DIGITAL THEATER REVIEW - M.45 Makbetamaximus

Tanghalang Ateneo's season finale M.45 or Makbetamaximus is something that is very new to me. Reinterpreting Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth in a modern setting that is very familiar to Filipino audience produced in pure indie and innovative.

At first I was unsure about what I'm seeing, but if you have read Macbeth or saw an adaptation of it, you will gradually get the grasp of the story. Beginning with an inviting buffet of Filipino street foods, to the witches, the characters and all that will open your senses. It's a violent play and contains explicit language so only mature audiences are allowed to see it. Great editing as well, disturbing themes with creative visuals catches your attention throughout the 45-minute digital play.

I would like to congratulate Tanghalang Ateneo and the whole production team for coming up with this as a relevant theater for today and this is something I've never seen. I encourage everyone to buy a ticket via Ticket2Me.net and support this amazing campus theater production.

* Images via Tanghalang Ateneo

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Tanghalan Ateneo ends season with Shakespeare's Macbeth

On its 42nd Theater Season, Adaptation | Pagbabanyuhay: Bagong Anyo ng Buhay, Tanghalang Ateneo, the longest-running theater company of the Loyola Schools, is proud to present M.45, the forty-five minute climax of “Makbetamaximus: Theatre of Destruction”, a 30-day deconstruction of William Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth” as translated by National Artist Rolando S. Tinio.

M.45 boils, bubbles, & burns a bitches’ brew that pushes the boundaries of theatre both live & online.The ingredients are the “29 Days of Sodomo Robotbot” performances featuring more than 200 artists from April 12 to May 10, served with the main course, "Pakbet Da Muzikal", a new rap musical written by Layeta Bucoy, conceptualized & directed by Khavn.

M.45 opens in a post-pandemic carinderia somewhere between Mondomanila & Ilocandia, where the streets of purgatory run red with pig’s blood & chicken feet. The animal mascots that once lusted for power have now been roasted & desecrated. The fountainhead of the performance is Ferdz Pakbet who mistakes fake news for a prophecy & starts rolling heads down the chopping board while getting high on the latest pesticide. Vengeance abounds as threats of drug lords and the dead infiltrate the feast. 

Pakbet becomes a headless horse running around the stage, copulating with ghosts as the DJ crashes cymbals to signal cannibal time. Castration is the suicidal wife of back-stabbing, front-stabbing, &side-stabbing. Abandon ambition. Time for graves to spit out spears. Be our VIP & fine dine with us at M.45: All You Need To Make A Play Is Macbeth & A Gun!

M.45 features a cast composed of the Tanghalang Ateneo ensemble—namely Deivid Encarcion, Jam Binay, Nicole Chua, Francesca Dela Cruz, Robert Bradly Hao, Carlos Hombrebueno, Mikaela Regis, Austin Gonzales, Coco Pineda, and Kyle Tan—and alumni, alongside guest actors Bryan Bacalso, Soc Delos Reyes, Lester Abuel, Juan Julian Barrion, Bea Racoma. It also features beats by Caliph8 & Lowkey.

The show dates of M.45 shall be June 12, 14, 17, and 19, 2021. Tickets are worth Php 200 for general viewing and Php 300 for general viewing coupled with the souvenir program, which is inclusive of the additional service charge. Tickets can be purchased through Tanghalang Ateneo’s ticketing partner, Ticket2Me, through this link: https://ticket2me.net/e/33251/tickets

For questions and additional details about the show, kindly contact Sandra Torrefranca at 0939-903-8291. You may also connect with Tanghalang Ateneo through the following social media networks:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TanghalangAteneo

Twitter: www.twitter.com/TAOfficial_

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tanghalangateneo

This production’s media and general partners include ClickTheCity, Astig.ph, and TechKuya. Its partner beneficiary is Pathways to Higher Education.

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Steven Spielberg's West Side Story teaser released on Oscars Night

Musical fans are in for a Christmas gift this year as Disney releases teaser of the remake of West Side Story, just in time of Oscars Night.

