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All posts by Kuya
5 Christines and 1 Phantom of the Opera – Rare version!
Philippines opened Cock – Red Turnip Theater
Cock is a funny name for a gay theater play, or isn’t it gay?
Rem Zamora makes his debut as a director with a hit!
Attended the press night thanks to the always lovable PR Mr. Toots Tolentino at White Space in Pasong Tamo Extension Makati, Philippines. The place chosen to debut Cock.
The title promises interest, doesn’t it? I imagined a bold modern contemporary piece and nobody took of their clothes (crying face emoticon should go here). Joking!
I’m so glad I went. ‘Coz certainly it is contemporary theater and it says a lot about the new theater wave spreading in Manila.
Theater theater and pure theater, ‘coz there are no props, no sets or no fancy costume changes. Simply the actors telling the story on “stage”.
White Space is an art gallery turned into an improvised off Broadway style of theater. The audience sits all around the stage, which is down in the center. So for a start it’s a different experience for most theater goers of the Philippines, so go experience the space and a new kind of theater proposal.
At the beginning I disapproved the use of microphones in theater once again, but then when I heard voices from the hall I realized it’s not an isolated space and it needs the sound system in order to maintain the attention inside.
So after scene 3 I was inside the play and totally interested as it got more and more intense until the last moment.
I can’t spoil much from the content so you can really enjoy it yourself.
I found interesting that director Rem Zamora chose to use only the power of actors with no extra help in order to tell this story about sex preferences and how much we humans tend to complicate our lives ’till the point of making us unhappy.
And also about how other people try to manipulate us in order to achieve their own goals.
Made me think.
Very contemporary ‘coz now more than ever things are not anymore black or white and people need not to choose or give so many explanations to anyone anymore.
The actors did a fantastic realistic job. Congrats to Audie Gemora, Topper Fabregas, Niccolo Manahan and Jenny Jamora.
It’s very intense, full of emotions and strategies that force the actor to think and output sincerity and full concentration. They all certainly did.
This is good quality theater and I look forward to more productions of Red Turnip Theater.
Catch COCK on the following dates:
Friday 9pm shows on March 7, 14, 21, 28 & April 4
Saturday 8pm shows on March 8, 15, 29 & April 5
Saturday 4pm show on April 5
Sunday 4pm shows on March 9, 16, 23 & April 6
Special Closing Gala at 8pm on April 6
Friday 9pm shows on March 7, 14, 21, 28 & April 4
Saturday 8pm shows on March 8, 15, 29 & April 5
Saturday 4pm show on April 5
Sunday 4pm shows on March 9, 16, 23 & April 6
Special Closing Gala at 8pm on April 6
Venue: Whitespace, Chino Roces Ave. Ext. Makati City
Visit TicketWorld (http://bit.ly/1adhaCT) to grab your tickets now!
Recommended theater experience: Osage County by Repertory Philippines
Part of the job of an actor is to watch a lot of theater. I give the play an 8 out of 10.
So I went to watch last production of Repertory Philippines, the number one English theater company of the Philippines.
I was glad to see it was a North American play instead of a British one coz I have a hard time understanding the British accent when I watch regularly to be sincere.
A British man who visited the Philippines told me that us Filipinos have a weird way of faking the British accent. He said we sound like Dick Van Dyke in Marry Poppins coz actors tend to imitate the accent of those days, which differs a lot from the accent of nowadays English citizens.
Not me tho, coz I can’t catch a British accent at all. I guess that’s why I’m normally type casted as I hear a thousand times. Happy playing my Spanish characters in Filipino films tho. Keep them coming.
I was happy also to see the theater packed with teenager students. Very cool. That means there’s interest among young people, there is hope for straight theater plays in Manila!
The play takes three hours and a half with intermissions, two of them. And you know what? It didn’t seem too long nor I fell asleep even when I went being sleepy.
I still feel it’s weird to watch straight plays with microphones used. I wish the actors could just project their voices and fill up the theater in the natural traditional theater acting way. Coz you know? The acting is different this way. The delivery is theatrical, which differs from TV acting.
I guess there’s not enough actors in the Philippines with enough training to project their voices for theater. Coz I encountered a lot during these two years and a half working here that act with small voices or even whisper in theater as they do in life or screen acting. So I guess directors don’t really miss the projection.
