Tag Archives: manila theater

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

Venue: Whitespace, Chino Roces Ave. Ext. Makati City

Visit TicketWorld (http://bit.ly/1adhaCT)  to grab your tickets now!

Why to watch Boeing Boeing by Repertory Philippines?

My very personal recommendations to watch this new theater play in Manila.

Coz Repertory Philippines is 46 years old. The longest running English theater company in the Philippines, they started it all. And most theater companies nowadays are founded by Rep members.

Coz Baby Barredo, the diva of Philippine theater is on stage again after 3 years, watch the experience in action!

Coz there’s an amazing cast of new and pretty faces.

Coz you can enjoy different accents if you are into that kind of stuff fetish 😀 American, German, Italian…

All directed by Miguel Faustmann, another theater legend who has been in Rep Phils forever.

Leaded by David Bianco who is also the lead of Marco Polo the musical, rehearsing with me everyday 😀

Coz there’s a new actress who just arrived from Singapore. Who was in the TV serie The Kitchen musical. Who is the girlfriend of Christian Bautista (if you love chismes). Who is a radio host in the mornings (89.9FM I was told). That is a real master class of acting and totally steals the show. Concentrated, in character and with a great corporal theater training that shows in every move. She is Carla Dunareanu.

Cast completed by beautiful and talented Giannina Ocampo and Jennifer Blair-Bianco as Bianco’s lovers and Topper Fabregas. More of them all in this link.