A Life in the Theater

Last week, I received a text message that said it has been one year to the day that theater, television and film actor, writer and director Mario O'Hara had passsed on.  It made me look back at all the other icons and inspirations of my life and career that have since left us in this mortal world, especially those that i have had the privilege of knowing and working with. TONY ESPEJO (June 15, 1948 - July 21, 2012) Tony Espejo succumbed to multiple organ failure a few days before Mario O'Hara's passing.  He had founded Bulwagang Gantimpala and nursed the company even after it left the Cultural Center of the Philippines post-EDSA.  I had been fortunate to work with Tony and Gantimpala on a number of productions as lighting designer, as a writer and as an actor. Many people have heard the story of how I learned that my play "Silang Nalugmok sa Gabi" won in the 1984 CCP Literary Contest by way of a phone call from Tony, minutes just before I stepped out of the hous...

Every fan has his anecdote about one's favorite actor, and I have one about Mario O'Hara. Many moons ago when I was a Technical Director for the Cultural Center of the Philippines and assigned to oversee Tanghalang Pilipino's production of Shusaku Endo's Ang Ginintuang Bayan, then TP Artistic Director Nonon Padilla and the play's director Jonas Sebastian asked me to understudy the part being played by Nonie Buencamino in the production. Nonie's wife Shamaine was due to give birth anytime during the course of the production, and since the couple were prepared to deliver the baby through lamaze, Nonie just had to be with his wife when she did. Hence, the need for an understudy. Since the most part of my acting career had been made up of filling in for other actors at the last minute, I had the temerity to accept the assignment. Memorizing the lines and the blocking came rather easy for me since I had been watching the rehearsals for quite some time by then anyway....

Ricky Davao is a multi-awarded film, television and theater actor who would really rather be known as a singer who can act. He will jump at every opportunity to show off his singing voice and whose plans for the future not only include directing a film version of Rene Villanueva's "Hiblang Abo" but also an album of salinawits, or standards transliterated into Filipino. Which is not to say that he will also not take advantage of every chance to perform on stage. This week, he resurrects his role as Dado in the Mario O'Hara's adaptation of his own screenplay for Lino Brocka's "Insiang." Directed by Chris Millado (who, like Ricky, also won an Aliw Award for his work on the play), Ricky plays opposite Sheenly Vee Gener (as Insiang) and Mailes Kanapi (as Pacing). As he normally would, Ricky set aside time to do Insiang, making sure that he can devote all his attention and time for the project. Ricky once said in an interview that we have known each other ...

I got the following in my mailbox today, and I thought I should share it with readers of this blog. “You gotta watch the play directed by Chris Millado – once more he has outdone himself. I didn’t know it was kinda x-rated so I brought along my 16 year old daughter T. and her two friends. But what a revelation! It was the best thing for them to learn about the facts of life and issues of premarital sex, abuse, rape, etc. I thought I was in the play myself being so near the characters! My daughter remarked that she rates it as good as Broadway’s “Lion King”! Say what? Coming from a stage enthusiast she might just be right. The set is fantastic , can’t believe it was a stage – thought I was really there where it was happening! Wow Wow Wow Wow Wow Wow!!! - Carmen Prieto ‘This is your chance to imagine, to feel, to watch, and to ‘live’ with Insiang! We’ve seen it and we’re in awe! And yes, we’re watching it again! And you should watch it too! A different kind of experience in the theater ...

Here's an insider alert for those planning to watch "INSIANG": better catch the performances this weekend rather than wait for the second weekend, as there are hardly any tickets left. You have better chances coming to the CCP Tanghalang Batute on Saturday, Oct. 6 and Sunday, Oct. 7. Better yet, reserve your tickets now through the INSIANG website here. Tanghalang Pilipino's production of "INSIANG" presented in cooperation with Bright Eyed Boys Events and Ideas Inc. runs from Oct. 5- 7 and Oct. 12-14 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Tanghalang Huseng Batute. Shows at 8pm Fridays to Sundays and 3pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Directed by Chris Millado from the play by Mario O'Hara adapted from his own screenplay, with Ricky Davao, Mailes Kanapi, Mae Paner, Peewee O'Hara and Sheenly Vee Gener as Insiang.

INSIANG, the stage adaptation of the Lino Brocka film that swept the 2003 Aliw Awards (Best Play, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress) returns to the CCP for a limited two-weekend run from October 5 to 15, 2007. The Tanghalang Pilipino production is directed by Chris Millado from the script by Mario O'Hara and features Ricky Davao, Mailes Kanapi, Mae Paner, Peewee O'Hara with Sheenly Vee Gener in the title role. For tickets and other inquiries, check out the Insiang Website at http://www.brighteyedboys.com/insiang/ .