As the fun Christmas musicals played
their final note for the season, a new thrilling experience awaits
theater-goers as Repertory Philippines begins the year with a dark
play. Okay, somewhat dark. I mean how can Repertory Philipppines
totally shed their popular fun and light image even as they explore
the dark side. This cat-and-mouse type of play only further
highlights the company's versatility without losing their
personality. Having said that, you can expect an entertaining play
with occasional giggles despite the dark theme.
Your theater experience begins with the
visual of a dimly-let stage that sets the atmosphere of anticipation
and foreboding. The spot-on acting of the goon-like characters and
their “evil”leader
along with the brilliant lighting
techniques progressed the story smoothly despite the limitation of
theater's one-set scenes. The audience's imagination was heightened
and on full-gear as the actors easily transported the them from
the outdoors to the indoors without being hampered by the permanent
walls. How they combine or blend, acting chops with ingenious
lighting, set design, and music seems to be the trademark formula for
Repertory's successful shows.
Perhaps his height and built on top of
great acting helped the audience buy into Arnel Carrion's cold and evil
character. He made me fearful for "Suzy" as I was truly convinced of
his capability to harm her.The subtle acting skills of Robbie Guevarra and Joel Trinidad may not be as attention-grabbing as the role of "Roat" or "Suzy" but I really enjoyed how they played their characters. The
idea of a dead body or that the story happened in London or the
bumbling execution of "the plan" to deceive Suzy were convincingly set
up by their characters. Dani Gana played Gloria in a way that I
believe only she can deliver, that “duality” in character where
you feel there is something more going on inside her despite what she
outwardly presents.
Give someone a blind role and let's see
if you can truly believe it. Well, Liesl Batucan played the blind woman's
role seamlessly and convincingly that I entered her world and stayed
there until the end, fearful constantly for her safety. When you watch a
Repertory play, it's superb acting that really takes you through that wonderful experience. Everything else falls second.
The show runs from January 17 to
February 9, 2014. All performances are at Onstage, 2/F,
Greenbelt 1, Paseo de Roxas corner Legazpi St., Makati City.
For details of the show, you may
contact Repertory Philippines:
By phone: 571-6926 and
571-4941
By e-mail:
shows@repertoryphilippines.com
By Internet:
http://www.repertoryphilippines.com
Tickets are available through
Ticketworld at 891-9999, or via http://www.ticketworld.com.ph/
