4th National Theater Festival Opening

Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation Inc. performing Kakarong

A slight drizzle threatened to put a damper on the opening of the 4th National Theater Festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. But the participating theater companies from Metro Manila and from all over the country didn’t pay attention to the looming weather as they gathered at the CCP Main Ramp for the opening ceremony. The CCP façade, newly adorned by Christmas lanterns from San Fernando, Pampanga welcomed various theater companies participating in the festival namely  Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation Inc. from the province of Bulacan, Bohol Antequera and Maribojoc Cultural Collectives in cooperation with Teatro Bol-Anon from the province of Bohol, cultural activist Carlos Celdran, Dulaang UP of the University of the Philippines, Gantimpala Theater Foundation, Integrated Performing Arts Guild of Mindanano State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Mindanao State University KabpapagariyaEnsemble from General Santos City, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), Sipat Lawin Ensemble, Tanghalang Ateneo of Ateneo de Manila University, Tanghalang Pilipino, The Xavier Stage of Cagayan de Oro and Trumpets Inc.There will also be special performances by Kanlaon Theater Guild of Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, SPIT (Silly People's Improv Theater) and ventriloquists Ony Carcamo and Wanlu.

Sipat Lawin Ensemble

Hosted by Regina de Vera and Glen Sevilla Mas, the ceremony also featured excerpts from the various productions like the Introduction to Battalia Program by a Japanese Character by the Sipat Lawin Ensemble, Kakarong by the Barasoain Kalinlangan Foundation, Inc., Duha Ka Almimpo sa Habagat… Bohol 1700 (Two Eyes of the Monsoon Storm) by the Bohol Cultural Collectives and Uhawig by the Integrated Performing Arts Guild. The song number Buksan ang Tanghalan by Cris Villonco signaled the start of the festival as the participants and guests were ushered inside the CCP down towards the Little Theater Lobby.

Silly People's Improv Theater (SPIT)

Stageshow at the National Theater Festival

Shamaine Buencamino and Nonie Buencamino

At the Little Theater Lobby, food and refreshments were served for all the participants/delegates and guests to enjoy. Right after that was a performance of Stageshow, one of Tanghalang Pilipino’s two entries for the 4^th National Theater Festival. I consider myself really fortunate for this happened to be my third time to see this show. I watched the show for the first time during its Gala Night. And I watched it again during its Closing Night. For this performance, real life couple Shamaine and Nonie Buencamino played Ester and Tirso respectively while Mae Paner portrayed Magdea.

Angelina Kanapi

About two weeks have already passed since the Closing Night so my memory of Stageshow was not as sharp and vivid. But the memories came flooding back once the show got started and it was so nice to relive those moments once again. Since I knew how the story would go, I grabbed the opportunity to take note of the audience a lot more and observed how they would respond. This particular evening was magical with a very receptive audience laughing at the expected moments and surprising me also by laughing at certain parts when I didn’t expect it. The full house was brimming with positive energy throughout the show. I did notice a major change during this performance as the scene involving Ester’s children and their respective spouses was significantly trimmed. I didn’t get the chance to ask director Chris Millado the reason for this revision but I do admit that the song number that accompanied this scene was among the weakest in the whole show.

Mae Paner

Looking back, I find it remarkable how the actors brought to life this play written by the late Mario O’Hara. On paper, a lot of the jokes didn’t seem to be funny at all. But somehow, they worked on stage especially with the case of Lou Veloso’s multiple cameo roles. And in my three times watching the show, my favorite part has got to be Rayna Reyes’ Senakulo scene. In that scene featuring a very serious monologue, a change of inflection in just one word breaking the tension, noticeable for those with keen ears, made that deadpan scene very funny in the most subtle manner. And I’m pleased that I heard scattered chuckles among the audience when she did that scene.

Stageshow is just one of the many productions offered at the 4^th National Theater Festival. There are still more and I do hope that I will be able to catch as many shows as possible. The Phantom has departed the building, it's time for Filipino theater companies and productions to take over the local theater scene!

Stageshow Closing Night

Roeder Camañag and Liesl Batucan

To say that Tanghalang Pilipino’s Stageshow had a rough first week was an understatement. First of all, it had to contend its opening week with the last week of the much touted Phantom of the Opera. And it didn’t help much that the publicity for Stageshow was scarce also. So it broke my heart to know that it got clobbered by the Phantom in terms of audience turn out during its first week. But somehow, the dozens of people who had seen Stageshow became very vocal and rallied behind the show, urging people to see it before it ends its very limited two week run. And it worked since the attendance picked up considerably on its second week.

