I learned that PETA would be conducting workshops late this year when I watched BONA at the PETA Theater a few months ago. I initially wanted to join with my friends but due to conflict of schedules, I opted not to anymore. Four of my friends pushed through with it though and I had the opportunity to watch their culminating event last Sunday!
PETA offered Basic Acting, Theater Arts, and Creative Musical Theater classes. Two of my friends joined BA and another two (plus one teacher) joined CMT. The showcase included all these 3 in one show so even though I did not have anyone to root for in TA, I was able to watch it.
I really, really (like seriously) wanted to watch ever since I knew that my friends joined so I was persistent on asking them for tickets! Each student only had 2 tickets for guests per show and they had 2 shows. Simple math, each student had 4 tickets and no other tickets were sold. I was a little heartbroken because I knew then that they would choose their family members to watch them. I was a little too happy though when I learned that one friend didn't have anyone to watch her. (Okay, maybe I shouldn't be happy for that reason.) I grabbed the opportunity and asked a common friend to watch with me.
The event happened on the last day of the long weekend. Good thing I had a recital that Saturday so my family did not plan any trips for that weekend and I was able to watch! My house is a stone's throw away from Dangwa and I got 5 tulips before coming to the theater. My original plan of chocolate bouquets did not push through because I was pressed for time. Anyway, the show started a few minutes after I came.
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| I wish I was able to see the whole ticket. I never knew what was supposed to be turned off. Haha! |
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| With Eric and Partner at the theater lobby |
The director of the Workshop Weekends announced that some parts of the showcase of Basic Acting would be held outside the theater, around the lobby and halls. BA students started popping out of nowhere delivering a line or delivering their monologues right after his announcement. Their pieces were excerpts from different Filipino plays which they managed to put together in a cohesive finale. Most of the students projected their voice well and clear. They really memorized and practiced their pieces as evidenced by the continuous monologues and dialogues. I hardly noticed anyone falter!
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| One of the students portraying someone who cheats in a Math exam. She had notes written even on her bandages! This was at the lobby. |
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| My friend who portrayed a seller of Good Food, Good Heart. This was taken at the dining hall. |
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| Seller's lament. Good job, Marjorie! |
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| Some of the BA students waiting/watching their classmates. |
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| Jean (foreground) and Marj (background) |
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| Dialogue between a caring mom and her lesbian daughter who wants to be pregnant. |
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| Can you imagine the tension? Believable acting, Jean! |
After a few pieces at the lobby and at the hall, the audience was directed to one of the theaters for the remaining pieces and shows. The pieces they performed varied immensely because of their different themes and conflicts. Some of those that I remember were about failed suicide (I can still hear the loud "dugo" in my head.), love meanings, laments of a seller, mom's concerns, rape, financial problems due to crazy adoration, love found, and love lost. Significant lines from each piece were repeated at the finale to bring the pieces together and give out a parting lesson for the audience.
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| After they delivered a line from their piece to be woven together for the finale. Ganda! |
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| After their performance with the director hosting |
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| Distribution of certificates |
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| Group shot! BA 2012. |
The showcase of Theater Arts class followed BA's. I am not sure but I think they made their own script and music. I did not take any pictures so I will try to make it up with words.
From what I grasped, the story revolved around the questions that people have of the people around them. Since the characters came from different walks of life, it was but natural that they have different questions and stories. All these characters happen to wait for their ride at the waiting shed where the
takatak lady and beggar were. One story included the breakup of long distance lovers. "Why did they break up?" The heartbreak caused the girl to have brain cancer and caused the girl to want to die. It got bizarre when the doctor let the girl die minutes after her announcement of the girl's remaining months on earth. It turned out that the doctor was actually the boy's new found love. It sounds all heavy but it was actually comedic! And yes, they got together after the death. Another story involved an
ulirang ina. Though she seemed very doting to her daughters, she had a dark secret. "Who killed their father?" This mother did but she did it for the sake of her family. The other story involved kidnapping of the owner of a taxi company by a former employee. "Why?" One of the policemen who responded turned out to be a lover of the kidnapper. He did the act to get 5M pesos for their gay marriage in New Zealand. The told stories were only some of the stories that the
takatak lady and beggar knew about. Though the passengers seem like they were not bearing anything, each of them had their own stories and questions beneath. You can tell from the flow that not only the passengers but everyone has their own questions only if we try to look deeper.
Instead of the finale bringing the pieces together like in BA, TA's show was brought together by a
takatak lady and a beggar who somehow narrated the show. Some songs and dances were included in the show. For their songs, they changed the lyrics of some of the popular folk songs to wittingly fit whichever scene they were doing. However, the first and last songs, I think, were originals. I have to say that the stage presence of some of the students outshone some of the others. Overall, though, the show was good and really fun to watch!
The last showcase was for CMT. I was super excited because I have friends in the show! Anyway, since it's musical theatre, it included acting, singing, and dancing. The story was adapted from "Ang Sistema ni Propesor Tuko". Their script and their songs were all original though! It's just amazing how they were able to put the show up in a span of weeks.
Their show was called Section X (the only title I remember of all the 3 shows). The story was about a bunch of high school students who were going through the ups and downs (but mostly downs) of their lives. Exams, bullies, prom, and graduation were all in store for them. Though their lives were already hard, it only got worse since they have the strict Madame X as their adviser.
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| Singing a very catchy song about their hard lives. Ay, juskupo! |
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| I loved the bright colors! The umbrellas here foretell the climax of the story. |
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| My friend, Jackie! |
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| Another, Eds! |
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| You can see here how students feel around Madame X! |
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| My teacher in the only printed outfit. I'm a proud student. |
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| Madame X upon noticing how rowdy Section X was |
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| Little romance between the nerd and the good guy |
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| The terror of Madame X! |
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| Squat! I love the levels! |
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| I forgot what was being sung here. I think it was a little description and background about Madame X. Oh, and the tocinos! |
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| Planning about their future... career. |
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| The "athletic" group! |
This was the song where every character shared their aspirations and worries about the future. Some knew exactly what they wanted. Some had to choose another path they dislike. Some had no idea at all. I don't really remember all the lyrics of the song but I remember being touched by this scene. It hits home.
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| About to announce the candidates for graduation! |
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| I loved the determination of everyone here! |
After their exams, Madame X announced the list of graduating students. Everyone would graduate, except the smartest who was accused of cheating. The whole class got up to their stools (Gaah, levels!) and stood up (quite literally) against Madame X. This was really good because they reasoned out in the way Madame X taught them. Damayan. All for one. Madame X was caught in the middle so she said that those who wouldn't graduate couldn't attend the prom as well. Talk about double whammy! Due to this, a lot of students thought about not going to the prom anymore.
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| Mildred and Madame X |
The section's nerd and Madame X bumped into each other on their way home. This was the turning point of the story. We saw here Madame X's vulnerable side. Her accented "r"s were gone and her tone was different. She had a lot of disconnections. She had a lot to pay. When she asked Mildred if she was going to the prom, a some sort of deeper understanding of her character surfaced. Mildred did not want to go because she had no dress and money. Madame X did not go to her prom (hence it was easy for her to not allow her students) but she lent her prom dress to her. (Imagine how old that was?!)
Prom day came and a lot still attended, even Mildred... and the typhoon. Remember the umbrellas? I don't know for the life of me why only Section X didn't get the memo that a typhoon that strong would hit their area. No one else attended the prom and no one else came. Flood started rising and they were all stuck.
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| Madame X to the rescue with her super funny water floaties! Benta! |
I don't really know why I did not get this part as clear as the others. Either the sound effects or mumblings were too loud or I was too busy laughing at the water floaties! Madame X still came to (and I guess dressed for) the prom despite the weather and she rescued her students. As to how? I have yet to ask. Sorry.
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| After freeing themselves from the flood |
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| Now the "beloved" Madame X. |
Madame X was swallowed by the flood (or was it tsunami?!) after she rescued her students. She came out with neck brace and crutches! And of course, this savior act got the heart of her students.
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| Reprise! |
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| CMT 2012 |
My friends kept on warning me that the show might not be as good because they crammed it. They only learned and finished the finale on the day of the TDR. For a show with concerns like those, they pulled it off amazingly. The songs by Jeff Hernandez were beautiful and catchy. The lyrics were perfect fit as well! Phil Noble's direction stood out. Only CMT had levels (here I go again with this) and you can really see the effective use of space. The cast was amazing too! They had high levels of energy and were in character the whole time. A lot of them have powerful voices considering that they have minimal amplification. Props to Ms. Marianne for bringing the show with the wonderful Madame X. Though the songs were out of her comfort zone, she did well nonetheless! I loved the accent and the acting too! Super funny! Galing!
Congratulations to all PETA graduates! You did not cross an easy path but you came out like what you did was something you normally do. Keep performing!
