stars; Arnell Ignacio as Romeo Cajanding, bikini-open impresario and
male-starlet manager. Rading, Terry, Gerry and Romeo are friends for life.
Newbie
Chase Cervera plays the role of Ollie, a male nurse and lover of Rading. To
Cervera’s credit, he simply refused to be swallowed whole by his co-stars and completely
owned the stage when he had his character’s dénouement.
I
was eagerly looking forward to seeing BB Gandanghari as Raquel Villasor, the
homecoming queen but unfortunately, it was Justine Ferrer of Survivor
Philippines Season 2 fame who played the role. Honestly, I felt cheated.
Also
in the cast are Doreen Bernal as the maid/pageant host; China Cojuanco as the wife
of Dr. Almario; and the eye candies Royce Chua as Lance; Christian Paul Meteoro
as Troy; Paul Jake Paule as Kuya Ed/Pulis; and playing the character of Ericson
is the dashing Johnron Tañada who was my boyfriend until he read about it here.
The only thing I did not like about this play was that it began almost half an hour late.
Sayaw
ng mga SENIORita was created when Gantimpala Theatre Foundation was invited by
the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ for its Fourth National Theatre Festival.
Inspired
by Tony S. Espejo who gave life to prize-winning plays of the CCP Playwriting
Contests since July of 1978, Gantimpala Theatre Foundation is now on its 35th
year and "continues
its glorious tradition of bringing theatre that excites the intellect, stirs
the heart, and electrifies the soul” by embarking on projects “that are of
national and global interests.”
Gantimpala
Theatre Foundation will “continue to create and mount artistic undertakings
that further advance its stature as leader of the Filipino theatre movement”.
The group has had its metamorphoses after the EDSA Revolution.
The
play dates for Sayaw ng mga SENIORita at the AFP Theatre in Camp Aguinaldo are:
November 24, Saturday, at 3pm and 7pm; December 1, Saturday at 3pm and 7pm and
December 8, Saturday, 3pm and 7pm.
PS.
During the intermission, you have to try the basil and mozzarella rolled pizza
at the Snack Bar.
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