ENTERTAINMENT | June 17, 2020
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN) |
iWant, the premiere online streaming service in the Philippines, is literally bridging the gap between onstage and online as it proudly presents "Tanghalang Pilipino Sa iWant", a series of plays produced and staged by the Cultural Center of the Philippines' resident drama company Tanghalang Pilipino that aims to raise funds for workers and artists in the local theater scene. Streaming for free from now until July 12th are six original Filipino productions based on stories from Philippine history and literature as well as several local adaptations.
First on the list is steampunk musical "Mabining Mandirigma". Featuring multi-awarded theater and film actress Monique Wilson, the play foregrounds the unparalleled heroism of Apolinario Mabini when he faced threats from American colonizers and ilustrado members of the Congress following his appointment as General Emilio Aguinaldo's chief advisor until his capture and exile in Guam and eventually his untimely demise. JC Santos stars as the hero in the ethno-epic musical "Lam-ang" which reimagines what is considered the oldest folk epic in Luzon, "Biag Ni Lam-ang". Also starring Anna Luna, it chronicles the conquests of Lam-ang from the land of Nalbuan and envisions the local traditions that are in danger of being disappeared forever.
The colorful creation that is "Sandosenang Sapatos" follows the wheelchair-bound Susie (Trixie Esteban), a little girl who dreams of fulfilling her shoemaker father's wish to have a ballerina for her daughter. Every year on her birthday, she travels to a place called dreamland where the Shoe Fairy (May Bayot-De Castro) gave her a pair of shoes that enabled her to walk and dance. On the other hand, a complicated web of romance set in the grandiose mystery of Athens is featured in "Pangarap Sa Isang Gabi Ng Gitnang Tag-araw", an adaptation of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", which centers on the love interplaying around four young Atheians portraying featuring striking performances by Audie Gemora, Teroy Guzman, Liezl Batucan, Randy Villarama and Richard S. Cunanan.
In a rarely-staged Shakespearean play entitled "Coriolano", a legendary Roman soldier turns into a tyrant which eventually leads to his downfall. It features a gripping performance from Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company senior member Marco Viaña, together with Frances Makil-Ignacio and Sherry Lara alternating as Coriolano's strong-willed mother Volumnia and Brian Sy as Tulo Aufidio. Finally, a retelling of Shakespeare's best and famous comedy, "Der Kaufmann (The Merchant Of Venice)", follows the misadventures of the enigmatic Portia who outwits a shrewd and bitter moneylender named Shylock. A play within a play, it relives the horror of the Holocaust with the Nazis directing the Jewish actors, underscoring the dehumanizing effect of racism and intolerance. Starring Jonathan Tadioan, Regina De Vera and Tuxqs Rutaquio, the play has enjoyed critical success and won seven Gawad Buhay awards.
Tanghalang Pilipino has successfully presented and staged 114 original productions within fifteen seasons while generating one of the best attendance records among CCP's resident companies in their mission to use theater for education and to develop Filipinos' sense of nationalism. While binge-watching any of these six proudly Filipino-produced theater plays for a limited time, viewers are encouraged to make a difference and help the Philippine theater scene towards the foreseeable future post-COVID19 through their donations. Donations are accepted via BPI (Tanghalang Pilipino Foundation Inc., Savings Account 3131-0387-46) and Gcash (Munera Garcia, 0915-4538933). For more details, visit ktx.abs-cbn.com.
