The naked truth
MANILA, Philippines - Let’s get it out of the way — penis.
In Equus’ penultimate scene, lead actor Marco Mañalac drops trou and lets it all hang out, in a manner of speaking. It’s the scene that’s been talked about all over the world — from Harry Potter’s much-buzzed-about magic wand on Broadway to Lily Allen’s brother Alfie getting more than a few smiles on the West End. It’s only natural that in the Repertory Philippines’ production, Peter Shaffer’s Equus gets the same buzz because of one scene, and essentially because of that appendage.
But to know Equus as the schlong showcase, is to belittle this complex, emotionally rich play. Hailed as one of the of the most unforgettable psychological thrillers ever written for the stage, the Tony Award-winning play follows a psychiatrist’s quest to unravel the mysteries behind teenager Alan Strang’s decision to commit acts of violence against horses. In the span of its more than two-hour running time, the play poses questions about sanity, passion, society, and familial relations.
It’s an ambitious staging and Marco — a theater newbie who is competing in the Myx VJ Search on top of this — rises to the occasion. “The nudity wasn’t really an issue,” he says.
It’s easy to take off your pants, after all, not so much to get into the mind of a mentally unstable teenager. He admits to overacting during his first few shows — a neophyte mistake — but by the Sunday show Supreme was able to watch, Marco, under the tutelage of director Audie Gemora, nailed it, for the most part.
“Even up to now,” he admits, “I’m still learning more and more about Alan Strang. He’s so complex. He’s so dark yet at the same there’s such light in him. There’s such innocent passion that at the same time, he’s all these things that are disturbing.”
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You can catch Equus July 17, 23, 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. Matinees at 3:30 p.m. are on July 17, 18, 24, 25. Venue is Onstage, 2nd floor, at Greenbelt 1, Paseo de Roxas, Makati City. July 25, 8 p.m. is the Equus benefit show. For ticket inquiries, please text 0917-5420015.