Roeder Camañag

I did manage to catch a performance of Stageshow during its second week. More specifically, I was able to catch its last performance. I was glad that I got to see a different set of leads during my second viewing. For the closing performance, Liesl Batucan and Roeder Camañag played the roles of Ester and Tirso respectively with May Bayot portraying the role of Magdea. Right from the opening number of Mambo Magsaysay, it was already noticeable that Liesl and May are very good singers enabling the Tres Dahlias (with Angelina Kanapi as Chabeng) to do three part harmonies which I really loved. Liesl also provided a sense of lightness and optimism that radiated even when her character went through hard times. I believed that things would turn out right for her in the end because Liesl’s Ester who believed it too convinced me. Roeder, on the other hand, exuded swagger and sexiness as Tirso. He delivered competent vocals which was expected since he’s had extensive musical theater experience and a recording career at one point to boot. Liesl and Roeder also were light on their feet and exhibited good carriage during the tap dancing sequence. I don’t want to say which Tirso, Ester or Magdea was better. All I can say is that I am one lucky chap to be able to see different actors portray the same roles. Seeing both sets of actors gave me a more complete experience with Stageshow.

And something a little extra was on hand after the show as well as Nanding Josef, Tanghalang Pilipino’s artistic director gave out awards to Bayani Casimiro (received by his son Tony Casimiro), Pilita Corales and German Moreno. These three are some of the celebrities who have had some experience performing at stageshows. And German Moreno was very emotional when he received his award since he was greatly affected with what he saw with Stageshow. His lengthy acceptance speech was littered with anecdotes during his stageshow days which entertained the audience.

Stageshow cast members with Pilita Corales and German Moreno

I do hope that others who failed to see Stageshow during its initial run will get to see it when it gets re-staged for the National Theater Festival. This production, directed by Chris Millado is the last play written by the late Mario O’Hara. Catch Stageshow on November 7, 2012 at 8:00 PM and November 8, 2012 at 3:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater).

Stageshow Gala Night

Angelina Kanapi, Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino and Mae Paner

I initially thought that Tanghalang Pilipino’s Stageshow would just be a play about the people who had lived in the era when the stageshow was the form of entertainment preferred by the masses. Then I saw the play itself and I experienced not just a human story, but also a peek at how entertainment was back in the day.

Stageshow, written by the late Mario O’Hara and directed by Chris Millado, told the story of Ester and Tirso played by real life couple Shamaine and Nonie Buencamino. The two lovers are stageshow artists with Ester belonging to the Tres Dahlias trio alongside Chabeng (Angelina Kanapi) and (Magdea) Mae Paner while Tirso is a bandmaster. As the stageshow era began to decline, their lives began to unravel which was also the same fate that has befallen many stageshow artists in real life.

As the story between Ester and Tirso unfolds, snippets of numbers that comprised as stageshow were presented in between scenes. At first, I thought that it was mere filler and just to show what a stageshow really is. But I noticed that the lines in these vignettes, song and dance numbers, comedy skits, melodrama and even a Lenten play all moved the story forward. The seamless integration of all these stageshow elements in the service of the bigger story was what I enjoyed the most in this production.

Nonie Buencamino

The performances, led by the Buencaminos were solid. Those who had seen their recent television roles would be very much surprised to see their range as performers with Shamaine belting it out and Nonie tap dancing effortlessly. Also notable was Rody Vera’s take as Bobby Gonzales although I have no idea how Bobby was when he was still alive. The songs he sang (Ikaw ang Mahal Ko and Hahabol-Habol) are very familiar to me and it was very nice to see them performed and integrated in a play. Lou Veloso also portrayed a handful of roles and his comic timing and masterful delivery made his brief scenes very memorable.

During this Gala Night, the audience was treated by a special performance by Tony Casimiro, the son of stageshow artist Bayani Casimiro. Despite being 72 years old, Tony out tapped everyone else in the production. He also served as the tap dance choreographer for this production.

