Rep Phils brings A Midsummer Night Dream with a twist in Shakespeare in Hollywood

Just when we thought Romeo and Bernadette was the only twisted Shakespearian play existing, Repertory Philippines brings another story that will give us a new and wacky view in William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night Dream” in Ken Ludwig's Shakespeare in Hollywood. The 1930 comedy tale will be presented by Rep Phils in Onstage Theater Greenbelt 1 in Makati City on April 1 to 17. The farce was directed by Jamie del Mundo and include actors like Hans Eckstein, Red Concepcion, Robie Zialcita, Arnel Carrion, Caisa Borromeo, Cris Villonco, Miguel Faustmann, Joy Virata, Reuben Uy, Topper Fabregas, Rem Zamora, and Nic Campos.

Take the crazy steps with Repertory Philippines’ The 39 Steps

It’s crazy and hilarious; this was the first time that I saw a play where from the start until the end, I am laughing in most the scenes. Repertory Philippines did a great choice in doing Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps this March at the Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1 in Makati City with actors Michael Williams, Rem Zamora, Juliene Mendoza and Liza Infante. The comedy play was directed by Ana Abad Santos.

Rem Zamora and Juliene Mendoza did a great job as clowns in the play, clown which means, who did so many roles in the play from police, to Mr. Memory, Professor Jordan and so many more. With the restriction in time and scenes, Rem and Juliene manage to do execute their roles hilariously and consistently without a dull moment.

This was the first time I saw Michael Williams perform in the stage, I always knew him as a director in various plays like the Master Class. With a strong and serious image, I can’t believe he played the role of Richard Hannay naturally. Liza Infante, elegant as always did a wonderful performance; I enjoyed her role as Annabella Smith and Margaret its so funny and I can’t stop laughing maybe it’s in the way she deliver the lines with a very awkward movements in the stage.




I am not an Alfred Hitchcock fan, because I never saw his films and I was not even born during the peak of his career. But after seeing Repertory Philippines’ presentation of The 39 Steps, I am partly converted to a Hitchcock follower. But aside from the great and hilarious play that Rep Phils will be presenting this March, they will be giving away Blackberry phones for those who will be watching The 39 Steps from March 4 – 20. All they need to do is to purchase the orchestra center ticket that’s worth P800 and after the play they will answer a short survey questions and identify at least five (5) Alfred Hitchcock faces on the set and/or props of The 39 Steps. All entries can be submitted at Onstage, Greenbelt 1 during show dates, or at the Rep office located at Unit 519-520 AIC Burgundy Empire Tower, ADB Avenue, Corner Sapphire and Garnet Streets, Ortigas Center. And winners will be drawn after the last show on March 20.

The 39 Steps will run on March 4-20 (8:00 PM on Fridays and Saturday, 3:30 PM on Saturdays and Sundays) at the Onstage, Greenbelt 1 in Makati City. For tickets and other information about the Repertory Philippines please call 571-6926 and 571-4941 or email info@repertory-philippines.com. Tickets are also available at Ticketworld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph. For more updates on Repertory Philippines visit www.repertory.ph and Rep Phils on Facebook.


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Repertory Philippines to do Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps

After the success of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, Repertory Philippines ventures to Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps film that was based from the 1915 novel of John Buchan entitled The Thirty-nine Steps. Patrick Barlow re-wrote the story and made a theater version of it making it more hilarious from the movie, where four actors will take the role of 140 characters in the whole play. The Rep Philippines Presentation of The 39 Steps in Onstage Greenbelt 1 in Makati City on March 4-20 includes actors Michael Williams, Rem Zamora, Juliene Mendoza and Liza Infante. Ana Abad Santos directs the play.

 

The farce follows the journey of Richard Hannay who was caught up on murder and runs away from the authority who hunts him down. On his quest he met Annabella Schmidt who revealed him that she is a spy and someone plans to kill her. Hannay brought him home but in following day he found the dead body of Annabella behind her stabbed by bread knife. He continue to run and hides from the authority who thought he was the murderer and on his escape he continue to meet beautiful women and hides in different disguises.

