D Wonder Twins of Boac

PETA'S 

D WONDER TWINS OF BOAC

Adapted from William Shakespeare’s 12th Night

MARCH 2, 2013 / SAT / 8PM / PETA

Ticket Prices: 800 and 600

 Director: Maribel Legarda
Writer: Rody Vera
Music: Jeff Hernandez

 

Contact Us:
Robert Ceazar Marzan  (0922.888.5348)
Jayme del Rosario (0927.202.2017)
or Onay Sales (0917.908.0565)

 

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SYNOPSIS

            Adapted from William Shakespeare’s 12th Night, Ang Kambal centers on mistaken identity. It is 1967, Viola and Bastian are the Wonder Twins of Boac, Marinduque. They sing! They dance! And they want to be in showbiz! So they pack up and head for Manila where the big film studios keep on searching to discover the latest star! But the hapless siblings are shipwrecked and Viola loses contact with her brother Bastian and believes him to be dead.

            Viola ends ep begging, disguised as a blind cripple selling sampaguita in Malate. But her new-found friend Juvy keeps on convincing her to audition, this time for Doc Orsino’s big-time studio Campanilla Pictures. Viola feels that her “magic” faded since she lost her borther and has little hope getting chosen. But this time, since Campanilla is looking for a male Elvis look-and-sound-alike, she decides to audition in male disguise to keep the spirit of her brother inside her.

            Doc Orsino sees Viola, disguised as Cesar, and offers her a job to be his Boy Friday. As his assistant, he sends her as an intermediary to his love-proposals to Olivia Nepomuceno, the last living owner of BLV Studios in the hope of striking a wedding and a merger of the two biggest film studios of the era.

            However things get complicated when Olivia Nepomuceno falls for Viola/Cesar while Viola is getting attracted to her boss Doc Orsino. Doc Orsino, in turn feels strange as he couldn’t explain his weird attraction to his own Boy Friday.

            At the climax of this romping comedy of errors, Luciano, the director of all time shallow but big-hit pop movies offers a solution to the rapid decline of film studios and movie-making in the late sixties. With Viola and Bastian now on the brink of obsolescence without even reaching stardom yet, he ushers in the era of Bomba!

            All is well that ends well. Or does it?      

ALADDIN (The New Stage Musical)

 

Catch ALADDIN on its closing weekend run!

December 8 / Saturday / 8PM 

Meralco Theater, Ortigas Ave., Pasig City

 

Contact Us:
Robert Ceazar Marzan  (0922.888.5348)
Jayme del Rosario (0927.202.2017)
or Onay Sales (0917.908.0565)

Ticket Prices:

Php1,500.00 – Orchestra Center
Php1,350.00 – Orchestra Side
Php900.00 – Orchestra Side Obstructed
Php1,100.00 – Loge Center
Php1,000.00 – Loge Side
Php700.00 – Balcony Center
Php600.00 – Balcony Side
Php500.00 – Balcony Back

Click HERE to view seat plan for the December 8, 8PM Schedule

ALADDIN

Music by Alan Menken

Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin

Book by Chad Beguelin

Based on the Disney film written by 
Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliot and Terry Rosio

Starring
Tom Rodriguez as Aladdin
K-La Rivera as Princess Jasmine

FOR 2013 SEASON...

 

ROCK OF AGES (THE REPEAT)

JULY 27, 2013 / SAT / 8 PM / RCBC

Closing Weekend

Ticket Prices: 2000, 1750, 1500, 900 and 700

CARRIE (THE MUSICAL)

Adapted from Stephen King's Novel

OCTOBER 5, 2013 / SAT / 8PM / RCBC

Closing Weekend

Ticket Prices: 1700, 1600, 1300, 800 and 700 

 

Contact Us:
Robert Ceazar Marzan  (0922.888.5348)
Jayme del Rosario (0927.202.2017)
or Onay Sales (0917.908.0565)

OUR PASSION PROJECT

 

~ o ~ o ~ o ~

BE A PART OF OUR PAY-IT-FORWARD PROJECT

AND GIVE A MEMORABLE GIFT TO A LESS FORTUNATE KID THIS CHRISTMAS
~ o ~ o ~ o ~

We are in need of TICKET SPONSORS so that more underprivileged children from Ulingan, Tondo can watch “Umaaraw, Umuulan Kinakasal ang Tikbalang” 

on Dec 9, 2012 (Sun / 10 AM) at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, UP Diliman.

