Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher' gets Filipino staging

Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher' gets Filipino staging
Theater House of Black's adaptation incorporates Baguio's haunted Laperal White House
By WALTER ANG
Oct. 1, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

As a prelude to Halloween, Theater House of Black will stage the suspense-horror supernatural play, "14 Leandro Road," based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Fall of the House of Usher."

The story of two eccentric siblings and their macabre home has been adapted by Jay Crisostomo and CK Bautista. Their adaptation incorporates elements of Baguio's allegedly haunted Laperal White House, which was built in the 1920s and used as a Japanese garrison during World War II.

The house has spawned tales of the lingering presence of those who've been killed in it. (In 2013, it was repurposed as the Ifugao Bamboo Carving Gallery.)

The production will alternate male and female actors for the main roles. TV mainstays Mosang and Migui Moreno will play one sibling; Ahlex Leyva and Gry Gimena, the other.

The cast also includes Peewee O'Hara, May Bayot, Patricia Ismael, Gold Villar and Harry David.

Superstition
Mosang admits to believing in a lot of superstitions. "Mostly the old, traditional Filipino ones like when you whisper your wish to a dead person, it will come true. Or when a dog howls, it's a sign of death," she says.

While TV audiences are more familiar with her comedic work in "Pepito Manaloto," Mosang has done several stage dramas. "I keep coming back to theater because it helps me  hone more of my love for acting."

Recent credits include Gantimpala Theater's "Kanser (Noli Me Tangere)," Virgin Labfest's "Ang Goldfish ni Prof. Dimaandal" and Theater House of Black's "Peratedes (The House of Bernarda Alba)."

Supernatural
Producer Harry David says, "The audience can expect to be entertained through spooky thrills and a few scares here and there. But they'll also leave the theater asking questions about the points the play brings up."

While Poe's work follows the conventions of dark romanticism/gothic literature (fascination with melancholia, insanity, the grotesque, the irrational), some modern interpretations use mental health conditions to demystify the story, such as hyperesthesia (sensitivity to stimuli) and hypochondria.

Theater House of Black makes an effort to support various advocacies for its  productions. "We chose mental health for this one because it's a concern that has to be addressed by everyone," David says.

Part of the proceeds will go to the Philippine Mental Health Association of the Philippines.

The play is directed by Jay Crisostomo, whose recent credits include Ikarus Theater's "Habulan sa Pagitan ng Maliliit na Kamay ni Kamatayan" (his Palanca award-winning play) and "End Of The Gallows."

Alex Conbalay, set designer; Bambi Bucao, lighting designer; Vince Lim, scorer; The Closet, costume design.

"14 Leandro Road" Oct. 7-8 at Power Mac Center Spotlight, Circuit Makati. Tickets: 0917-656-1109, Ticketworld.com.ph. Visit Fb.com/TheaterDuNoir.

Inquirer.net link:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/239215/theater-house-of-blacks-adaptation-incorporates-baguios-haunted-laperal-white-house

Going barefoot, developing rituals, catching Pokémon–what it takes to get Jef Flores on stage

Going barefoot, eating ramen, catching Pokémon–what it takes to get Jef Flores on that stage
By WALTER ANG
Sept. 24, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Jef Flores
Photo by JC Inocian

"I like rehearsing barefoot,” says Jef Flores. “I like feeling the floor with my toes. It helps me think and keeps me balanced.”

He’s developing the character of Jon in 9 Works Theatrical’s production of “Tick, Tick…Boom!”

Jon is a composer doubting his career choice and facing problems with his best friend (who wants Jon to switch to corporate work) and his girlfriend (who doesn’t want to be with a starving artist).

“Tick, Tick…Boom!” was written and composed by Jonathan Larson before he created the now legendary musical “Rent.” The 9 Works Theatrical production is directed by Robbie Guevara with Daniel Bartolome as musical director.

The cast includes Ariel Reonal and Tanya Manalang—fresh from her stint as the lead in Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (Peta) “Rak of Aegis” and, before that, as the alternate Kim in the London revival of “Miss Saigon.”

Flores didn’t need to look too far to craft Jon’s insecurities. “He’s frustrated, lost and about to give up on art. [Earlier in my life] I gave up on theater. I thought that I’d never make it.”

Amazing

Ariel Reonal, Jef Flores and Tanya Manalang
Photo by JC Inocian

Flores—born in Maryland, United States, to Filipino parents—was a 10-year-old kid who only wanted to play with his Gameboy when his family visited New York.

“My mom took us to a Broadway musical, ‘The Music Man.’ The show was amazing. That was it, I was hooked. In high school, I joined all the musicals and the marching band as well. That’s where my theater career started.”

Later on, a dearth of opportunities made him decide to quit the profession. That is, until he visited family in Manila. He found out Repertory Philippines was holding auditions for “Disney’s Camp Rock.”

“I made the ugliest, most embarrassing resumé in existence and auditioned,” he recalls. He passed the auditions and made it to the cast.

That was five years ago. He has gone on to act for, among others, Resorts World Manila’s Full House (“Cinderella,” “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”), Dalanghita Productions (“Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady”), Peta (“3 Stars and A Sun”), Actor’s Actors Inc. (“The Normal Heart”) and Red Turnip Theater (“This Is Our Youth”).

Pre-show rituals
To prepare for shows, Flores takes his script everywhere: “And I read it anywhere. My friends get annoyed with me sometimes, but I don’t like forgetting my lines, so I study as much as I can.”

Hard work pays off. He received the Philstage Gawad Buhay Best Actor nod for his work last year on “This Is Our Youth.”

He also uses exercise to prime his body and mind. He boxes when there are no rehearsals. He plays arcade basketball as a pre-show warm-up.

“I’ll have coffee and shoot basketball at TimeZone. This gets me really focused. Nice deep breaths, don’t panic, just shoot the ball, grab the next ball. It’s just like theater when you think about it,” he says.

Once a show starts its run, Flores will develop rituals. “If I happen to eat ramen on opening night and the show was good, then I’d eat ramen before every show.”

He adds: “My co-actor in ‘This Is Our Youth,’ Nicco Manalo, believes the same thing. On show days, we’d have sushi at the same restaurant, same table, same chairs.”

Also, “I really like to take naps. I can fall asleep anywhere.”

Except when there are Pokémon around: “I have a Poliwhirl with combat power level 720 that I really want to evolve, but I don’t have enough candy yet. So I get really excited when there are Poliwags around [so I can get more candy].”

Daniel Bartolome, musical director; Arnold Trinidad, choreographer; Mio Infante, set designer; Mickey Hirai, costume designer; Martin Esteva, lighting designer; Myrene Santos, hair and makeup designer.

“Tick, Tick…Boom!” Oct. 1-23, Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. Tickets: 09175545560, 5867105, Ticketworld.com.ph. Visit Fb.com/9WorksTheatrical. 

Inquirer.net link:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/238567/going-barefoot-eating-ramen-catching-pokemon-what-it-takes-to-get-jef-flores-on-that-stage