Doing a Hitchcock for a play is very ambitious, but according to the director Ana Abad Santos she mentioned that the story is something that most of the theater aficionados will enjoy because of the humor. The Repertory Philippines’ presentation of The 39 Steps is also a play where talented actors join together, like Michael Williams who was the person behind the founding of Theater Down South, he also directs the presentation of Master Class and Sweeney Todd here in the Philippines. While Liza Infante who returns to the center stage did Once Upon a Mattress, Carousel and South Pacific in Rep Phils. As for Rem Zamora who bagged the Judas Escariot role in Rep Phil’s presentation of Jesus Christ Superstar, Dr. Beau in Skin Deep, he is also stars in Rep’s original play entitled Miong. Lastly Juliene Mendoza, a Nestor Torre student and became part of Dulaang UP and numerous theater group in Manila became the lead star in the Insular Life Musicale “A Journey in C Major” and became QTV Channel 11 channel voice in 2010.

The 39 Steps is presented with a special arrangement of Samuel French Limited. It is open to all ages, both Hitchcock fan and not who just want to have a good laugh. This is the second play that Repertory Philippines for this season after the Joy Luck Club. The play will run in all Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of March, from March 4-20 with shows on Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 3:30PM and 8 PM and Sundays at 3:30PM at Onstage Greenbelt 1 in Makati City. For tickets and other information about the Repertory Philippines please call 571-6926 and 571-4941 or email info@repertory-philippines.com. Tickets are also available at Ticketworld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph. For more updates on Repertory Philippines visit www.repertory.ph and Rep Phils on Facebook.

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Orosman at Zafira: A story of love, justice and sacrifices

"Buwan man o taon ang bilangin, pag-ibig, pag-ibig at pag-ibig pa rin!" This is how Orozman at Zafira of Francisco "Balagtas" Baltazar struck me when I first saw it in University of the Philippines Diliman last 2010. Gladly, Dulaang UP and Bit by Bit Development Company of Darwin Mariano brings it to a more mainstream audience to appreciate the art and legacy that Balagtas left in the Philippine literature. Now, Orosman at Zafira will run in all Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of February 2011 at SM Centerstage Theater in SM Mall of Asia.

The masterpiece of Balagtas follows the story of a Zafira, a princess from the tribe of Marruecos who thirst for justice after her father Mahamud was murdered by a Tedenst. Like a Romeo-Juliet set up, Zafira fell in love with Orosman, one of the sons of Boulasem, leader of the enemy tribe. With Gulnara, Zafira asked help from Zelim, the leader of Duquela to slay the murderers of her father. This how the quest for justice and love of Zafira and Orosman had started.

Just when I thought, Dulaang UP and all the performers had shown their best in 2010 that really amazed me. The 2011 production really surprise me from the costume, effects, fight scenes and how actors portrayed their roles. Let me discuss it one by one; the costumes were improved it gave more distinctions between tribes, which unlike before the only thing I can recall was Maurrecos are those with red stitches and accessories, while the remaining tribe it is hard to distinguish. With a bigger space it gives the actors move freely to execute fight scenes including with the props and acrobatic stunts which was rare to do in the UP campus.

Music and lighting effects helps to add with the emotions of each character. I really love how the group of Dexter Santos (Director) and Carol Bello (Musical Director) combines regional instruments with the modern equipments and create wonderful music and it goes very well with the actors singing, acting and choreography. It just when I saw Orosman at Zafira last Friday (Feb 4), I can barely hear some actors because the music is louder and their voices. I just hope the group could correct that in the succeeding performance.

I'm still fascinated with the vocal prowess of Tao Aves (Zelima), and Jean Judith Javier (Gulnara) which are still doing their roles this year. I saw them singing in 2010 and their voices are so powerful. While Maita Angeli Ponce and Sarah Delfine Buencamino who played Zafira alternates were great in doing their roles; Maita was the Zafira last Feb 4, while I saw Delfine perform the prayer during the press conference last January.