A ticket costs only P320.  If interested, please contact: Onay Sales (0917.908.0565), Jayme del Rosario (0927.202.2017) or RC Marzan (0922.888.5348)

Help us in making the children’s day brighter with your gift of giving.

Maybe they’ll remember it for the rest of their lives…and maybe you will, too :) 

Please read on for more details... 

Good Day Friends!

We at Watch Plays are overwhelmed with the success of our latest show-buying venture, and we are grateful for the many blessings in our daily lives, that we thought of coming up with a Pay-It-Forward Project to share the happiness to others.

Our plan is to sponsor Project PEARLS’ scholars from Tondo so they can watch UP Playwright’s Theater’s Umaaraw, Umuulan Kinakasal ang Tikbalang on December 9, 2012 (Sunday, 10 AM) at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, Palma Hall, UP Diliman.

Initially, we are pledging thirty (30) tickets for these children but we would like to accommodate more kids. That said, we humbly invite you to be a part of this passion project by being a TICKET SPONSOR so that we can bring in more children to enjoy the play. A ticket costs only P320.

Project PEARLS, an NGO that aims to make a difference in the lives of our underprivileged children, is currently focusing its efforts in Ulingan, Tondo--a small slum community that sits on a dumpsite surrounded by charcoal factories. There is no electricity there and children as young as three-year-olds work in the factories to help their families. Currently, they have 230 scholars from Preschool to High School. To learn more about the group, visit their website ( http://www.projectpearls.org/) or their FB account (https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPEARLS1)

We hope you can help us in making the children’s day brighter with your gift of giving. We are also accepting donations and/or contributions in kind and deed, as we wish to have a simple Christmas lunch and gift-giving with the kids after the show. Your presence and any form of help would be very much appreciated.

Should you wish to purchase tickets so you can watch with your sponsored kid/s, just inform us. For any other concerns and inquiries, please feel free to contact us.

Thank you and advanced Happy Holidays!

Warmest Regards,
Onay Sales (0917.908.0565),
Jayme del Rosario (0927.202.2017)
and RC Marzan (0922.888.5348) 

For more details about the play, please click HERE


For DONATIONS to Project PEARLS, please see below:

 

Inquirer: Eugene Domingo: From ‘Kimmy Dora’ to ‘Bona’

By:Walter Ang
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Original article can be found HERE

TV and film comedy actress Eugene Domingo (“Kimmy Dora”) will portray Bona, the role immortalized by Nora Aunor in the original Lino Brocka film, in Philippine Education Theater Association’s (Peta) stage adaptation, “Bona.”

Bona is a die-hard fan of Gino Sanchez, played by Edgar Allan Guzman (“Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me”), a contestant on a television talent search show.

“Bona” was originally written as a teleplay by Cenen Ramones featuring Laurice Guillen (Bona) and Ruel Vernal (Gardo).

The late Brocka, National Artist for Film and Peta founding member, directed the film version in 1980, starring Aunor as an alalay (girl Friday) to macho bit-player actor Gardo (played by Philip Salvador), with whom she’s very much smitten.

Movies headlined by Aunor have been adapted for the stage before. Peta staged the 1976 film “Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo” in 1991 with Aunor herself in the leading role. Tanghalang Pilipino staged the 1982 film “Himala” in 2003. Both productions were directed by Socrates “Soxy” Topacio, who will also direct Peta’s “Bona.”

