Sunday, March 27, 2016

STORYTELLING AS A BASIC INSTINCT: EGG THEATER COMPANY PRESENTS THE FILIPINO TRANSLATION OF MARTIN MCDONAGH’S THE PILLOWMAN

      After the brief festival run of its productions, Maniacal (Fringe Manila 2015) and Schism (Fringe Manila 2016), Egg Theater Company presents its first full-run production with a Filipino Translation of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman.


           Winner of the 2004 Olivier Award for Best Play and Tony-Nominated in 2005 for Best Play, The Pillowman is about a writer in an unidentified totalitarian state being interrogated about his gruesome and macabre short stories that has inspired a series of child murders. The Pillowman is a dark comedy that boldly exhibits the riveting power of narrative and how storytelling and invention of fantastical tales is a basic human instinct. With the coming elections and the incessant specter of dictatorships and martial law, this production resonates with its exploration of the fine line between the freedom of an individual to tell a story and its impact on the security of society.


            Palanca awardee and Egg Theater Company co-founder, George de Jesus III in translating and directing The Pillowman, remarks, “In examining the dark side of imagination and creativity, the play probes into how stories are created, the motivation that drives a writer to tell a story and the responsibility of a writer on the impact of what he has written. Put that against a totalitarian-state setting and we get a play that are by turns disturbingly funny and emotionally shocking. Given that the play is set in an unnamed totalitarian state, translating it into Filipino affords us not only in making it somehow familiar but it also further fuels the idea of it possibly becoming real.”


            Egg Theater Company co-founder and producer adds, “But beyond being political, The Pillowman will make us take stock on the power of words and how it can affect other people. There’s a line by Katurian that says, "It's not about being or not being dead, it's about what you leave behind." I think it’s something that will resonate to anyone in the creative field and it’s what we want to accomplish with Egg Theater Company, to create Filipino productions that will linger in the minds of our audience.”



       Co-presented by Pineapple Lab, The Pillowman features Gabs Santos as Katurian, Paolo O’Hara and Paul Jake Paule as Michal, Renante Bustamante as Tupolski and Acey Aguilar as Ariel.

      The production will also feature original music and animated graphics by Joee Mejias.


        The play will run from April 8-10 and 22-24, 2016, 8:00 PM at Pineapple Lab, 6071 R. Palma Street, Poblacion, Makati City.


           For tickets and inquiries, visit Egg Theater Company’s FB Page or contact 0917-844-0520.

*Press release as written by Mr. Toots Tolentino. Photos are from the production.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Free Senakulo Play on Black Saturday at the Greenfield District

This coming March 26, Tanghalang Sta. Ana will present Martir sa Golgota, their annual portrayal onstage of the life of Jesus Christ from his meeting with John the Baptist up till his death and resurrection.





This year's cast is led by music industry icon Ivy Violan as the Blessed Virgin Mary together with Jojo Riguerra and Ced Torrecarion (alternates for the role as well as for Pontius Pilate), both experienced theater thespians. Other cast members are Bodjie Pascua as Herod, Arkin da Silva as Judas, and Joseph Domingo as John the Baptist. 2014 Cinema One Originals Best Supporting Actor Andy Bais will appear in a very special role. The rest of the roles are filled up by the company members and guest artists. 





The director of the play is Lou Veloso.  The presentation will start 7pm and will be at the Greenfield District Open Grounds (located behind EDSA Central) by Shaw Boulevard.






For inquiries, you may inquire via their official Facebook page.




Tuesday, March 22, 2016

CINEFILIPINO: ONE DAY MORE


No, there is no screening of a Pinoy Les Miserables in CineFilipino. I'm just excited to share the schedule that the festival will have an extended run tomorrow (source: official FB page) of some entries.



