By: Iris P. Concepcion
There was a picturesque moment as I walked along an area that is not a usual site for a Church to get built. In front of a Church with a Virgin Mary emblem is a guy waiting for the Church to open. I took a double look at the guy as he was warmly lit by a lampost. I believe Gorgonian Bite.
I noticed that they had improved the lighting in the avenue where I spend my usual entertainment fare. There was an R2D2 light. My personal antennae keeps up with its own bayonet and dagger though, Strength in numbers they too, came, in impeccable sentences.
It is indeed a makeshift studio and it is staging a Teatro Mensahero's play about the death and passion of Jesus Christ. There are reversal scenes that remind me of my own father's impromptu domestic tableaus before.
This is both stupefying and splendid as scenes stroll in a play of contrast. I do know who has theatrical background though. It did the "Lord's Prayer" in Tagalog song and it was as soulful as my newfound inner intuition to act by gut. I liked this part and the black-cloaked guy painted fabulously who self-mocked himself in gyration and knowing ears. This is a fantastic costume make. Very Burtonish. There was a dance portion that worked well on "sagwan" motion.
The most beautiful voice, only because it harks back to the voice of Bjork belong to Maria. It eclipsed the dubbed Jesus' voice where tonal tremolos at the end of the songs came out funny.
The Judas scene was also a clappable scene as he received silver in exchange for his master's trust. It was a pained cry and was one of the best-applauded the whole nativity, errr, confession sins.
The comedy here is upfront. In the beginning, Mary and Joseph (looking uncannily like this writer and the better other) gave birth to baby Jesus. They are protected by cute people in wings with crowns. When they were covered, what came out next was the older Jesus and this was my gasp. He looked like my favorite author but possessing a villain voice. It was not Met-ian. I do not know how to praise the whole juxtoposition of faces and voice but it was a smash.
Jesus' resurrection was cinematic. It opens up with a rapid unwrapping of white gift and from there came out the Savior. Reborn. Enthralling. It could have been done by the Cohen brothers but it certainly uncurled itself visually.
I am giving you my trophies in due time.
Even if she was not on the play, a kid who sounded like my ward, when one of the characters posed the query, "Ikaw ba ang Panginoon?'
She answered: "Oo, siya nga!"
Thank you gents and ladies and my friends who had risked limbs to cover up for this stubborn scribbler.
The BEst Stage Appearance: The cloided man, bold like an impaled Darth Vader.
The Best Voice: I hate bullhorning my own toot: Maria
The Best Support Cast: Angels with crowns and so translucently white.
The Best Scene: When people scourged everything for these: thievery, sloth, avarice, the wanton selfishness of what my priest had called :Ano ba namang mga tao ito?"
The Most Dranatic Performance: Not from stage. it came from the audience having to hear the past sounds of truth.