Michael: Theater feeds my soul

What do serious actors do when their movie or TV roles lose their flavor and the characters they play turn bland and unexciting? For Michael de Mesa, the answer is simple: go to theater.

"Theater feeds my soul. That’s why I welcome it with open arms when I get tired of acting in other forms of media," says the 45-year-old Michael.

For him, even a simple rehearsal deserves performance-level acting that varies from day to day. No two performances are alike in a Michael de Mesa play, whether they run for a short or a prolonged season. You end up craning your neck and opening your eyes wide for anything new he will inject in his character.

"I don’t want to repeat what I did the night before," he explains.

Wonder no more why he agreed to play the title role in An Enemy of the People at SM Megamall Cinema 9 on Feb. 24 to 26 and March 3 to 5.

Michael gets to play an idealistic doctor who discovers that the water supply for the town’s public baths is contaminated. Alarmed that the water might be causing an illness among tourists and locals in his town, the doctor tries to clean up the mess. But he finds out that the local government, the businessmen, the supposedly independent media, and even the people prefer the status quo.

Shades of politics? You bet. And proud director Bart Guingona couldn’t be more pleased.

"I hope the dramatic play will be controversial. We are trying to be provocative. It asks, "If truth is inconvenient to defend, will we disregard it because it’s inconvenient?" he says.

Michael is glad the pace allows him to do what he loves best without overtaxing himself. After all, living with Hepatitis-C for seven years is no joke. He must guard his health by not staying up late, keeping away from cigarettes, taking medications and eating the right kinds of food.

Being in good terms with others, like ex-wife Gina Alajar also helps a lot. And while he’s at it, Michael might as well do himself a favor by accepting things as they are instead of moaning his fate.

This, he is doing. And more. He has put up a business called Canine Couture which sells clothes for dogs and pet accessories. The booming venture keeps him busy and takes his mind off his illness.

But knowing Michael, it’s only second fiddle to his all-consuming love: acting. In fact, if there’s any legacy Michael would like to leave someday, it would be that he is an actor serious with his craft (aside from being a loving father to Ryan, Geoff and AJ, that is).

"I’ll be acting for as long as I live," he says with the conviction of a true torch bearer of his craft.

Too bad, films in the tradition of Unfaithful Wife and Paradise Inn – Michael’s favorite starrers – are no longer around.

If there’s one bright spot in the horizon, though, it’s that now, Michael has more reason to turn to the stage to satisfy the actor in him. That deserves a round of applause.