Orosman at Zafira, tells the story how women can be brave and strong. The Balagtas' creation gives the limelight to women and how they can empower themselves and fight for their right and justice.That is why this play is worth watching as it reaches out to the main stream audience.

Orosman at Zafira includes performers like Jay Gonzaga (Orosman), Maita Ponce and Delphine Buencamino (Zafira - alternate), Tao Aves (Zelima), Roeder Camañag (Abdalap), Red Concepcion (Aldervesin), Kevin Concepcion and Acey Aguilar (Zelim - alternate), Jacinta Remulla (Gulnara), Jean Judith Javier (Gulnara), Nazer Salcedo (Boulasem), Neil Tolentino (Mahamud), Felipe Ronnie Martinez (Ben-Asar), and the Dulaang UP Ensemble. The artistic team of OROSMAN AT ZAFIRA includes Tuxqs Rutaquio (Production Designer), John Ilao Batalla (Lighting Designer), Anril Tiatco, Katte Sabate, and Patrick Valera (Dramaturgs), Mara Marasigan (Assistant Director), Via Antonio (Associate Choreographer), Irish Pangilinan (Associate Musical Director), and Lao Rodriguez (Accessories Designer). The production team is composed of Atty. Darwin Mariano (Executive Producer), Carlo Francia (Associate Producer), Toots O. Tolentino (PR/Publicity Consultant), Ida Elopre (Production Manager), Ohm David (Technical Director), Loraine Macatangay (Stage Manager), Cherry Bong Edralin (Marketing Manager), and Jojit Lorenzo (Photography).



Orosman at Zafira will be presented at the Centerstage in SM Mall of Asia on Feb 4 (8pm), Feb 5 (10am, 3pm and 8pm), Feb 11 (8pm), Feb 12 (10am, 3pm and 8pm), Feb 18 (8pm), Feb 19 (10am, 3pm and 8pm), Feb 25 (8pm), and Feb 26 (3pm and 8pm). For non-Metro Manila, according to Mr.Mariano he is currently coordinating with SM Malls for staging Orosman at Zafira in other regions like in Visayas and Mindanao. But for now tickets for Orosman at Zafira is available at the SM Ticket booth. For more information visit http://www.orosmanatzafira.com.

Dulaang UP presents Heinrich von Kleist’s Amphitryon

In line with the celebration of Dulaang UP (University of the Philippines) of its 35th Theater Seaon, the organization will bring the Filipino version of Heinrich von Kleist’s Amphitryon on Februay 2011. Amphitryon, is a Roman Comedy that was translated in Filipino by Jerry Respeto and directed by Jose Estrella. It will run from February 16 to March 6, at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, 2nd floor Palma Hall, UP Diliman. The cast includes Neil Sese, Lex Marcos, Diana Malahay, Wenah Nagales, George de Jesus, Paolo O'Hara, Lucky de Mesa and Natasha Cabrera.

The Kleist’s version will be the one that Dulaang UP will be presenting on February. Amphitryon follows the story of King Amphitryon and his wife Alcmene, who became victims of Jupiter, a Roman god. Jupiter disguises himself to make love with Alcmene during the quest of King Amphitryon in Thebes. As the king return to his kingdom victorious from the battle they had won, Jupiter disappeared leaving Alcmene bearing their child. With what happen between the two of them, will Alcmene realize the person whom she made love with was not truly her husband and will Amphitryon discover that a god came to her wife during the time he was in his quest?

Amphitryon will run from February 16 to March 6, Wednesdays to Fridays at 7pm and at 10am and 3pm during weekends at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, 2nd floor Palma Hall, UP Diliman. Comprising the artistic team are Lex Marcos (Set Designer), John Batalla (Light Designer), Raven Ong (Costume Designer) and TJ Ramos (Sounds Designer). For tickets and reservation please call Cherry at 09177500107, or the Dulaang UP Office at 926-1349, 981-8500 local 2449 or 433-7840.


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