After seeing the show, it made me think of those artists who weren’t able to deal well with the demise of the stageshow. The play had a very satisfying ending with everything going back to where things are supposed to be but in real life, many stageshow performers have already been forgotten. I also got very interested to realize that back then, it didn’t take much to entertain people. But now, it takes so much just to satisfy the audience. I also appreciate that the play didn’t show any resentment to the medium that contributed to its downfall which was cinema and radio. The few bits that gave nods to this form of entertainment were done with fondness and good natured humor. And I would like to add to that very clever lighting also during the film montage.

On certain performances Liesl Batucan and Roeder Camañag play the roles of Ester and Tirso respectively. May Bayot also alternate as Magdea. I do hope that I’ll get the chance to see their performances during the last week of Stageshow. This production is the third offering for this season of Tanghalang Pilipino that tackles the theme of Truth and Consequence. And Stageshow definitely showed the truth in the fighting spirit and optimism of the Filipinos despite the tremendous odds.

Stageshow is staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater). Here are the remaining dates for the second and last week of Stageshow:

October 17, 2012, 8:00 PM

October 18, 2012, 8:00 PM

October 19, 2012, 3:00 & 8:00 PM

October 20, 2012, 3:00 & 8:00 PM

October 21, 2012, 10:00 AM & 3:00 PM

Stageshow will also be staged on these dates as part of the National Theater Festival:

November 7, 2012, 8:00 PM
November 8, 2012, 3:00 PM
November 8, 2012, 8:00 PM (Invitational)

Tickets are available in all TicketWorld outlets and the CCP Box Office. Tickets can also be purchased tickets online via www.ticketworld.com.ph. For more details call TicketWorld at 891-9999 or contact (0917) 750-0107, 832-1125 loc 1620-1621 for more details.

Tanghalang Pilipino relives bodabil era with Mario O'Hara's Stageshow

October 10, 2012, 8:00 PM

October 11, 2012, 8:00 PM

October 12, 2012, 3:00 & 8:00 PM

October 13, 2012, 3:00 & 8:00 PM

October 14, 2012, 10:00 AM & 3:00 PM

October 17, 2012, 8:00 PM

October 18, 2012, 8:00 PM

October 19, 2012, 3:00 & 8:00 PM

October 20, 2012, 3:00 & 8:00 PM

October 21, 2012, 10:00 AM & 3:00 PM

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Tanghalang Pilipino will not have time to blink at all, for just a few days after Walang Kukurap wraps up, the curtains will raise for Stageshow the third production of their 26^th Season opening on October 10, 2012 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater). This grand musical, written by the late veteran television, film and theater actor, director-playwright Mario O’Hara, Stageshow pays tribute to the stage artists of the bodabil era from decades ago.

This grand musical, directed by Chris Millado takes the audience back to the heyday of the stageshow, locally known as bodabil, during the 1920’s up to the 1960’s. It will tell the story of a small group of Filipino artists during their waning years coinciding the the decline of the stageshow and the rise of other forms of entertainment.

The stageshow as an entertainment form spawned numerous talents like Dolphy, Bayani Casimiro, Rogelio dela Rosa, German Moreno, Sylvia La Torre, Pilita Corrales, Elizabeth Ramsey, Oscar Obligacion, Chichay, the tandem of Pugo and Tugo, among others. These artists will be honored in a Gabi ng Pagkilala sa mga Beterano ng Stageshow on October 13, 2012.

Mario O'Hara

This production, an official entry to the National Theater Festival in November, stars veterans of television/film and the stage like the husband and wife team of Nonie Buencamino and Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino with Roeder Camañag and Liesl Batucan as their alternates. The rest of the cast includes Angelina Kanapi, Mae Paner, May Bayot de Castro, Rayna Reyes, Rody Vera, Lou Veloso, Gie Onida, Pam Hundana, Gino Ramirez, Jonathan Tadioan, April Iñigo, Tara Cabaero, Hazel Maranan, Kaye Garcia, Agnes Sarreal, Anthony Falcon and Aaron Ching.

Production staff also includes Jeffrey Hernandez as composer/arranger/musical director, Denisa Reyes as choreographer, Tuxqs Rutaquio as set designer, Brenda Fajardo as costume designer, Katsch Catoy as lights designer/technical director, TJ Ramos as sound engineer, King Catoy as videographer, Mia Bolaños as vocal coach, Tony Casimiro as tap dance instructor and Yette Valenzuela as hair and make-up designer.

Ticket price:

P800

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

Cherry Bong Edralin (0917) 750-0107, (0918) 959-3949, 832-1125 local 1620/1621

TicketWorld 891-9999