February
20-March 15, 2015
Cherie
Gil stars as a debt ridden matriarch in denial in Arbol de Fuego, the Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (PETA) adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s Cherry Orchard running this February 20-March 15, 2015 at the PETA
Theater Center Quezon City .
Adapted
by Rody Vera and directed by Loy Arcenas, Arbol
de Fuego ends PETA’s 47th season that included Rak of Aegis which had three successful
runs and FnL.
 |
| Standing from L to R: Divine Acuina, Lao Rodriguez, Leo Rialp, Jake Macapagal, Cherie Gil, Raffy Tejada, Angeli Bayani, Loy Arcenas, Anna Luna, Bembol Roco, and Rody Vera Fron from L to R: Anthony Falcon, Kiki Baento, Riki Benedicto, and Gie Onida |
Cherie
Gil portrays Enriquetta Jardeleza-Sofronio, who throws lavish parties in her
estate to forget the reality of her squandered fortune and mounting debt.
Joining Gil in this production is Angeli Bayani a recent winner of Best Actress
at the Gawad Urian as her adopted daughter Charito, who takes care of the
estate in the absence of the Jardelezas. The rest of the Jardelezas will be
portrayed by British Independent Film Award nominee Jake Macapagal
as Enriquetta’s younger brother Adjie and 2013 Cinema One Best Actress Anna
Luna as Carmen, her naïve and optimistic daughter.
The
rest of the characters in this production include Leo Rialp as the
money-grubbing former nobleman Chitong, Raffy Tejada as Tiking, the former
servant who struck rich, Riki Benedicto as the young, intellectual Dante, and
Bembol Roco, the faithful but sometimes space headed mayordomo Manoy Iking. The
Jardelezas hired servants are composed of Anthony Falcon as Caloy, Lao Rodriguez
as Pindot, Gie Onida as Sakada/Sundalo, Kiki Baento as Kane, and Divine Aucina
as Ling-Ling.
From
the Cherry Orchard’s original
setting of mid-19th century Russia
during the emancipation of serfs, Vera’s adaptation Arbol de Fuego transfers the setting to Negros Occidental during
the 1970’s when the hacienderos’ opulent aristocratic lifestyle drastically
declined with the downfall of the sugar industry brought upon by Marcos crony
Roberto Benedicto. The setting may have changed but the adaptation still retained
the sarcasm and humor of Chekhov.
Joining
playwright Rody Vera and director and production designer Loy Arcenas in the
artistic staff are Carlo Pangunaling for costume design and Vincent de Jesus
for sound and music.
During
the press launch of Arbol de Fuego
held at the PETA Multi-Purpose Hall, the cast did a 20 minute staged reading
that gave the press and show buyers ideas about each other characters. Some
wondered how people who aren’t aware of the play and Anton Chekhov would be
able to understand and connect with the play. Rody Vera and Loy Arcenas said
that the story with characters coming from different classes of society is just
like the local soap opera series shown in television prompting Cherie Gil to
quip that Arbol de Fuego “is so
Downton Abbey!”
 |
| Cherie Gil |
Later
on, I was able to have a brief chat with Cherie Gil and asked her how she feels
sharing the stage with real, live people this time compared to her previous
stint in her one woman play Full Gallop
in which she was just surrounded literally by flowers. She expressed her relief
and delight that she has co-actors this time and that it takes a load off her
shoulders. We then shared a few laughs as we recalled the now infamous etched portrait
of Maria Callas in a Dutch restaurant that was actually a publicity photo of Cherie
Gil when she essayed the role of the legendary soprano in Master Class. She is truly a delight on and off the stage. And my off
stage interaction with her, no matter how brief, just made me look forward to seeing
her on stage once again.
For
inquiries:
TicketWorld
891-9999
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