Eula stars in Tennesse Williams play

MANILA, Philippines - Eula Valdes, star of Tanghalang Pilipino’s hit musical, Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, will face the limelight once again as Blanche Dubois in Flores Para Los Muertos, Orlando Nadres’ Filipino translation of Tennesse Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, A Streetcar Named Desire. Playing the same role in the original English version is Ana Abad Santos, a stage and film actress who has essayed several major roles in various Rep productions.

Asked about how she feels about playing Blanche Dubois and being compared to Laurice Guillen, who played the role in its original Filipino staging, Eula said, “I’m excited and challenged. I feel a bit pressured though, but I only hope to give a new dimension to Blanche.”

Flores Para Los Muertos / A Streetcar Named Desire will be brought to life on stage as Tanghalang Pilipino’s third offering in its 23rd Theater Season that celebrates women of substance. The play, which is in English and in Filipino, runs weekends until Oct. 25 at the CCP Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

A Streetcar Named Desire / Flores Para Los Muertos paints the staunch character of Blanche Dubois, whose complicated psychological makeup as she confronts reality is a sure challenge to any substantial woman actor. Perhaps Williams’ greatest masterpiece, the play’s recurring theme is the constant and often dangerous conflict between reality and fantasy, actual and ideal.

Floy Quintos directs the cast which includes Neil Ryan Sese as Stanley Kowalski in the Filipino version and Reuben Uy in the English. Kowalski is the role made famous by Marlon Brando in its original staging and film adaptation. Stella Kowalski will be performed by Mailes Kanapi in English, and Meryll Soriano in Filipino. Also in the cast are Paolo O’Hara, Jonathan Tadioan, Marjorie Lorico, Paolo Cabañero, Jerald Napoles, and Tara Cabaero.

A Streetcar Named Desire / Flores Para Los Muertos will be performed in English up to Oct. 11 and in Filipino from Oct. 16 to 25; Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays, 3 p.m. Special shows are available upon reservation.

For details, call Tanghalang Pilipino at 832-3661, Ticketworld at 891-9999 or the CCP Box Office at 832-3704.