The UK, particularly England, is unmatched for its classic theater tradition solidly built on Shakespeare’s 37 plays which are staged throughout the world.
As previously noted, there will be a Shakespeare Festival here in September. Three of the Bard’s most famous works to be presented will be in line with the British Council’s main objective of helping Filipinos master the English language through educational incentives. Shakespeare’s works will ride on the crest of the BC’s 25th anniversary celebrations, proving that Shakespeare, far from being dead, is still read.
CCP’s Tanghalang Pilipino, with its solid reputation for Shakespearean adaptations lyrically translated by Rolando Tinio, is currently staging R’meo luvs Dew-Lhiett – a whimsical version of the immortal love story. Starring Noel Escondo and Catherine Racsag under the direction of Herbie Go, the play at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino will move to Tanghalang Huseng Batute in September.
Regarded as the country’s leading proponent of English language theater, Repertory Philippines will produce an all-male version of Taming of the Shrew starting Sept. 2 at Rep’s Globe Theater in Greenbelt. With Bart Guingona at the helm, and Rep’s young talents Joel Trinidad, Niccolo Manahan and Topper Fabregas heading the cast, the production is a return to the age-old Shakespearean tradition of featuring exclusively males in the cast.
Scotland’s celebrated Theatre Babel will present Macbeth at the CCP Little Theater on Sept. 14 and 15 as the centerpiece of the Shakespeare Festival.
Its lead actors Lewis Howden and Pauline Knowles, together with director Graham MacLaren, will judge the finals of the Shakespeare Speech Competition at the Lyceum University Theater on Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. High school students from both public and private schools are invited to participate in the competition whose 10 finalists will tackle the art of soliloquy while deriving power from their physical isolation onstage.
Specifically, the Kabayaos promote theater, music and dance artists from Iloilo, and provide the training and exposure needed to be better prepared for bigger productions in the future. They realize only too well that much has to be done to elevate the standard of production and performance in the provinces, and unless individuals, schools and organizations in the community contribute their share, audiences will always consider cultural presentations in Manila the only ones commanding attention, respect and admiration.
The invitation from the FEU’s President’s Committee on Culture chaired by Dr. Rustica Carpio for the play The Miracle Worker by William Gibson to be staged at the FEU auditorium was indeed a great encouragement for the artists in Iloilo. The Kabayaos believe this will be an auspicious beginning for many other productions to be taken to other places in the country.
This early, the Kabayao Foundation is announcing three other productions for its 2005-2006 theater season: Anatomiya ng Korapsyon by Malou Jacob, in November, with Dora Jane Alleras in her directorial debut; Sa Faraon, a musical fantasy for children based on the original music by Don Gil Lopez, January and February of 2006, with direction by Joan Paulette Libo-on and choreography by Julius Martin Solliesta, and Shakespeare’s King Lear in July 2006, under the collaborative direction of Iloilo’s leading directors, with Rodolfo Cabado as King Lear, Farida Kabayao as Cordelia, Joan Paulette Lib-on as Regan and Leane Marie Salas as Goneril.
Playdates for The Miracle Worker are Sept. 6, FEU auditorium, Sept. 8, 9 and 10, Fr. James Reuter Theater, QC.
Farida Kabayao portrays Annie Sullivan, Richelle Dollosa, Helen Keller; Jon Jainga, Capt. Arthur; Dora Jane Balleras, Kate Keller; Teddy Tan Jr., James Keller.