In modernized fashion, Spielberg's West Side Story is the adaptation of the Shakespearean love tragedy Romeo and Juliet and based on the award winning movie in 1961. Two feuding families became two warring gangs in New York City, the white Jets led by Riff, and Latino Sharks, led by Bernardo. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding.

Cast includes Ansel Elgort as Tony, Rachel Zegler as Maria, Ariana Debose as Anita, David Alvarez as Bernardo, Rita Moreno as Valentina, Mike Faist as Riff and more.

Ansel Elgort as Tony, Rachel Zegler as Maria

Rachel Zegler as Maria

Let us all revisit the songs of Stephen Sondheim in the acclaimed musical like Somewhere, Maria, I Feel Pretty, the Jet Song and more.

The West Side Story will be in theaters December 10 and will be distributed by Walt Disney. Watch the trailer below.

 

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GNOMEO AND JULIET movie review

from Shakespeare's well-known tragedy comes a "cute" retelling entitled Gnomeo and Juliet which opens on April 13 in theaters nationwide.

instead of human beings, we find our lovers as garden gnomes. they take on responsibility of beautifying the garden of their humans. but when they are away, the long dispute between the families, Montague and Capulet are on. the catch is, don't get smashed or broken.

as the original story went, the feud of the two families banned our lovers to meet and even fall in love. but against all odds, they managed to express their love for each other. they have found common things with each other and the folks don't approve of what's going on between them. anger grew upon losing a family member, bit by bit.

but unlike Shakespeare's tragedy, this love story gives a happy and colorful ending. good for young audience to understand Shakespearean masterpiece before they get into the actual piece. delivery is very funny and the soundtrack is amusing. not to mention that Elton John has lent his songs for the movie. other characters show good support for the movie and has identified the differences between the disputing families. but still, they are characterized as cute and colorful gnomes which help you take it light on the story of Romeo and Juliet.

Gnomeo and Juliet also perfect for 3D viewing as the texture of the gnomes are clearly visible. relive the story of Romeo and Juliet with this cute animation.

opening on April 13 2011, in Digital 3D and regular format, “Gnomeo & Juliet” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

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sneak peek on GNOMEO AND JULIET

a new cute twist on the Shakespeare classic tragedy will come to theaters this summer. Touchstone Pictures presents GNOMEO AND JULIET. instead of real people who enact the timeless feud, gnomes prepare the war -- in the garden!

when humans are away, garden gnomes are brought to life and they have grown to create love which humans do. here, two gnomes from rival families, Montague and Capulet share love which their families do not approve.

featuring the voices of two-time Academy Award®-winner Michael Caine (“Cars 2,” “Inception”) as Juliet’s father Lord Redbrick, Jason Statham (“Transporter” series) as Gnomeo’s nemesis Tybalt, Maggie Smith (“Harry Potter” movies) as Lady Bluebury, Patrick Stewart (“Star Trek”) as Bill Shakespeare, Ashley Jensen (“How to Train Your Dragon”) as Juliet’s friend and confidante Nanette, Stephen Merchant (TV’s “The Office”) as Juliet’s expected suitor Paris, Matt Lucas (“Alice in Wonderland”) as Gnomeo’s best mate Benny, and Jim Cummings (“Winnie the Pooh,” “Shrek”) as the plastic pink flamingo Featherstone.

Julie Walters (“Harry Potter” movies) and Richard Wilson (TV’s “Merlin”) give voice to the human feuding neighbors, Miss Montague and Mr. Capulet; Ozzy Osbourne portrays Tybalt’s sidekick, Fawn; Dolly Parton plays the country gnome Dolly who starts the mower race; and Hulk Hogan lends his voice to the unapologetic beast of a lawn mower, the Terrafirminator.

here's the official trailer:


opening soon across the Philippines in Digital 3D and regular format, “Gnomeo & Juliet” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

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