Fretzie Bercede is Juliet

CEBU, Philippines - Every Sunday since July up until January of next year, former Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) teen housemate Fretzie Bercede acts in the stage play Romeo and Juliet, where she’s cast as one half of literature’s most famous of star-crossed lovers.

On other days, the production performs in other cities as part of a nationwide provincial tour. That sums up to at least 50 performances in six months. But the pretty Mandauehanon is not complaining, nor is she ever going to feel tired repeating the same scenes and lines week after week.

“Because I simply love what I’m doing. I’m thankful that even with a lot of young talents around, I was the one chosen to play Juliet,” said 17-year-old Fretzie, who was proud to add that even when this was her first stab at theater acting, she had not once flubbed any of her long lines.

Portraying Fretzie’s Romeo is none other than her love team partner and fellow PBB Teen Clash of 2010 alumni Bret Jackson.Twenty-year-old Bret, who finished sixth place in the competition, is now a recording artist under Star Records.

Three months before the play began its run, Fretzie and Bret were made to undergo intensive acting workshops that honed them into their characters as passionate lovers whose story ends in tragedy because of their feuding clans. It has been no walk in the park for the two, as the script is complicated and in the ancient Elizabethan English. Yet the fresh-faced duo geared up for the challenge, spending long hours of training with other cast members who boast wider stage experience than they do.

All their work must have paid off as Fretzie shared they induced some spectators to tears at some of their scenes.

“Before the start of every play, I have to put myself in Juliet’s shoes and forget that I’m Fretzie. I have one solo scene which requires me to cry and be really emotional. Fortunately for me, I am able to cry easily. There were times when some people in the audience cried during our death scene, and that makes me feel happy since it means they were touched by my acting,” said the PBB Teen third placer who was dubbed ‘Charming Angel of Cebu.’ Prior to her stint inside the house, she was a fourth year high school senior at the Colegio dela Inmaculada Concepcion who had dabbled in modeling and performing as part of ABS-CBN Cebu’s own Star Magic.

The director is an acclaimed name in Philippine theater, UP Theater Arts graduate Mel Magno. He has staged over 70 productions in his 27 years in theater, most notable of which are Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and The Sea, Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Nick Joaquin’s Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, John Pielmeier’s Agnes of God, Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and his very own Heiow, Kadet and Daplis.

The play has been regularly enjoying a full house of student audiences every Sunday at SM Sta. Mesa in Manila. They also just had successful shows in Davao, Tarlac, Pampanga and Baguio. On September 24, Fretzie’s Cebuano followers will finally get the chance to see it for themselves as Romeo and Juliet will be staged twice here at 11 am and 6 pm at the Mandaue Sports and Cultural Complex.

Fretzie’s family was all out in their support as seen in the press conference held at Parkmall attended by her parents Dr. Dante Bercede and Kimberly Marie (once crowned Miss Cebu and Miss Mandaue), elder brother Dan Junior, uncle Mandaue City Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and cousin Banilad Barangay Captain Dianne Bercede-Abanes.

Romeo and Juliet tickets are sold at P200. For inquiries, call 511-9044 or 346-8695.