EVERY BRILLIANT THING review

In an intimate theater, the audience enumerated a number of things that made us all happy. Duncan Macmillan's Every Brilliant Thing lists a million items whether it brings joy to us or not and makes us realize how such things deserves to be on that list.

Watching it last March 5 for The Sandbox Creative's opening for the #SandboxFest2020, I was taken on a journey of mental health, given a deeper understanding and empathy to those suffering from it. An immersive, interactive and fun one-man play as you get in the shoes of the actor (Teresa Herrera) as a child with the condition. It is a balance of laughter and loss where we can actually relate and be a catalyst of reaching out to them. Unsuspecting audience members are pulled for impromptu roles and awakens the rest. You'll never know what will happen and you'll be attentive to the whole play.

Beautiful and clever, you have to see it. Sadly, the Sandbox Fest is forced to stopped to the current COVID19 situation but I hope that when everything is better, you'll be able to see it too.

If you need a professional help or know someone who needs it, call the National Center for Mental Health hotlines: 0917-899-USAP (8727) or 989-USAP (8727).

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DANCING LESSONS - A love story of moving misconceptions

Twin Bill Theater's new production Dancing Lessons would move you to an emotional level as you will be given another understanding of a person with autism. The show is already playing at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Theater for a limited time, this show should not be missed.

Written by Mark St. Germain, inspired with his encounter with a couple with an autistic child, we can think that they see the world differently and they are very intuitive that's why they act as such. This story is actually a romcom about Ever Montgomery, a science professor with Asperger's syndrome and hypersensitivity, which I only heard about yesterday as they call it that way - and Senga Quinn, a Broadway dancer who has suffered a major leg injury in a car accident. Ever is played by Randy Villarama and Jill Pena stars as Senga.

Randy Villarama (Ever Montgomery) and Jill Pena (Senga Quinn)

Ever lacks social skills but a very important event would require him to have contact with people, he asks for dancing lessons from Senga so that he could deal with handshaking, hugs and dancing. Through the lessons, a relationship slowly develops that has both of them stepping out of their comfort zones.

What is funny about Dancing Lessons is I remember watching The Big Bang Theory with Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco). The humor injected with Ever's obsessive-compulsive condition would be very similar to that. Thanks to TBBT and of course our understanding about the Asperger's syndrome, we now should have learned that it should not be treated as an abnormality but rather there is a different spectrum of the world for them. It is the availability of these materials that the world may be more colorful for them than what we see. But at the bottom of it, we all deserve to love and be loved. Who knows they can teach us a new universe of knowledge that we are unaware of, and what the world we are in as "neurotypicals" is what they are trying to discover because of its complexity. Dancing Lessons shows us both perspectives and I'm glad that Randy and Jill has given great performance for the eyes and for the heart. A wonderful material for everyone to witness.

Dancing Lessons shows are August 16, 17, 21-24 at 8:30PM at the PowerMac Center Spotlight Theater. Tickets are available at the venue.

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A review: 'night Mother

PETA's 50th season-ender might be far from their usual productions with musical endings, but 'Night Mother is a must watch for every one with a mother and for everyone who knows or might be suffering from depression. It is running at the PETA Theater Center until March 18. I have never seen so much relatable play like this one and PETA has achieved new level of awareness and understanding mental illness and suicidal attempts.

The 1.5-hour play sets in the simple home of Jessie (Eugene Domingo) and Thelma (Sherry Lara) that resembles much of our mothers' and grandmothers' homes in the 80s or earlier and I want to congratulate the set designer for bringing the sense of home to the audience. It has transported us to a place where good memories in contrary what Thelma and Jessie would be discussing throughout.

It's a strong exchange of dialogues that were affecting us in so many ways and levels. Thelma's simple and motherly reminders to Jessie are very touching, makes me want to cry when I remember similar words from my mother. When she tells some things that I may have forgotten, where to find them and what they are for. Jessie's lines on the other hand much resembles of me, sometimes when our parents get stubborn, we get impatient but still we have to control. Eugene Domingo and Sherry Lara made us love their characters and portrayed Jessie and Thelma very well. And I think that's a very familiar scene in all of us. But in spite of many shortcomings between a mother and a child, memories last but we still love each other no matter what. There will come a time that we will decide our own fate and leave them and in the end, we will resort to their care and company.
The real issue that needs to be addressed is Jessie's depression and that Thelma failed to stop Jessie's suicide episode. I brighten and gives us a learning that we should always be there for other people. That the power of conversation is very important in every relationship. It was great to see members of the Philippine Mental Health Org are there to educate us about mental illness. If you are in need of mental health support please call the 24/7 HOPELINE at (02) 804.4673; (0917) 558.4673 or 2919 (Toll Free for all Globe and TM subscribers).
'Night Mother runs until March 18. Directed by Melvin Lee, in memory of Director Soxie Topacio.

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BLACKBIRD

Only 90mins to sit in Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium and you need only two characters to give you the complex thing called LOVE. The Necessary Theater's Blackbird is a very interesting play about Ray (Bart Guingona) and Una (Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante) who met again after 15 years after. Their story sparks a very interesting debate that will make you think about the factors and consequences of the decisions made by Ray and Una.

In a simple office cafeteria where they confront their past, Ray and Una gives the most graphic conversation as if you are there in the moment where they enjoy each other's company, and then you begin to doubt your beliefs and morals. Bart Guingona's stuttering could be a sign when Una already owns him in the event that Ray regrets their past and Una wearing a thigh-high dress could also mean that she is out there and ready to retaliate against any one who may do her wrong.

Again, the conversations already gives you a picture of what happened especially 15 years ago. And when Una makes her monologue, John Batalla's focused lighting makes it more dramatic and you'll feel like it also transports you through time.