Acting was fantastic. And the stage design by Miguel Faustmann is super realistic and pleasant to see.
Some actors smoke on stage real cigarettes while others have electronic cigars, which is a weird contrast. I propose direction decides one only way for all.
And there was an actor, Richard Cunanan, who I didn’t know and did a fantastic job. Just thought it might be a miss cast coz he is supposed to be at least 60 years old, but seems he’s 30-40. Think it’s a director’s decision tho not to age him probably. A little weird. And I repeat, great believable acting.
A very intense play, a lot of conflicts, tension, I almost even cried with some interpretations from the actors who were concentrated and kept the character intense almost all the time.
A pool of experienced actors really.
Thankful to see Pinky Amador back on the stage of Rep after 7 years of absence.
Do I recommend it? Yes. Go watch it. And soon you’ll be ablle to compare it with the screen version with Merryl Streep.
Life is Happening…NOW!!: MARCO POLO (An Untold Love Story) – A New Musical
Life is Happening…NOW!!: MARCO POLO (An Untold Love Story) – A New Musical: Last night I watched the World Premiere of `Marco Polo – An Untold Love Story. It’s a musical written and composed by Rogelio Saldo Ch…
Kuya Manzano invites you to watch MARCO POLO the Musical
Hip Hop class at Julie Borromeo Performing Arts
This is my third class. I’m so happy I’m getting the steps haha. A lot to improve of course. Come join us?
Wait Untill the Dark in the Philippines – Theater thriller
Repertory Philippines is back on track to be the leading company of the Philippines.
Get ready to stick on your chair as you get totally embedded, abducted, integrated in the play, coz you will be on track 100% of the time!
Liesl Batucan plays a blind woman with her eyes totally opened and visible for the audience, and she’s totally believable. At the same time she can act all her character’s emotions and thoughts, and those are a lot! So hands down to Miss Liesl Batucan, Rep’s veteran actress.
I can’t reveal much of the plot coz I’ll spoil it for you and you want to watch and experience this good theater production for your self!
Nice raining effect happening on set… watch it 😀
Arnel Carrion was playing the husband’s role and jumped into the interesting role of … OMG, I cannot tell youuuuuu.
The most interesting thing is that it’s so well directed by Miguel Faustmann that you can’t take your eyes off the stage. You can’t expect what’s going to happen next.
A delight to watch all veteran actors on stage, also there for you doing a great job Robbie Guevara, Joel Trinidad, Lorenzo Martinez and the young Dani Gana.
That’s it. Catch it ON STAGE at Greenbelt 1, Makati, Manila.
http://repertoryphilippines.com/
Articles mentioning Amor y Muerte film – Cinemalaya 2013
Here goes a list of articles commenting on Amor y Muerte film screenings and some comments on the acting.
This was a great project and I’m so proud of portraying Padre Santiago here 🙂
http://www.wazzuppilipinas.com/2013/07/kuya-manzano-stars-as-spanish-priest-in.html
http://misterplummy.blogspot.com.es/2013/08/cinemalayas-amor-y-muerte.html
http://radlontoc.blogspot.com.es/2013/08/the-cinemalaya-2013-experience-part-3.html
http://backtothefryingpan.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/cinemalaya-2013-final-recap/
http://www.pep.ph/photos/3907/cinemalaya-2013-follows-the-theme-cinesthesia-synergy-of-the-senses
http://www.juice.ph/movies/movie/amor-y-muerte?icid=jmc-r11448a
http://theultimatefan.blogspot.com.es/2013/06/cinemalaya-indie-film-fest-2013-list-of.html
http://tochs.blogspot.com.es/2013/08/cinemalaya-freeing-mainstream.html
http://cool2013movies.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/watch-amor-y-muerte-online-2013.html
http://tvseriescraze.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/markki-stroem-goes-daring-in-erotic.html
http://aliwanavenue.com/2013/07/05/cinemalaya-2013/
http://commuterexpress.nowplanet.tv/guide-to-cinemalaya-2013/
http://jeesalxz.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/markki-stroem-goes-daring-in-erotic.html
http://tadonggeniuskuno.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/cinemalaya-2013/
http://e-revs.blogspot.com.es/2013/08/amor-y-muerte-e-review.html
http://www.showbiznest.com/2013/07/amor-y-muerte-full-trailer-cinemalaya.html
http://ohohleo.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/amor-y-muerte.html
http://www.clickthecity.com/movies/detail/Zj5Bw4/amor-y-muerte
http://cornerstonetalents.net/amor-y-muerte-starring-markki-stroem
