Giselle Tongi reads acting books & learns about life

I caught Giselle Töngi-Walters—producer, actor, entertainment reporter, women’s advocate—in Repertory Theater’s current production of The Producers at Onstage theater in Greenbelt 1. She was hilarious. She plays Ulla until Dec. 15. It’s her first production with Repertory Philippines. (Call Ria Pangilinan for tickets at 0917-5378313.)

After the friends and family preview, I asked Giselle to share her favorite books:

1. “Atonement by Ian Mc Ewan is a novel that I have loved and have read several times. It’s remarkable how I am transported to a world other than my own, with the weaving of historical accuracy and romance.”

2. “Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein / I Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, Sheila McGraw are the top two books I absolutely adore reading to my children. The Giving Tree is a metaphor perhaps of unconditional love and I Love You Forever is how traditions and love are passed down in the family.”

3. Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen. “Every Actor needs to read this book. PERIOD. It not only helps as a performer but is a tool that helps in real life. The best part is how straightforward and simple the text is. Not highfaluting or intimidating at all.”

4. Audition by Michael Shurtleff. “Another book every actor needs to read. The guidelines that Shurtleff has written are helpful for any person wanting to become an actor.”

5. StageDoor by Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman. “It’s actually a play about actresses boarding in New York in the 1930s. But it captures the life of an actress during the times when Hollywood started producing talkies.”

6. Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel. “I was convinced at a time that I was a depressive. So when I read this book, I realized that compared to what Wurtzel went through, I lived a life far from what depressives actually go through.”

7. The Kid Stays in the Picture: A Notorious Life by Robert Evans. “I am fascinated by how Hollywood works and this memoir paints it in black and white. The transparency of his dealings as a producer are intriguing and fascinating.”

8. The Narnia Chronicles by CS Lewis. “I devoured these books when I was younger! Now my kids have started to read them.”

9. Write Here Write Now by AA Patawaran. “I love AA’s style and how he coaxes aspiring writers like me to get words on the page, with dashes of style and fashion references.”

10. Island of The Blue Dolphins by Scott O’ Dell. “I read this in fifth grade and still till today can enjoy it. A girl gets left on an island and manages to survive. Very empowering for a young girl to read. It’s also a Newberry Winner.”

* * *

Your comments and suggestions are welcome at grrodis@gmail.com.