Shamaine Buencamino finds ‘grittiest role’ in Tanghalang Pilipino’s ‘Juego de Peligro’

Before Shamaine Centenera Buencamino, there were Glenn Close, Jeanne Moreau, and Annette Bening on the silver screen and Laura Linney on stage interpreting the coveted role of Marquise de Merteuil in 18th century author Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ “Les Liaisons Dangereuses.”

“Les Liaisons Dangereuses” is an epistolary novel about love, lust, lies, power play, treachery, and jealousies in the French royal court.

The 1988 Hollywood version directed by Stephen Frears, “Dangerous Liaisons,” had a formidable cast: it had Close, John Malkovich as Vicomte Sébastien de Valmont, Michelle Pfeiffer as Madame de Tourvel, Swoosie Kurtz as Madame de Volanges, Keanu Reeves as Le Chevalier Raphael Danceny and Uma Thurman as Cécile de Volanges.

In the story's 2015 Philippine reincarnation, “Juego de Peligro,” Marquise de Merteuil is named Señora Margarita, and will be played by Buencamino from Feb. 20 in Tanghalang Pilipino’s production of award-winning playwright Elmer Gatchalian's adaptation.

Gatchalian and “Juego” director Tuxqs Rutaquio set the story in Intramuros, a few years before the Katipuneros tore up their cedulas as an act of revolt against the Spaniards.

“Juego de Peligro” unfolds through a series of letters crafted by peninsulares and insulares as they play mind games and engage in carnal activities to win favors and secure power during the waning years of Spanish rule. It focuses on two characters, Señora Margarita and Señor Vicente (the Valmont character, played here by Arnold Reyes).

Rounding out the cast are LJ Reyes as Señora Teresa (Madame de Tourvel in the novel), Adrienne Vergara as Cecilia, Vin Abrenica and Lharby Policarpio alternating as Daniel (Raphael Danceny), Sasa Cabalquino, Jonathan Tadioan, Racquel Pareño, Lhorvie Nuevo, Aldo Vencilao, and Sherry Lara.

In an interview, Buencamino said Señora Margarita is her “grittiest role” so far among the lead characters she has portrayed. “Señora Margarita has the biggest balls among all of them,” she said, breaking out into roaring laughter.

Featured in various primetime “telenovelas,” the award-winning Buencamino had essayed titular characters in productions of Bertolt Brecht’s “Mother Courage” and Floy Quintos’ “Atang,” and played Masha in “Three Sisters,” Roxanne in “Cyrano de Bergerac,” Andromache in “The Trojan Women,” Jocasta in “Oedipus Rex” and Elizabeth Proctor in “The Crucible.”

She starred in the indie movie “Lorna,” shown last November, and appeared in Jun Lana’s critically acclaimed film “Barber’s Tales.” She was recognized as Best Supporting Actress at the Asian Film Awards in 2012 for her portrayal of a closeted lesbian in the film “Niño.”

“I do not want to just call her [Señora Margarita] a manipulator. She is more than that. She has higher motivations. She is fulfilling something that is burning inside her,” said Buencamino.

“It just happened that she was living at the wrong time. Maybe if she were living at this present era, she would be appreciated by a lot of people. She may be leading an organization, pushing things. She wants to do roles and not just be subservient to men, as expected of the women of her time.”

Buencamino added, “Señora Margarita is strong. But probably she was also so bored. Then she started playing with her power. In this sense, this is the difference of the role of Señora Margarita with my other roles. I think this particular role has the biggest balls among all of them.”

Señora Margarita is a mystery to the actress. Even as the play's opening performance draws near, she said, she constantly asks herself what animates and motivates the steel-willed woman.

“What is it in life, if not love? In Señora Margarita’s case, her marriage has ended, but she is eager to live life by having relationships with so many men. Her passion for life is not limited to monogamous relationships,” said Buencamino.

“More than love, even if she starts an affair with someone just as a game of love, she eventually transcends this, and it becomes a game of life and death. It is more of the conquests, more of the idea of winning that lures her, that makes her feel alive more than love.”

Gatchalian said his script is “faithful” to the novel.

“I retained many of the famous scenes expected by the audience. My script is similar to the script of the 1988 film, which was also faithful to the novel. There are no major changes, except for transporting the setting to 19th century Philippines, and instead of a power play in the French royal court, we now have it between the peninsulares and insulares,” he said.

“We chose 1890s Intramuros, toward the end of Spanish regime, with Señora Margarita and Señor Vicente representing the loosening grip on the reins of power by the Spanish authorities and their desperate but vain bid to try to hold on,” he added.

Rutaquio said Gatchalian submitted the script to TP artistic director Fernando Josef two years ago. “Some things intervened so it was put on the back burner,” he said.

“We really love 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' because it is a lavish period piece. The idea of making it modern may not work. Remember, the original setting was 1782. The French Revolution was from 1789 to 1799. Thus, it was decided that the setting will be the 1890s Intramuros,” he added. — BM, GMA News

Tanghalang Pilipino's 28th season closes with “Juego de Peligro,” with shows on Feb. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and March 1, 6, 7, 8, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the CCP Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

For inquiries, call 832-1125 local 1621. Tickets are also available at Ticketworld.