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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Online interactive play to involve audience choices in narrative and mystery

Online interactive play to involve audience choices in narrative and mystery

Published Mar 23, 2021 09:21 pm

"Lying Creatures" brings film noir into the digital stage, as it transports its guests to the seedy and surreal 1946 city of Lunan where humans co-exist with the secretive supernatural.

Viewers may be involved in their attempt to solve a controversial case as it challenges the notions, constructions and distortions of truth.


Written and produced by Teatro 77, a team of Theater Arts students from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts, the adventure follows the thrilling quest of a stoic female detective on the work to solve the case of the century: the disappearance of the Mayor’s daughter.

With three main suspects in mind but zero leads, the protagonist receives a
tip-off from a mysterious caller and soon finds herself in a whirlpool of doubts.


"Lying Creatures" questions the integrity of truth as it mimics the modern media landscape and how desires shape one’s understanding of reality. It likewise alludes to the current socio-political issues such as unjust prejudice, press polarization, social discrimination and the politics
of protesting.


In this quirky and innovative digital theater experience, participants may engage with each other through the featured forum facilitated by a live actor. As the plot is affected by the choices of the audience, all decisions are designed to impact the overall narrative and progress of the case.


Joining Sari Labrador (The Detective) in this venture are Julian Pamati-An (The Journalist), John Gamboa (The Chief), Lauren Antonio (The Witch), Ethan Wong (The Gorgon), Michael Hilao (The Officer) and Jack Gaza (The Witness).


The Vampire will be portrayed by industry practitioner, TAXI Theater Founder and Creative Navigator, PETA Theater Senior Artist Teacher and Benilde Theater Arts Chairperson Eric Villanueva Dela Cruz.


The production will be headlined by Teatro 77 members and Benilde Theater Arts graduating students Isabella Pedersen as Director, Kyla Ravago for Tech and Production Management and Marketing and Samantha Campos for Stage Management and Technical Direction.


The team is under the guidance of Dela Cruz and Benilde Production Design Chairperson Armando “Tuxqs” Rutaquio Jr., a respected production designer, director, actor, dramaturg and former Virgin Labfest Director.

Lying Creatures will premiere on Thursday, March 25, at 8 p.m. It will likewise be available on view on Friday, March 26 at 12:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 27 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 28 at 9 a.m.; Thursday, April 1 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Friday, April 2 at 12:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Saturday, April 3 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

English subtitles will be available.


Regular tickets are priced at P120, while a Killer-Diller Deal contains a bundle of five tickets for only P77 each.


Interested participants may register through http://teatro77.online/. The virtual stage will be accessible to official ticket-holders. For inquiries, email [email protected].

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