MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Drama Company-Sala Theater, as part of its 27th season productions, stages one of the most laudable plays in the country, Nick Joaquin’s elegy in three scenes, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino.
Set in the living room of the Marasigan house in Intramuros just before the Second World War, Portrait tells the story of sisters Candida and Paula Marasigan, both old maids, and their dying old father, a great painter, who leaves them with what is his last and greatest work of art. With times changing and everybody wanting to get a piece of what wealth the old house and painting could gather if sold, the sisters are being shaken by relatives and people surrounding them to let go of their sentiments in exchange for money.
The play is directed by the PDC Sala Theater founder and directress, Naty Crame Rogers, who played the role of Paula in the 1965 film-version of the play. She also plays the role of Candida, along with Lala Castillo who now takes on the role of Paula. Kenn Cayunda plays the swaggering boarder Tony Javier, and Gaby Castillo as Bitoy Camacho, the young journalist and family friend of the Marasigans. The rest of the cast include Rina Reinoso, Chrissie Legaspi, Jordeene Lagare, Krix Untalan, Jake Alejandrino, Claude Despabiladeras, Danny Escasa, Cecille Valenzuela, Raul Dumlao, Ramer dela Cruz, LA Caguioa, Andre Lagoy, Elsa Mapua, and Robert Lane.
A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino will on Oct. 26, 8 p.m., and Oct. 27 to 28, 7 p.m., at the Philippine Drama Company’s Amingtahanan Sala Theater, 40 Stella Maris St., Bo. Kapitolyo, Pasig.
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