A bizarre love triangle in Tanghalang Pilipino's Nang Dalawin ng Pag-Ibig si Juan Tamad

A bizarre love triangle takes center stage in Tanghalang Pilipino’s 31^st season ender Nang Dalawin ng Pag-Ibig si Juan Tamad this February 16-March 11, 2018 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentinto (CCP Little Theater).

The play, adapted to the stage by Rody Very is based on the children’s story How Love Came to Juan Tamad by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin. Nang Dalawin ng Pag-Ibig si Juan Tamad is the story of how the diwata Mariyang Makiling fell in love with the most unlikeliest of mortals, Juan Tamad through the machinations of a spurned god-like warrior Monte Banahaw. And as mythology from all cultures go, a god/goddess or in the play's case, a diwata, falling in love with a mortal is a sure recipe for disaster.

Manok Nellas as Mariyang Makiling

Playing the roles of this trio are Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company’s Manok Nellas as Mariyang Makiling, Aldo Vencilao as Monte Banahaw, and Ybes Bagadion as Juan Tamad. Other company members in the cast are JV Ibesate as Ba’i, Lhorvie Nuevo as Ulap, Antonette Go as Abugada, and Eunice Pacia as Ina/Hukom. Rounding up the cast is guest actor Cheeno Uy Macaraig along with Dessa Marqueses, Jeremi Flores, Ariel Cruz, and Jonalou Fabon.

Nang Dalawin will also feature the directorial debut of Jonathan “Tad” Tadioan and also of Marco Viana taking on the double duty of production and costume design. The rest of the creative and production team consists of TJ Ramos (musical director, arranger, composer, and sound design), John Batalla (lighting design), Paw Castillo (assistant set design), Ronelson Yadao (choreographer), Doray Dayao (stage manager), Erick Sindol (deputy stage manager), and Cristina Adigue (assistant stage manager).

JV Ibesate as Ba'i and Aldo Vencilao as Monte Banahaw

The press conference held recently at the CCP gave me more idea not just about the play but also about the source material, How Love Came to Juan Tamad which is part of the Pop Stories for Groovy Kids series published in 1979. Presented as a play for children, Tadioan aims to have Nang Dalawin serve as an introduction to Philippine folklore for children and kids in this digital age. The adults, on the other hand, will be the ones to get the tongue in cheek and the slight winks that Nick Joaquin put in these books. It is also interesting that the Pop Stories are a thematic departure from his other works and takes on a different light when one considers its historical context of being released during Martial Law.

The cast of Nang Dalawin ng Pag-Ibig si Juan Tamad

This, along with the excerpts shown during the press conference, just made me want to get my hands on How Love Came to Juan Tamad. Unfortunately, these books have been out of print and it will take extra effort for me to find a copy and read the story before the play opens.  And I hope that Nang Dalawin can pave the way to have these back in print again. This will keep the momentum going started by another Nick Joaquin work, Portrait of the Artist as Filipino that enjoyed heightened interest with the release of Ang Larawan at the latest edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival. It would also be a fitting extension of the celebration of Nick Joaquin’s birth centenary.

The cast and creative team of Nang Dalawin ng Pag-Ibig si Juan Tamad

See who ends up with who (and who ends up empty handed) in this love triangle in Tanghalang Pilipino’s Nang Dalawin ng Pag-Ibig si Juan Tamad on weekends this February 16-March 11, 2018 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater).