Back-to-back plays ‘Tao Po’ and 'Indigo Child' at CCP's 'Pista ni Rizalina'

Who goes there?

A random knock, however gentle, has always been employed by masters of horror to send chills down our spine. These days, the act has taken on a different meaning.

The police operation has been renamed "Oplan Double Barrel", but "Tokhang" (a portmanteau of the Cebuano words "katok" meaning knock, and "hangyo" meaning request) has crept into the national vocabulary. It is this new term that fuels the monologues in "Tao Po."

Maynard Manansala, who gained fame in his active participation in different editions of the Virgin Labfest, collaborated with performance artist Mae Paner (best known for her "Juana Change" stint) to write a diverse set of characters.

The pair took "immersion trips" and consulted with different families and individuals to flesh out the different perspectives.

Paner will be taking on four roles:

• A zumba instructor haunted by her summarily executed husband and son;
• A photographer whose sanity is questioned by the newspaper that employs him;
• The apparent double life of a policeman, sworn to uphold the law, and a hitman, paid to violate it; and
• A young girl paying tribute to EJK victims haphazardly buried in the notorious Tokhang Wall.

Acclaimed playwright Rody Vera serves as dramaturg while Ed Lacson serves as director for "Tao Po."

During the playdates at CCP's Pista ng Rizalina, "Tao Po" will be staged back-to-back with Vera's "Indigo Child", a Palanca Award-winning piece on the nightmares of martial law written by Rody Vera. 

"Indigo Child" is a story about Felisa, a rebel caught, raped, tortured, and committed to a halfway house, who is being taken care of by her son, 20-year-old Jerome.  — AT/LA, GMA News

You can catch both plays for the price of one on September 8 and 16 (8pm) and September 9 and 17 (3pm) at Tanghalang Huseng Batute as part of the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Pista Rizalina: Festival of Arts and Ideas.