My top three choices from this list are:

1. Star na si Van Damme Stallone - An astonishing turn by Candy Pangilinan in a film that tackes Down Syndrome without looking down on its subject. Bravo. (5/5)

2. Buhay Habangbuhay - You can feel dead while you are still alive and learn to really live when you're literally dead. (4/5)

3. Ang Taba ko Kasi - Rejection is no laughing matter, but all the more when you don't know that your lack of self esteem's root is because of the way you look at other people too. (3.5/5)

FESTIVAL MALL
12:00 - 1:45PM - 1st Sem
2:15 - 3:45PM - Ang Taba Ko Kasi
4:15 - 5:50PM - Sakaling Hindi Makarating
8:25 - 10:20PM - Ned's Project

ROBINSONS GALLERIA
12:00-1:45PM - A Lotto Like Love
2:15-3:45PM - Buhay Habangbuhay
4:15-5:50PM - Sakaling Hindi Makarating
6:20-8:15PM - Ned's Project
8:45-10:15PM -Ang Taba Ko Kasi



ROBINSONS METRO EAST
12:00-1:30PM - Buhay Habangbuhay
2:00-3:45PM - A Lotto Like Love
4:15-6:10PM - Ned's Project
6:40-8:15PM - Star Na Si Van Damme Stallone
8:45-10:20PM - Sakaling Hindi Malarating

EASTWOOD
1:00-2:35PM - Sakaling Hindi Makarating
3:05-4:40PM - Van Damme Stallone
5:10-6:40PM - Ang Taba Ko Kasi
7:10-8:40PM - 1st Sem
9:20-11:10PM - A Lotto Like Love

GATEWAY
Sakaling Hindi Makarating will have 3 screenings in Cinema 8
1:30 | 5:00 | 9:30

Sunday, March 13, 2016

CINEFILIPINO 2016 FEATURE FILM TOP PICK #2: BUHAY HABANGBUHAY

Aside from the simple but beautifully done poster with the elegant title font, the film will give you a clue on how people in the afterlife live their own lives. This film by Paolo Herras stars Iza Calzado as the dutiful housewife who is still homebound after her death.


Another reason to catch this is because Marilen Magsaysay, an in-demand colorist, is part of the post-production team. The film was originally an indie graphic novel so expect lush and dreamy scenery.


Click here to view the trailer!!!






Saturday, March 12, 2016

CINEFILIPINO 2016 FEATURE FILM TOP PICK #1: NED'S PROJECT

How often do you get to watch a film which examines homosexuality in a familial context? Here, Angeli Bayani plays the role of the the lesbian protagonist who has a female live-in partner but wants her bestfriend to impregnate her so she can raise a child of her own flesh and blood.






This official entry in the full-length category is directed by Lem Lorca, who also directed Water Lemon (QCinema 2015) and Echorsis which will be opening on April in cinemas nationwide.







Saturday, March 5, 2016

Epy Quizon's Favorite Song from #50ShadesManila



“I had so much fun…a good laugh…69 minutes of fun and laughter.  I like the Hole song [There’s a Hole Inside of Me]. It’s metaphorically funny,” shared  Epy Quizon 




Here are the full lyrics of the song as transcribed by the writer:

(Spoken) I wish I had something big...to fill this hole inside of me


There's a hole inside of me 
That I need to fill
A yearning down there
A screw that needs to be drilled

There's a hole inside of me
A hole in the plot
A dark empty space
But who could fill my slot?



This hole inside of me
It just won't behave
Won't someone come along
And explore my cave?

And this hole inside of me
Needs to be filled up
I've got sugar and tea
But no cream in my cup

How I've been waiting here upon the block
I've just had so much time to take stock
He'll hold the key to open up my lock
And show me his huge throbbing cock / confidence*



This hole inside of me 
Keeps getting moister
Won't someone put a pearl
Deep inside my oyster

And I'll show him that I
Am more than this hooooole

This hole inside of me (This hole inside of me)
This hole inside of me
When filled...
I will be whole

*depends on which version of the song



50 Shades! The Musical Parody is still showing at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Makati. For ticket inquiries, you may contact Ticketworld (891-9999). The production was made possible by both Nineworks Theatrical and Vivre Fort Entertainment.

The Pinoy thespians included in the cast are Lorenz Martinez, Karel Marquez, Bituin Escalante, George Schulze, and Julz Savard.