Two acclaimed ‘children’s plays for adults’ return to spotlight

Two acclaimed plays will be returning to the spotlight for back-to-back showings this month. Bit by Bit Company will showcase "Si Maria Isabella at ang Guryon ng mga Tala" and "Games People Play," both directed by Ed Lacson Jr., in "Children's Plays for Adults."

In an interview with GMA News Online, Lacson said that getting both plays he directed picked by producers for a rerun is a double-edged sword—they're familiar territory, but they already come with expectations from the audience.

"Modesty aside, may buzz around the plays before. They had a good reputation in their previous runs. That's an added pressure as well," he said.

To bring something fresh to the previous viewers and also appeal to new audiences, Lacson said they had to "go back to what the plays are all about."

"I think it is more dangerous to just copy it. But if you try to find something new with the play, then I think actually mag-e-enjoy feeling ko iyong mga nakanood na before," he added.

Si Maria Isabella at ang Guryon ng mga Tala

"Si Maria Isabella at ang Guryon ng mga Tala" tells the story of young and idealistic Maria, who falls in love with Lorenzo, a boy who always keeps his eyes closed except when he's looking at the stars. The script, written by Eljay Castro Deldoc, is based on the book "A Kite of the  Stars" by Dean Francis Alfar. It was previously performed at this year's Virgin Labfest, where GMA News Online reviewer Ibarra C. Mateo called it the "crown jewel" of the festival.

For this run, the cast includes Krystelle Valentino, Rafael Tibayan, Ian Santos, and Jay-R Sanchez.

Deldoc could not help but gush over Alfar's story. He said he knew he did things right when he saw the original writer cried while watching the play during the Virgin Labfest.

"Noong binasa ko na siya, sa sobrang ganda sa pagkasulat niya, na-imagine ko na siya on stage kaya ako na-inspire," he said.

Deldoc also said that the challenge was condensing the story's 60-year timeline into a 60-minute play. But that's one of things that the audience should look forward to when watching it.

"‘Maria’ is very physical. It's a lot of movement, a lot of action happening on stage... For us to find focus on everything that's happening on stage, that's the challenge. We have to be precise, to be on point. The timing has to impeccable. And it has to believable," Lacson explained.

Some of the people behind the two plays, including cast members. Photo: Trisha Macas

Games People Play

"Games People Play" is a Carlos Palanca Award-winning play that features three people trying to get to know themselves more by revisiting childhood games they played. Each game represents a rite of passage and a significant moment. Written by Glenn Sevilla Mas, it was one of the favorite plays during Ateneo de Manila's Blackbox Theater in 2014. Lacson said it had a cult following, watching the play two to three times a week during its run.

"I've always been interested in coming-of-age stories, rite of passage stories. I've written several plays about it," said Mas.

In fact, Mas was also the playwright of another acclaimed coming-of-age story, "Rite of Passage: Sa Pagtubu kang Tahud (Upon the Growing of the Spur)," staged in Ateneo de Manila University in 2014.

"I'd be interested in seeing how the playwright and everybody else and the artistic staff tackle the title of the play, the ‘Games People Play’. Kasi games are supposed to be fun, supposed to be entertaining, there are things that you do while whiling away the time," Mas said.

To do so, it has taken a lot of effort from Lacson and the cast, which includes JC Santos, Abner Delina, and Thea Yrastoza.

"For ‘Games’, I only have three actors but they have around 12 to 15 characters. Sometimes in a snap, they change," the director said.

In a scene, one of the actors would have seven to 12 shifts, he said.

High hopes for Filipino theater

Bit by Bit Company put on two productions before the upcoming "Children's Plays for Adults". It was behind Dulaang UP's "Orosman at Zafra" at the SM Mall of Asia Centerstage in 2011, and "Maxie the Musical," the theater adaptation of the film "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" at PETA Center in 2013. "Children's Plays for Adults" producer Darwin Mariano said that he and fellow producer Carlo Francia have chosen "Si Maria Isabella at ang Guryon ng mga Tala" and "Games People Play" since they are "well-made local materials."

"To grow the theater audience, kailangan ma-expose sila sa Filipino theater of really, really high quality," he explained. 

Mariano hopes more Filipinos will learn to appreciate local productions, a goal echoed by Mas in a separate interview.

"Sana mapalaganap pa ang idea na oo nga naman, magagaling din gumawa ng mga orihinal na akda ang mga Pilipino and we really have good actors too," he said.

Lacson also pointed out that interest in straight plays has grown over the years.

"I think may resurgence ng straight plays. There was a time na halos walang nagsi-straight play. It was all musicals. It was great as well kasi may mga original musicals like Rak of Aegis. Again, it boosts the audience development... Now meron nang options," he said.

Deldoc, moreover, shared that theater has always been alive because of small players who follow their passion.

"Iyong mga maliliit na iyon, alam mo namang wala silang kinikita pero nagsti-stay sila. Dumadami pa. Very mataas ang hope na mago-grow siya," he said.

But Mas's words stitched all these ideas together: "These are good times to do theater. For everyone." — BM, GMA News

Children's Plays for Adults will be performed on December 12, 13, 19 and 20 at the Power Mac Spotlight at Circuit Makati. Visit BitByBitCompany's Facebook page for more information.