Adaptation

Layeta Bucoy was approached by Peta artistic director Maribel Legarda to handle the script. Bucoy has been gaining recognition over the years, winning Palanca awards and writing one-act plays that have created a buzz for their subject matter, use of language and surprise twists, such as “Isang Libong Tula para sa Dibdib ni Dulce” (obsessive love), “Ellas Inocentes” (sexual innocence) and “Doc Resureccion: Gagamutin ang Bayan” (politics). Last year, she adapted William Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus” with director Tuxqs Rutaquio, her constant collaborator, into a contemporary Filipino setting.

“In this version, Bona is more empowered. She’s financially independent. She’s a call center agent,” Bucoy says.

“As a fan, she lays claim to empowerment as she believes that the inclusion of fan votes for a talent search affords her the power to choose tomorrow’s next big star.”

“At first, we tried to follow the plot points of the movie, but as the adaptation developed and the process, true to the nature of theater, became more collaborative, a lot of changes were introduced, though still anchored on the spirit of the movie.”

Comedy-drama

The resulting work is now a comedy-drama. Bucoy points out that the addition of comedic angles is not so much a pandering to Domingo’s comedic skills than the result of the “evolution of the adaptation resulting from the team’s collective vision.”

“The term ‘bona’ is used in gay lingo. ‘Nagpapaka-bona ka sa pag-ibig’ means you’re being stupid, being too much of a martyr for love. When we look at Bona from this angle, what might be melodramatic or even tragic to some might be comical to others. The difficulty lies in choosing a perspective. Isn’t it true that even when it comes to religious fanaticism, some of us may laugh at those who go into a trance while singing ‘In His Time?’”

The production will use videos as a transition device between scenes but Bucoy didn’t want the obvious comparisons to television’s commercial gaps. “We wanted to make the content of the videos part of the narrative. Working with my soul mate Tuxqs Rutaquio has taught me to be conscious of how text is ‘translated’ onstage. Form has a lot of influence on both content and how content is communicated.”

“With ‘Bona,’ using videos not only affords smooth scene transitions onstage, but it also enriches the very content of the material: Bona falls for a guy she first sees on television, desires to see on the big screen and follows in cyberspace. The guy is inside a ‘screen’ or a ‘monitor’ as Bona herself is slowly revealed to be seemingly trapped inside a ‘screen’ monitored by those who dictate what kind of life should we live.”

 

 Catch BONA on its closing weekend!
SEPTEMBER 22, 2012 / Saturday / 3 PM   

at The PETA Theater Center 

(No.5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, QC)

Contact Us:
Robert Ceazar Marzan  (0922.888.5348)
Jayme del Rosario (0927.202.2017)
or Onay Sales (0917.908.0565)

Click The City: PETA Adapts Bona For Stage

Original Article can be found HERE

"Bona" re-emerges this August as Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) opens its 45th theater season in retrospect of a film classic that once captivated the hearts of Filipino audiences.

Originally directed by National Artist for Film and one of PETA's founding members Lino Brocka, the film "Bona" is about a young schoolgirl played by Nora Aunor who became a die-hard fan of Gardo, a wannabe actor essayed by Philip Salvador.

Aunor's portrayal of Bona won her the Best Actress Award in the 1980 Gawad Urian Awards. The film written by Cenen Ramones was also an official entry in the 1981 Cannes International Film Festival Director's Fortnight and was cited as one of the "100 Best Films of the World" by The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

Set in contemporary Manila, PETA's stage adaptation of "Bona"revolves around Eugene Domingo as a spinster call center agent who becomes a fan of Gino Sanchez (Edgar Allan Guzman), a contestant in the talent search 'Star of Tomorrow'. Blinded by her obsession on Gino, Bona turns her back on everything she values and gives up nearly everything she has. Caught in a quicksand of worship and pity, Bona proves how obsession may overpower love and even lead to a person's demise.

