Two for the road: A day of theater-hopping
One Saturday, two plays. If ever you needed reasons to defy the spiraling cost of fuel, and just kick back to enjoy some theater, I give you two excellent reasons to leave the comfort of home - and yes, these brave, creative souls need our support more than ever, during these trying, challenging times.
Reason #1 - At the Circuit Makati’s Spotlight Blackbox Theater, there’s a revival twinbill of two Floy Quintos plays. It’s called Miranda - Yolanda, after the two memorable female leads of Floy’s Evening at the Opera, and Ang Kalungkutan ng Mga Reyna, respectively. Evening was first presented at the 2011 Virgin Labfest, while Kalungkutan debuted in 2008’s Labfest. Presented by Encore Theater, I can’t say enough times how this show deserves an audience, and that the two works couldn’t be timelier, both carrying such potent messages.
Miranda is the legal wife of a warlord-type provincial Governor, while Yolanda is the elected President of a fictitious country that has more than a passing resemblance to ours, and she dreams of jump-starting a monarchy! That’s enough for you to discern that these two works are politically charged, yet in true Floy Quintos fashion, are leavened with hilarious comedy and memorable punch lines. This was a specialty of the late Mr. Quintos and one of the reasons his plays hit home so effectively. They were never preachy or heavy-handed, but observant in a trenchant, pithy manner, then would have you leaving the theater with so much food for thought, while smiling at the memory of the prodding humor.
Ana Abad Santos portrays Miranda, while Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino ‘inhabits’ the role of Yolanda. Both have great support from the likes of Frances Makil-Ignacio, Topper Fabregas, Joshua Cabildas, and Jules de la Paz. The direction of Dexter M. Santos is top-notch, and the intimacy of the theater allows us to act like files on the wall of Miranda’s bedroom and the receiving hall of Yolanda.
To give you fair warning, Kalungkutan, despite its title, is the lighter, funnier piece. The situation comedy verges on the absurd, and that’s what makes it work so well. Opera is probably one of the more cynical of Quintos’ works - by the end, you’ll think there are no redeeming values to any of the three characters - and what will bother us, is that they are all too real, people exactly like them do inhabit our political landscape to this day.
Reason #2 - Over at the Mirror Studio Theatre in Poblacion, the Tridem Collective of Miel Barrera-Abong has turned her theater workshop into a witty retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, under the title of Love’s Labour’s Won. They’ve added some music, changed the ending a bit, and it’s a fun production that belies the fact that both stage veterans and her work shoppers are blended together in the cast. Honestly, Miel has deftly directed them to the point that so many of the newbies more than hold their own, if not even outshine, the grizzled thespians.
The Beatrice - Benedick verbal jousting still lies at the center of this comedy, and its wonderful to watch the actors play this out within the confines of the 3rd floor Mirror Studio. The Hero - Claudio courtship would be the other point of interest, especially to the younger segment of the audience, and it’s telling how this adaptation highlights gaslighting, how easy one can be led by fake news and gossip, and that even Hero’s own father can first be swayed by the possibility of these untruths. Surely, her own father should be taking her side from the start and know the true nature of his own daughter.
As it is staged, the comedy allows for mirth and laughter to fill the room, but there is also room left for serious points of discussion post-show - about the elusive nature of truth, of where Love truly lies, and the stunning relevance of Shakespeare and his works up to this day. The iambic pentameter, the flowery language, merely enhance the wisdom, truth, and acute perception of life and living.
Kudos then to Miel and to Tridem; her Love’s Labour’s Won is a genuine diamond in the rough, and the run of two weekends is a chance to understand the magic of community theater. When done properly, these small independent outfits can give the better-financed and backed theater companies a run for their money.
If you love theater, want to support culture and the arts, do watch these two productions. Check out their social media pages, and find a playdate that works for you.