‘The King and I: A feast for the senses

Inspired and encouraged by the overwhelming success of last year’s production of "Oliver," and in keeping with the time-honored Jesuit school tradition, the Sacred Heart School, in cooperation with the SHS Parent Teacher Asssociation, presented the golden jubilee play "The King and I."

Director and choreographer par excellence Guam-based Benjie Diola and accomplished pianist and musical director Amor Reyes Caparas worked tirelessly for over four months to produce one of the best-loved musicals of all time at Theater One of SM Cebu.

The impressive cast was composed of students, teachers and alumni. Meet the talented Cebuano artists.

Robert Galvan and Fr. Jun Agravante alternately portrayed the King of Siam. Popularly known around the campus as the school head prefect, Galvan is also a talented singer and earned this year’s Student’s Choice Award as the best male singer among the faculty. No one can seem to forget his portrayal as Mr. Sowerberry, the undertaker, in the school’s previous production of "Oliver."

Fr. Agravante is an avid sportsman, tennis player, engages in motocross racing, teaches scuba diving, is an artist, musician and actor. He is a natural as the King.

Ann Lorraine Dytian and Maria Celeste Celeste play the schoolteacher Anna. Lorraine thrilled the audience with her acting and singing prowess. She claims that "the pretense of being someone else and the rush brought on by every performance make the theater an exciting pursuit."

Celeste is passionate about theater. She enjoys being able to express herself from different perspectives; she has starred in "Annie" and "Amahl and the Night Visitors."

Gifted with a golden voice, Candice Grace Cabros was ideal as Lady Thiang.

The other equally talented cast members included Francis Po, Joshua Serad, and Lorenzo Urgel as Louis: Justin Ynot, Evanjohn Mendoza, and Miguel Orbiso as Prince Chulalungkorn; Karl Hudson, Cebu Mariott Hotel general manager and a veteran stage actor, together with Diego Cañizares, and Enrico Solon play the diplomat Sir Ramsay.

As Fr. Ernesto O. Javier SJ, the chairperson of the steering committee, commented "The play is truly a feast for the eyes and the ears."

Take a bow, ladies and gentlemen.