Layeta Bucoy, who wrote the stage adaptation, shares her insight about the difference of the new Bona to the film. "Eugene's Bona is more empowered; she is financially independent and even supports her family. As a fan, she lays claim to empowerment, as she believes that the inclusion of fan votes in a talent search on TV affords her to choose tomorrow's next big star. Since her admiration is also stamped with pity, blinded with altruism, she gives the aspiring star her all," shares Bucoy.

Bucoy also expressed her excitement over Domingo's portrayal of Bona, "I believe she has the stamina, range, and imagination for a physically and emotionally taxing role."

The award-winning TV and film actress is joined by a stellar cast of theater actors: Phil Noble, Joey Paras, Jeff Henson-Dee, She Maala, Olive Nieto, Dudz Teraña, Junevir Tabor, Juliene Mendoza, Raffy Tejada, Jason Barcial, BJ Forbes, and Anna Luna. The stage adaptation is directed by theater stalwart Soxie Topacio. 

 

 Catch BONA on its closing weekend!
SEPTEMBER 22, 2012 / Saturday / 3 PM   

at The PETA Theater Center 

(No.5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, QC)

Contact Us:
Robert Ceazar Marzan  (0922.888.5348)
Jayme del Rosario (0927.202.2017)
or Onay Sales (0917.908.0565)

On the Spot: Eugene Domingo

Kate Alvarez | Published: Aug 21, 2012 - 7:00am

Original Article can be found HERE

(SPOT.ph) The last time Spot.ph chatted with Eugene Domingo it was 2009 and Kimmy Dora was taking Manila by storm. Fast forward to 2012 and a lot has changed. She’s lost a lot of weight, for one, and hey, Eugene Domingo is now a certified leading actress: the film that helped make her that way, Kimmy Dora, now has a sequel. As proof of Eugene’s growing stardom, Kimmy Dora and The Temple of Kiyeme surpassed the P100-million mark at the box office.

Despite her success, Eugene remains one of the country's most down-to-earth, hardworking actresses. This month alone, she's got two films coming to the big screen: one of them is a musical comedy film, I Do Bidoo Bidoo, co-starring Gary Valenciano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Ogie Alcasid.

And then there is Bona, a play based on a 1980 Lino Brocka film about a young school girl (played by Nora Aunor) who becomes a die-hard fan of wannabe actor Gardo (played by Philip Salvador). For this 2012 movie version, however, Bona is a spinster call center agent who becomes a fan of Star of Tomorrow contestant, Gino Sanchez, played by Edgar Allan Guzman. It opens on August 24, Friday.

We sat down with Eugene at the press conference of Bona, where the 41-year-old talked about returning to theater, the challenges of portraying a role originally played by Nora Aunor, her upcoming movies, and life in Manila.

 

Your version of Bona is more empowered compared to the 1980 version played by Nora Aunor. The 2012 Bona has a job and she’s the breadwinner of her family. Do you consider yourself empowered as a woman?

I think I’m very independent. Importante pa rin sa akin yung mayroon akong mga totoong kaibigan, yung nagsasalita ng totoo na hindi ako binobola. Importante pa rin sa akin na hindi naco-compromise yung sining ko, yung pinaniniwalaan ko, yung prinsipyo ko. I think yung empowered are my principles. It’s important to have a preservation of my real character.

PETA changed a lot of the elements from the original film. Was that a conscious decision?

Yes. Nag-usap kami nina Direk Soxie Topacio na kahit baldehan niyo ako ng kumukulong tubig, hindi ko kaya yung ginawa ni Nora Aunor. Sinabi ko rin yun kay Ate Guy, so tawa siya ng tawa… The essence of the film is still there, definitely, but we have to cater to more audiences because the socio-political environment and the times then are different from now. Ito ay pagpupugay natin kay Lino Brocka, Cemen Ramones, at Ms. Nora Aunor—sa kanilang klasikong trabaho.

In the play, Bona is obsessed with up-and-coming star Gino Sanchez, who has an extensive social network. He’s always on Facebook, tweeting his fans, and replying to messages. Are you like that in real life?

