Who will ‘Bibot’ murder today?

The scene is the Repertory Philippines rehearsal hall. It is a chilly, rectangular room with old costumes and props lining the sides like strange ghosts. On the floor, the deceitfully cozy sala set of Agatha Christie’s gruesome murder thriller Ten Little Indians is laid out.

Rehearsals begin and a question floats creepily in the air: Who will Tita Bibot murder today?

"I’m grateful to her for doing that," says actor Ikey Canoy, 21, bravely, about one rehearsal when Tita Bibot "murdered" him – he had to do a single line for 30 times before getting it right. "She made me cry but I was better off going through it. I felt relieved afterwards." Ikey is a singer, a fanatical lover of Broadway musicals and a student of Marketing Communications at the University of Asia and the Pacific. In Ten Little Indians, his second professional play, he portrays the "spoiled, rich, snotty brat" Anthony Marston.

Along similar lines, actor Meynard Peñalosa, 29, says, "Tita Bibot scares you but at the same time challenges, motivates and ignites you to exceed your limitations."

About his own "murder" at the hands of Tita Bibot during one rehearsal, he says, "I feel good about it. I was motivated to continue to relearn most of the fundamental skills of acting. Along the line, you forget them and become technical instead of becoming truthful in your portrayal of the character."

Actor Allan Alojipan, 31, an opera and choral singer, graduate of the UP College of Music, and a former assistant chef, confesses "I tense up and feel bad when Tita Bibot shouts. She wants results right away and I don’t work that fast yet. But I’m learning the process and her ways. But I like the fact that she allows the actors the space to be creative. She doesn’t spoonfeed like other directors. You can mix your own creativity with her direction and do your own attack." Newcomer Allan, who has already done five Rep musicals, is experiencing his first straight play role in Ten Little Indians, as the unsteady General Mackenzie.

On the other hand, actress Miren Alvarez, 25, daughter of screen actor Roy Alvarez and stage actress Nieves Campa, paints a slightly different picture. Already having worked with other hot-blooded and demanding directors over the last several years, she says, "Tita Bibot’s style shocks me sometimes but it’s not anything new so it’s not as jarring. I work hard because I don’t want to get to the point where she’ll scream. I don’t want to disappoint her. She’s a great actress and I take her direction as gold. I also like her inspirational talks to the cast."

This writer – I am a 30-year-old advertising, marketing and theater man – is also a member of the cast. I play the nervous wreck nerve specialist Dr. Armstrong. This is my second play at Rep. What I like about Tita Bibot’s style is that her formidable presence gives me a lot of energy that fuels my rehearsal or performance. It’s all a question of transforming that nervous tension and pumping it into the emotions of the character I’m playing. That way I get an energetic, focused and fluid protrayal.

But, what enables these newcomers at Repertory to endure and survive the murderous rage of Zeneida Amador? It is a joyous love for theater and a fervent desire for excellence, which Tita Bibot constantly hammers into the heads of her actors and crew.

Repertory Philippines’ production of Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians is showing at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza in Makati from Aug.23 until Sept. 2. It features Miguel Faustmann, Arnel Carrion. Miren Alvarez, Roy Rolloda, Oliver Unison, Meynard Peñalosa, Tess Michelena, Jay Glorioso, Allan Alojipan, Ikey Canoy and myself. For information and ticket reservations, call Repertory Philippines at 633-48-21 to 25.

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The author is a literary and theater artist. He is a 1992 Palanca Awardee for playwrighting, a published poet and a freelance actor at the Repertory Philippines. He also runs a freelance advertising and marketing business.