http://inghinyero.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/amor-y-muerte-trailer-cinemalaya-2013.html
http://voicepoints.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/meet-new-indie-bold-star-althea-vega.html
http://scoopboy.com/cinemalaya-2013-film-entries-synopses-and-trailers/#_
http://heygarch.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/cinemalaya-2013-film-synopses-and.html
http://www.mangoes-bananas.com/2013/07/cinemalaya-2013.html
http://www.kristn.com/index.php/movies/moviegallery/amor-y-muerte
http://www.threesticksofwatusi.com/2013/cinemalaya-2013/
http://www.dalebacar.com/2013/07/cinemalaya-2013-complete-list-of-entries.html
http://whynotcoconut.com/2013/07/05/amor-y-muerte-movie-trailer-revealed/
http://mymovieworld-coolman0304.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/amor-y-muerte-trailer-cinemalaya-2013.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3031014/
http://madhousemnl.com/magazine/uncategorized/amorymuerte/
http://normannorman.com/2013/07/14/amor-y-muerte-for-cinemalaya-2013/
http://browse.feedreader.com/c/Starmometer/493248232
http://shelf3d.com/Search/Cinemalaya
http://www.haszysz.net/tag/cinemalaya
http://pinoyentertainmentnews.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/amor-y-muerte-movie-trailer-revealed/
http://phnews.net/althea-vega-indie-bold-star-goes-nude-on-films/
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/july2513/showbiz_others02.htm#.UsbcafRdWa9
http://www.comedymov.com/movie/3031014-love-and-death-2013/
http://www.mharvalicious.com/2013/07/cinemalaya-2013-amor-y-muerte.html
http://www.pinoymovieblog.com/2013/02/amor-y-muerte-stars-althea-vega-markki-stroem/
Follow the FB page for updates ty https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amor-Y-Muerte/370017196451552
Grease the musical in the Philippines by 9 Works theater company
9 Works Theatrical brings us the original High School musical: Grease!
Got in excited to watch a classic we all know very well. I guess it’s hard to revisit a play that everyone knows so well. Tho I guess the younger audiences still didn’t even watch the movie probably 😀
The producer Santi SantamarÃa told me before entering that it was a bad show haha. He used some irony but for a second I believed him and thought I was going to watch something he wasn’t convinced about. But not at all.
I was offered a back seat and requested for the front row. I always say I want to have the actors spitting at me as they sing 😀
Total blast of energy from the company as curtain goes up! Dancing, singing and really enjoying the classic musical.
Congrats director Robbie Guevara for achieving this in an original way. Glad ‘coz I’ve seen Grease the musical in several countries and it’s always different and fresh like this time. He really sharpened up the intentions of individual actors. I really appreciate that! Some would say… duh! But I can tell you it’s just some directors who do this and give consistency to the whole play.
Lucky enough I don’t know who are celebrities and who not in the cast (promise to catch up with that some day) there are some actors that super stand out.
Reb Atadero does a great job from the beginning. While dancing, singing and acting he always has his character. And you can see how he enjoyed mooning us, oh yes, showing his butt to the whole world many times hahaha. Had seen him before perform in the Woman in Black where he was also great.
And the female Oscar goes for Carla Dunareanu. German and now for good Filipina actress, radio host, model and anything she feels like ‘coz she is a true performer and determined person who takes her job super seriously. Just check any of her works. She starred in Repertory Philippines’ Boeing Boeing last season and totally stole the show.
Her role in Grease was Marty and she really squeezed the life out of it, including deep motivations that were probably not required and only a very observant audience member will catch. That’s why I love being in the first row J
Great energy from actress Ciara Sotto, daughter of the politician I was told. Good performing family! She can make you laugh with her original contributions, congrats!
Iya Villania has a beautiful singing voice for musicals, solid! And as an actress she really had the character from the beginning. Hope I can work together in some moment. Seems like a strong personality to deal with, at least on stage haha. Scary and powerful.
Musical direction by Joseph Tolentino. Another bravo! Risky to visit a classic and hard to direct from behind the singers and with the orchestra divided on both sides of the stage. Sounded great.
Congrats all company and crew!
December 2013, Manila.