‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ acting coach Ian Segarra directs PETA’s comeback musical ‘Walang Aray’

After serving as acting coach for GMA Network’s top-rating primetime series “Maria Clara at Ibarra,” Ian Segarra is back to his original home, the Philippine Educational Theater Association.

He goes full-time as director for "Walang Aray," a musical farce adapted from Severino Reyes’ classic zarzuela "Walang Sugat."

"Walang Aray" is PETA’s comeback production after three years of being waylaid by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Segarra told GMA News Online how much he’s going to miss the “Maria Clara at Ibarra” set in which he has been a regular fixture since taping started in August, 2022.

“Yes, (I’m going to miss them), especially ang kakulitan at tawanan with (Padre) Salvi and Renato, at yung mga ‘good morning’ greeting ni Barbie (Forteza) ng naka-smile na nakakabigay liwanag sa araw mo,” Segarra said.

Padre Salvi is played by Juancho Triviño while his aide Renato is played by Kiel Rodriguez.

Forteza plays student nurse Maria Clara “Klay” Infantes who is transported back to the 19th century setting to witness first-hand the ill-fated love story of Crisostomo Ibarra, who would later surface in book two as Simoun (both played by Dennis Trillo) and Maria Clara (Jullie Anne San Jose).

As acting coach for “MCI,” Segarra was  regularly assigned to David Licauco (Fidel),  Triviño  (Padre Salvi), and all children actors and other characters.

While his responsibility is “to make sure they act according to the period,” Segerra said, “from time to time, the three main actors [Dennis, Barbie, and Julie Anne] would ask me about their scenes or characters and I was more than willing to help them out.” 

“The three are very professional, they come on the set prepared. They know their lines, where their characters are coming from prior to the scene, and are very collaborative. They understand their characters perfectly and know how to translate their understanding on the screen,” Segarra added.

'Walang Aray' director and 'Maria Clara at Ibarra' acting coach Ian Segarra. Photo courtesy of PETA

Coincidentally, there’s a lot of similarity between “Maria Clara at Ibarra” and “Walang Aray.”

Staged in 1989, “Walang Sugat,” was written by Reyes, who is popularly known as Lola Basyang.

Considered his master work, "Walang Sugat" is about ill-fated young lovers Tenyong and Julia, whose story is much like that of Maria Clara and Ibarra.

“Walang Sugat” happens in the final leg of the Philippine Revolution, when Tenyong is forced to leave behind his childhood sweetheart Julia to join the Katipunan.

In his absence, Julia's mother pressures her into marrying Miguel, her wealthy spoiled brat suitor. With no word from Tenyong, Julia agrees. But her wedding is interrupted by a fatally wounded Tenyong, who returns with a dying wish.

In his writer’s note, Rody Vera said it best: “‘Walang Aray’ pokes fun at the usual villains in our history, but also it is just as irreverent at those we have traditionally held high in our regard: the demure Filipina, now a feisty, daring, passionate woman who knows exactly what she wants and will do anything to achieve it. At times, these characters pepper their lines of dialogue with much reflexivity, making quiet comments about their own decisions in their lives.”

Vera added, “Everything is placed under farcical scrutiny: the hypocritical morality of religious institutions, the seeming steadfast commitment by sworn lovers but doubtful in times of desperation, even the grandiose ambitions of the zarzuela form are all probed with a winking eye.”

The project of staging “Walang Aray” has been in the woodwork even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The earlier versions of the script were written for a film because that was the original intention of Vera. 

“The film project fell through and was shelved for almost a decade. I decided to have it read by PETA Artistic Director Maribel Legarda, hoping it could be adapted into a stage play instead. She was interested but wanted original songs written in place of the OPM covers. Initially I was a bit reluctant because some of the scenes in the screenplay were written with the chosen OPM song in mind,” Vera added.

In 2018, PETA tried “Walang Aray” in its annual laboratory productions and gave Segarra the directorial job.

“PETA Lab was training ground for us new directors, also for the PETA people. We have 90 regular members. For them to experience a production, the PETA Lab is the opportunity for everyone. So we thought, ‘try lang natin ang ‘Walang Aray’. I-lab natin…do the whole prod and based on the outcome, reactions, we will decide,” Segarra told GMA Interactive News.

“Kelangan pwedeng maging season play. Ni-rush namin, film script pa lang.  The 2018 version was totally different because we were just working on the film script. Merong kanta — Eheads pa yung kanta. Andun rin ‘yung ‘Tipo Kong Lalake’ ni DJ Alvaro, marami pang iba,” said Segarra.

There were also songs or excerpts from songs by APO Hiking Society, Rico J. Puno, Yeng Constantino and a lot more but upon realizing the complications of copyrights, not to mention its costs, "na-shelve yung original concept to use pop songs,” said Segarra.

In 2019, they staged it again for two nights at PETA’s laboratory but this time using PETA member Vince Lim’s original compositions to replace the pop standards.

Vera recalled, “Vince Lim churned out some spectacular music, tongue-in-cheek at times, or over the top but never getting off that constant wink at the audience. Because ‘Walang Aray’ is a spoof and a tribute of so many layers: the story, the so-called ‘outdated’ musical form of the sarsuwela, the historical narrative, the stock characters predating the current ‘teleserye’ stereotypes, and even the context of Philippine theater, as is, resonates to the present time.”

“Walang Aray” is Segarra’s second major production for PETA. In 2013, he directed Vera’s play, “FNL,” an adaptation of Francisco Balagtas’s “Florante at Laura” with a twist. 

Over the years, he has been directing in PETA’s Lab shows, teaching in workshops in and outside PETA Theater. He’s been going back and forth to Japan as part of PETA’s international linkages and co-productions. 

Outside PETA, Segarra has directed four acclaimed one-act plays in the annual festival of new works, the Virgin Labfest at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

“Walang Aray” was supposed to be part of the 2020 line-up of plays for PETA but the pandemic happened.

And now that it's become PETA's comeback play, Segarra admits feeling the pressure.

“Nakakanerbyos (I feel nervous),” he told GMA Integrated News, followed by laughter.

“But more than that, it’s really exciting. I guess it helps that the material is a comedy so we’re just really having fun during rehearsals. Wala yatang rehearsals na hindi kami tumatawa,” he added.

Playing the lead characters Tenyong and Julia are PETA triple threats (or those who can sing, dance and act) Gio Gahol and Marynor Madamesila, with young actors KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad as alternates. Gahol also functions as choreographer. 

The cast also features PETA artists Jarred Jaicten as the spoiled brat suitor Miguel, John Moran as the horny Padre Alfaro, Kiki Baento as Monica, Carlon Matobato (Lucas), Gie Onida (Don Tadeo), Norbs Portales (alternate Don Tadeo) and Neomi Gonzales (Juana). The ensemble cast members are Tom Bienvenida, Donn Boco, Gerard Dy, Yeyin Dela Cruz, Ada Tayao, and Ayla Garcia, with Gardo Exconde and Csai Habla as the swings.

Besides being the composer, Lim is also musical director and sound designer. He also added some lyrics to Vera’s text. There’s also Happy Constantino as 2nd sound designer, Julio Garcia as production designer and Ayla Garcia as voice coach. They are joined by guest artists David Esguerra as lighting designer and JayLo Cunanan as costume designer.

"Walang Aray" opens on February 17 and will run all weekends until May 14.

Vera said, “The pandemic was a long, terrible nightmare and now, we’re back on track ready to fulfill what we all planned. ‘Walang Aray’ celebrates the joys and victories of Filipinos, while remembering our colorful history in the theater, and against our oppressors.”

And with that, Segarra has made theater history. — LA, GMA Integrated News