Walang Kukurap

Suzette Ranillo

I could’ve easily watched THAT other musical up the stairs to relax and escape from the rigors of work and daily life. I could’ve just enjoyed the sights and sounds and be dazzled by the spectacular sets, costumes, choreography and yes, that chandelier. But instead, I chose a different experience altogether and watched a play that made me squirm, feel disturbed and left me at the edge of my seat. That play, ladies and gentlemen is Walang Kukurap, the second offering of Tanghalang Pilipino for its 26^th Season tackling Truth and Consequence.

Watching Walang Kukurap or any play by the tandem of playwright Layeta Bucoy and director Tuxqs Rutaquio is like taking a trip to the cinemas to watch a horror film. And Walang Kukurap is a more chilling, gripping and shocking than any horror flick out there for it explores the very dirty nature of small town politics in the Philippines. Add to that the venue, the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater), is very intimate that it forces the audience to remain engaged all throughout the play.

I do admit that I found it hard to engage at the beginning of the play. Seated at the very front, I was not comfortable that close to all the action happening on stage. And I did get confused during the first scene in keeping tabs on who’s who and how each is related to one another. But during the pivotal moment of that opening scene, it suddenly became clear to me as if the initial confusion that I felt earlier on was really by design. Soon enough, I got them all figured out: the Medinas, Perezes, Santiagos, Gutierrezes and the rest of the players.

Cristina Medina (Suzette Ranillo) is a widow running for vice mayor for the sake of her family, but despite her good intentions, get swallowed by the system and succumbs to it in the end. Her running mate, incumbent mayor Molong Perez (Crispin Pineda) is really deep into the system to the point that his wife Purita (Sherry Lara) and brother Paquito (Paulo Cabañero) are already part of his machinery. And unfortunately, their children Marky (Marco Viaña) and Mirra Medina (Delphine Buencamino) as well as Dino Perez (Ralph Mateo) are either being geared or forced to be part of this machinery. Add to the mix, the pompous Santiago Sr. (Nonoy Froilan) who is also running for mayor along with Rhoda Medina (Regina de Vera) as his running mate. Yup, Rhoda is a Medina, the daughter of Melba (Mymy Davao) who is Cristina’s sister in law if I’m not mistaken. Sadly, Doray Gutierrez (Doray Dayao), the only candidate whose intentions are noble, pure and sincere come off as the comic relief since no one, not even her son Gutierrez (Nar Cabico) took her running seriously. If this rundown of characters feels like a circus, well, that’s how it is in Philippine politics.

The gears got turning in the already tense political situation at the start of the play when what was supposed to be a fun time gathering among the youth turns tragic. And this tragedy becomes the catalyst as some would resort to any means to come out of this unscathed, while others with shady intentions would use this to further their own selfish cause. Families are torn apart, friendships are ruined and trust is shattered while the politicking and the power grabbing goes on.

All throughout the play, I was constantly shifting in my seat and I felt the others do the same. The blackouts in between scenes were a indeed welcome break but they went by too quickly as the lights went back again and the uneasiness continued. I admit that it’s not an easy play to watch for it forced me to see the harsh reality of Philippine politics. And very true to the title, I didn’t have any chance to blink at all since I was right there smack in front and couldn’t miss anything that was going on. Like what I've said earlier on, watching this play is like going to a horror movie. There is this high that one gets after coming out of the theater. But Walang Kukurap resonates a lot more than the usual slasher flick since it leaves the audience wondering what needs to be done next. It doesn't sit well knowing that an ugly truth is presented right in their face. And for all the mindless entertainment out there, this kind of production is something that one needs to experience in order to feel what it is to be truly human.

As expected, the earlier shows in a play’s run often have some timing issues. There were scenes when one conversation would cut into another just like in film. And there were a few times when the timing in these were not as crisp and precise as they could be. But this is usually smoothened out as the shows go on when the actors have more grasp in the material. That means that the production does get better as the run goes on, but the big problem is that tickets normally get sold out by that time. I do hope to see Walang Kukurap once again so that I may be able to see what I didn’t see the first time. And of course, it would be a blast if I ever catch Gloc-9 during his special participation in the play.

Also starring in this production are Lou Veloso, Jonathan Tadioan, Pee Wee O’ Hara, Ding Navasero, Ced Torrecarion, Remus Villanueva, Nicolo Magno, Jovanni Cadag, April Joy Iñigo, Sharmaine Suarez and June Francis Domingo. Walang Kukurap runs every weekend up to October 7, 2012 at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater).