Tanghalang Pilipino stages Tinio version of ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’

The Cultural Center of the Philippines' resident theater company Tanghalang Pilipino will be staging "Midsummer Night's Dream", Shakespeare's popular comedy about hijinks among humans and fairies—in Filipino.

The production, directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna, uses Rolando Tinio's translation. You can catch it on its three-weekend run at the CCP beginning September 30.

Audie Gemora leads the cast, composed of Liesl Batucan, Teroy Guzman, Skyzx Labastilla, Richard Cunanan, Kristofer Kliatchko, Rafa Siguion-Reyna and Jackie Lou Blanco, with the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors’ Company.

While the play has a lot of funny and light moments as well as a happy ending, Siguion-Reyna says he does not see "Pangarap" as a whimsical story. "There are lots of dark elements in this play. We went for thematic manifestations and the suggestion of fascism and passion instead of constricting the play to a certain period," he said.

"In fact, I even thought about setting it in a mental hospital, a 19th century Spanish precolonial period, traditional Philippine mythology, or a totalitarian state—but that [would have been] reducing the play."

The production, then, is sticking to the play's original setting of the woods, with its "sense of wonder and magic."

“This allows the audience to analyze the play, which is abstract enough and open to interpretation. They can read the circumstance that’s relevant to themselves, politically or from another point of history,” said Siguion-Reyna.“It’s very liberating.”

Rody Vera serves as the production's draumaturg, while Toym Imao is the set designer.

"Pangarap sa Isang Gabi ng Gitnang Tag-Araw" will be performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on the following dates and times:

• September 30 (Friday) at 8 p.m.
• October 1 (Saturday) at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• October 2 (Sunday) at 3 p.m.
• October 7 (Friday) at 8 p.m.
• October 8 (Saturday) at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• October 9 (Sunday) at 3 p.m.
• October 14 (Friday) at 8 p.m.
• October 15 (Saturday) at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• October 16 (Sunday) at 3 p.m.

For more information, call Tanghalang Pilipino Foundation, Inc. at 832-1125 locals 1620 and 1621 or (direct line) 822 6920. — BM, GMA News