‘Romeo and Juliet’ in Tagalog by Rolando Tinio goes on stage
By Walter Ang
July 16, 2012
Philippine Daily Inquirer
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| Sintang Dalisay |
Tanghalang Ateneo opens its 34th season in August with a restaging of "Sintang Dalisay," an awit (metrical romance poetry using dodesyllabic or 12-syllable verse) version of William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" using translations by G.D. Roke and National Artist for Literature Rolando Tinio.
Romeo and Juliet are now Rashiddin and Jamila, star-crossed lovers living in Sempurna, a fictional Islamic community, and fleeing from family and the law to keep their love alive.
Directed by TA artistic director Ricky Abad, the production uses igal, a traditional dance of the indigenous Sama-Bajau people of Mindanao, as its movement and choreography motif.
Sets and costumes designed by National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal, with this production being one of the last works completed by Bernal before his demise last year.
International
Before its Manila run, the group will perform "Sintang Dalisay" in Minsk, Belarus for the 9th World Congress of the International University Theater Association. After its run in Manila, there are plans to tour the production in Naga and Baguio, as well as Sarawak, Borneo. "Funds permitting," says Abad.
The group has been invited to perform Suzue Toshiro's "Fireflies," which it staged for its previous season, for the Asia-Pacific Festival of Theater Schools in Taipei in August.
The play, about several characters are on a lonely search for connection and compassion in contemporary Japanese society, is directed by Abad and BJ Crisostomo using the English translation by David Goodman.
In September, TA will stage "4Play," a showcase of directorial works by four recent graduates of the university's Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Theater Arts (which has concentrations in disciplines such as acting, directing or production design).
The production will feature "Bubbled," a devised work based on Japanese author Haruki Murakami's short story "Silence;" an adaptation of Christopher Durang "An Actor's Nightmare"; "Untitled," an improvisational concept piece based on Jackson Pollock's paintings; and B.J. Crisostomo's allegory "Penitensiya."
The season concludes in January 2013 with the group's staging of "The Conference of the Birds," a play based on a Persian poem. To be directed by Ron Capdinding, the play is about a nation of birds facing a crisis and learning to conquer the fear that almost ruined their beloved country.
Entablado
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| From a previous staging of Ang Sistema ni Propesor Tuko. Image from the Interwebs. |
"'Ang Sistema' is about Professor Tuko's decrepit teaching methods and how his students put a stop to his authoritarian methods," says Entablado artistic director Jethro Tenorio. "'Santong Tao' is about how Titay outsmarts three powerful suitors."
Directed by Richard "Morny" de Guzman, production design by Martin Malabanan, and lights design by Miyo Sta. Maria.
In January 2013, the group will stage the Ilonggo epic "Labaw Donggon" adapted by Nicanor Tiongson and to be directed by Jerry Respeto.
"This is actually a fragment of a much longer epic 'Hinilawod,'" says Tenorio. "The hero Labaw Donggon journeys to finding his maiden and battles Saragnayan, the Keeper of Light."
Their season concludes with a street theater festival in February 2013. The festival will feature a competition between different organizations from inside and outside the university focused on creating plays based on the advocacy in the form Street Theater.
For Tanghalang Ateneo, contact 426-6001 loc. 5427, 0917-856-0787. For Entablado, contact 0917-829-1714 or ateneoentablado@yahoo.com.
Also published online:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/57731/%E2%80%98romeo-and-juliet%E2%80%99-in-tagalog-by-rolando-tinio-goes-on-stage