The Mystery of Irma Vep

MANILA, Philippines - The black box theater comedy The Mystery of Irma Vep opens the 2010 to 2011 season of the Marie Eugenie Theatre of the Assumption (METTA) on Sept. 8 and 11 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

It is written by Charles Ludlam and topbills Jon Santos and JV Katipunan.

‘A parody of the Hollywood horror genre, (it) demonstrates excellence in character transformation where two actors play 10 roles,’ explains director Ana Valdes-Lim.

One dark and stormy night, Lord Edgar Hillcrest arrives at Mandacrest, his old Victorian mansion with his new wife, Lady Enid. Strange things begin to happen as soon as she finds out secrets in the house which are known by the sinister housekeeper Jane and the one-legged groundskeeper Nicodemus. Stranger is her discovery of the mystery of Irma Vep, the first lady Hillcrest, whose portrait hangs over the fireplace.

The Mystery of Irma Vep is staged in tandem with a lecture demonstration by Ana on rehearsal techniques for directors and teachers, a Q & A forum with Jon and JV plus a backstage tour. For details, call Aiko Lipat at 894-2681, 817-0757 loc. 1162, 0915-3364050  or e-mail at [email protected].