While it has given away that this play is about post-rape, you'll also wonder many questions on why Una came back to him, why Ray also welcomed her back. It goes on putting yourself in the shoes of the characters while fighting your morals. It's very interesting that is really an ice breaker for discussion.

Catch the final 3 shows of Blackbird in Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza this weekend, September 8, 9 (8pm) and September 10 (3pm). Directed by Topper Fabregas for The Necessary Theater.

Photos credit to Jaypee Maristaza

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Bart Guingona and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante in a love story post-rape entitled Blackbird

The Necessary Theater adapts Olivier Award winner Blackbird for a two-weekends at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, Makati City featuring Bart Guingona and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante, directed by Topper Fabregas.

Guingona plays Ray and Volante as Una in a story written by David Harrower. A different kind of love story unfold in front of an audience where they will be shocked on the encounters of Ray and Una 15 years earlier. When Una was only twelve, Ray seduced Una over the course of three months and finally took her away to a hotel for the weekend. Ray spent several years in prison for statutory rape, and Una was ostracized from her community after the incident. Now, she has found him by accident, and the play delves into their complex feelings for each other. Though clearly, and definitional, sexual abuse has occurred, the play that ensues is also part of a love story -- a horrible love story, but a love story all the same.

Winner of the Olivier Award for Best Play, Blackbird is a deeply complex portrayal of two people whose ruined lives are inextricably intertwined.

Opening September 1, with shows at 8pm on September 1, 2, 8 and 9 and 3pm on September 3 and 10. Tickets sell at PhP 1,200.00 Orchestra center, PhP 1,000.00 Orchestra sides and orchestra back; PhP 800.00 Loge; PhP 500 Balcony, available at Ticketworld.

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Teatro Tomasino's KAPITAN SINO

Adapting one of Bob Ong's best selling novel, Teatro Tomasino brings to life the character of Rogelio who gets to become Brgy. Pelaez's unknown superhero because of his electrical abilities and being a community vigilante. This is also John Lapus' return to theater in his home university at University of Santo Tomas. The play runs from May 3 to 6 at the Albertus Magnus Auditorium.

I was seated at the second row from the elevated stage. I'm not really used to looking up the actors from other theaters, but where I sit is already a good view of Brgy. Pelaez. Typical barrio set up is already in place: houses standing side by side and the community includes gamblers, bystanders, chismosas, and children running around.

The play starts with Rogelio (Jason Morco) trying to explore and control his power on electrical appliances starts the comic sequence which was made funnier by his sidekick Bokbok (Kim Fababair), alongside with his crush Tessa (Leah Zamoras). Barrio happenings and our hero's adventures and romance transpire, the story of Kapitan Sino is a very common plot with a different twist.

Tessa, Rogelio and Bokbok (c) Teatro Pinas

I am pleased that I was seated at the second row as I was not prepared for the technical difficulties which happened that night. I applaud the actors for trying to modulate their voice for everyone to hear. Mang Ernesto, played by James Vic Allen Pangan, and John Lapuz both acted so well as siblings. The others need to improve their voices as they all sound monotonous -- especially the reporter who could just only deliver a few lines didn't sound engaging.

James Vic Allen Pangan and John Lapuz as Mang Ernesto and Mayor Suico (c) Teatro Pinas

It was slow-paced, and there are some scenes that could have been omitted from the play so you wouldn't get to spend more than 2 hours in the auditorium. The use of an LED screen could have saved the production from special effects, but implying house fire with a smoke machine could have done the trick. Technicals can further be improved and I could wait for another run for this.

Kapitan Sino runs until May 6, with shows 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm at Albertus Magnus auditorium, UST, Manila. Directed by Franny Omampo.

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THE NETHER review

For my first theater production of the year, I was invited to see Red Turnip Theater's The Nether which runs from March 10 - April 9 at Power Mac Spotlight Center in Circuit City.

Walking inside the Power Mac Center welcomes you to a big space resembling a mansion's staircase, showing a lavish life of the character. Then an interrogation scene about a crime that involves virtual fantasies and behavior which we may all fall into. A mind-blogging and relevant theatrical production that when seen by many, could teach us to what can and would go wrong when we abuse the power of technology today.

Bring yourself to a deeper consciousness with Bernardo Bernardo, Bodjie Pascua, TJ Trinidad, Jenny Jamora and Alba Berenguer-Testa in The Nether. It confirms the dangers of the vast and meaty online environment that is indeed scary, not just for children but also for adults. The protection that we can learn from it is well received, as how the author, Jennifer Haley, wants us to preserve.

A few shots after watching The Nether with the cast:

Watch this thought-provoking play from @redturniptheater #TheNether #theater #entertainment #internet

A post shared by Omar Itay (@ohmski) on Mar 9, 2017 at 5:26am PST

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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Theater Down South brings an award-winning musical made by Stephen Sondheim entitled A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. this is inspired by the collection of Roman playwright Plautus entitled Forum, it has garnered around 8 Tony Awards, an Academy Award, a Pulitzer Prize and several Grammy Awards.

this musical started in 1962 and still enjoying the stage with 2 revivals to date. and Theater Down South made sure that it plays on the 80th birthday of Stephen Sondheim to praise his beautiful work.

the show is directed by veteran stage actor Michael Williams (who is also the company’s Artistic Director) and will be running at the Insular Life Theater, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang on October 2, 3, 8, 9, 24 and 30. Tickets will be available beginning August 1 at all Ticketworld outlets and from www.ticketworld.com.ph.

here's an excerpt from the Broadway version entitled, Everybody Ought to have a Maid:

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