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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Arts and Culture devider How 'Sala sa Pito' offers an intimate theater experience like no other

How 'Sala sa Pito' offers an intimate theater experience like no other

Looking into Boxstage Manila's latest run of the Palanca Award-winning play

Published May 16, 2025 12:55 am

At A Glance

  • Much of the experience plays out like overheard conversations in the various settings each scene takes place in—whether it's a seedy bar, a quiet café, or your average roaming lugaw cart around the corner. 
Sometimes, it’s the seediest settings that yield unforgettable overheard tales.
Boxstage Manila’s recent run of George A. De Jesus III’s “Sala sa Pito” leaves viewers in a mesmerized state. Under the direction of Far Eastern University Theater Guild’s artistic director Dudz Teraña, we follow the stories of eight different characters as their interconnected tales play out.
AN INTIMATE SETTING FEU's Center for the Arts Studio finds itself repurposed into a karaoke bar-style setting.
AN INTIMATE SETTING FEU's Center for the Arts Studio finds itself repurposed into a karaoke bar-style setting.
Perhaps the astounding part of it all is the set design, repurposing the theater venue into a makeshift karaoke bar. For the VIP experience, you feel fully immersed in the setting as you take a seat at one of the available tables, popcorn and coffee in hand. Much of the experience plays out like overheard conversations in the various settings each scene takes place in—whether it’s a seedy bar, a quiet café, or your average roaming lugaw cart around the corner. As the actors carry the weight of the scene, we feel like bystanders holding in laughter from their snide remarks or awkwardly staring during shocking displays.
Yesh Burce as Misis and Rowi Du as Mister
Yesh Burce as Misis and Rowi Du as Mister
Kloren Flores as G.R.O. and AJ Sison as Yuppie
Kloren Flores as G.R.O. and AJ Sison as Yuppie
Jel Tarun as Masseur
Jel Tarun as Masseur
Divine Aucina as Matrona and Rowi Du as Mister
Divine Aucina as Matrona and Rowi Du as Mister
Taking us through each segment, we hear familiar tunes from a recurring singer character, along with a karaoke visual to encourage folks to sing along. Each track feels carefully selected to fit the mood of each incoming scene. As we get lost in the stories of each relationship onstage, the audience finds itself curious each time about how it connects to previous encounters. By the end, we are given enough to put two and two together.
“Sala sa Pito” featured alternating performances by Kat Galang and Yesh Burce as Misis, Rowi Du and Kobie Hachero as Mister, Divine Aucina and Jamille Vivas as Matrona, AJ Sison and Jasper Estaras as Yuppie, Kloren Flores and Karyl Oliva as GRO, Jel Tarun and Jemuel Satumba as Masseur, JD Reyes as Waiter, Brigitta Claire Marilla as Singer, and Jonas Cunanan and Renz Dotillos as part of the ensemble. It ran until May 17 at the FEU Center for the Arts Studio in Manila. (Production photos by Sace Natividad)

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Arts and Culture Theater Boxstage Manila
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