MANILA, Philippines - “It’s a work among friends,” shares director Jose “Joey” Javier Reyes of writing Sayaw ng mga SENIORita, Gantimpala Theater’s entry to the fourth National Theater Festival. It will have its debut tomorrow, Nov. 16, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Sayaw is Joey’s first written play after the musical Katy and topbills directors Joel Lamangan, Manny Castañeda and Soxie Topacio with actors BB Gandanghari and Arnell Ignacio.
“It’s a lot of fun (watching) it for the first time,” adds Joey. “I’m laughing because (the actors) are my friends. I wrote the roles for them. Tawa ako ng tawa kay Manny because his acting (in the ‘80s and now) has never changed. Gumurang na. Ganun pa rin ang mannerisms.”
Beyond the familiar and family atmosphere off stage, Sayaw is a tribute to the late Tony Espejo, the man behind Gantimpala, who brought Filipino-themed plays to the mainstream. It is Joey’s way of saying many thanks to the founding president and former artistic director who paved the way for his career as scriptwriter and director for TV and film. “He started me off,” Joey recalls. “Siya ang unang nagtiwala sa akin na magsulat professionally.”
Then, the idea of coming up with a play about “aging, senior (gay) citizens (written) in a funny and sad way,” as Joey puts it, came to being.
So, what are the “pink” realities being explored in Sayaw?
Joey shares life becomes lonely when gays grow older. “Nawawala ka sa market. There’s a cut-off point (or age). No matter how long you wait in the bar, no one will approach you.” It is extra difficult when gays are not financially stable. That’s why, Joey says, it’s important to have a core group of friends who will support you till the end. He adds that relatives and lovers “will only love you until you can provide” for them and gays are only tolerated in the Philippines but not accepted.
“I just turned 58,” says Joey. “You confront mortality. Magkakasing edad kami nina Joel and Manny. You confront mortality. You realize there’s no other way but to accept it. (The play has) a sympathetic view of gays. You’re not desecrating gays. This is more acceptable than gay exploitative porn.”
The Sayaw ng mga SENIORita introduces to the public Terry Mangubat (Joel) as a well-off gay; Rading de Guzman (Soxie), the antique collector-dealer; Raquel (BB), the homecoming queen-socialite; Romeo Cajanding (Arnell), the bikini-open producer-talent manager; and Dr. Gerry Almario (Manny), the doctor to the stars. The story revolves around their aspirations and frustrations in life. The kabogera play will also tackle friendship, family ties, lust and love.
Is the theater-going market ready for realistic plays like Sayaw?
“If we are ready for movies glamorizing and romanticizing adultery, I think this is a lesser sin,” Joey replies. “If you have movies which tend to romanticize and make mistresses aspirational, I think a play about aging (gays), which is aspiring to be as honest as possible and showing the life of gays beyond sexuality, has more significance. The language is true and vulgar to the ear of some, (but) it certainly does not poke fun at gays.”
Whatever political or social statement the play will make, Sayaw definitely challenges everyone, especially gay people, to contemplate life and appreciate it every day.
(Sayaw ng mga SENIORita will have its run on Nov. 23 and 24 and Dec. 1 at the AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. For details, call 911-5555.)