Wala akong Twitter. Meron akong Facebook, at maraming Eugene Domingo sa Facebook. Iba ang pangalan ko sa Facebook. Instagram mayroon din, pero iba ang pangalan ko doon. Pero nakikita ko yung mga Eugene Domingo sa Twitter. Chine-check ko lang kung nakikipag-away sila. Okay naman. Matibay naman sila! [laughs] And I also read yung mga tine-tweet nila. Sine-search ko lang kung nanood na sila ng pelikula ko. Sinusundan ko lang ang mga sinasabi ng aking mga taga-support because importante sila. Importante kung anong takbo nila, kung ano ang mabenta, kung saan sila natutuwa. Importante sa akin 'yon. 

A scene in Bona with Baldy, played by Joey Paras

What was Ms. Nora Aunor’s reaction when she found out that you’d be playing the role of Bona? What advice did she give you?

Sila po ang nakipag-usap kay Ate Guy, pero nagkaroon kami ng communication recently sa Facebook through Jo-ann Bañaga. Sabi nya, “Binabasa ko kay Ate Guy ang lahat ng sinasabi ko sayo.” Tawa daw ng tawa si Ate Guy sa mga sinasabi ko. Tapos susugod daw siya anytime [to watch the play]. Ako nahihiya ako at abot-abot ang pasasalamat ko. And this is really to honor her. I am so Aunor-ed!

So are you a Noranian?

Oo naman. Maswerte ako kase ang mga unang pelikula o sine na pinasok sa akin ng nanay ko ay Ate Guy films, like Atsay, Lollipops and Roses, and Superstar kada Linggo. Honestly, para sa akin natatapos ang mga superstars kay Nora at kay Vilma. Sila lang para sa akin. Pero sa pagkakataong ito na Bona ang ginagampanan ko, eh Noranian ako, okay na ba? [laughs] Ang gulo naman pag sinabi kong Vilmanian ako! Eh ba’t ako nag-Bona? 'Pag Broken Marriage, sasabihin ko Vilmanian ako.

You started acting in Dulaang UP back when you were college. What lessons have your learned from your alma mater’s theater company?

I love the discipline that they have imparted. I love it! Minsan naiisip ko, yung mga estudyante ngayon na nasa Dulaang UP, sayang hindi na nakumpleto yung mga original na teacher. Yung iba sumakabilang buhay na, yung iba retired na. Nung time ko, kumpleto and we tackled contemporary, classics, Shakespeare, etc. At sabay-sabay ko ring ginagawa na umaarte sa entablado, nagbebenta ng show, at nagbabantay ng audience. Lahat! Well-rounded ang aking naging training at ‘yon ang na-apply ko ngayon sa PETA. I really value my training. I really owe this to Dulaang UP.

Do you have dream roles in theater?

Of course I do! Sabi nila Layeta, bagay daw sa akin ang Mother Courage. Pero bata pa ako. Some of the roles I want to play, medyo may edad na sa classics. Pero gusto ko ulit mag sarswela. Feeling ko talaga sarswelista ako. ‘Tsaka maganda ang mga sarswelang Pilipino.

Would you ever do a full-blown stage musical?

Siguro hindi naman yung parang as professional as Ana Feleo, kase parang training 'yon from being young. Siguro medyo pop musical.

You said in your 2009 interview with Spot.ph that you wanted to go back to school. Were you able to?

Not yet. But [theater] is like school for me. So no plans yet; hopefully in 2014. But I have voice lessons every now and then.

You’ve been so busy the past few years. Do you find time to unwind?

Magaling akong ma-ayos ng calendar ko eh. As early as now, I fixed my calendar already for next year. I have certain days or weeks to travel in the Philippines or abroad.

What’s your favorite travel destination and why?

New York City. Kase iba yung energy eh. They’re diverse, diba? And then you watch plays at walang pagkain na hindi masarap. Then you go to parks and you see different kinds of people. Then you watch plays and you see them dancing, singing, and acting. And then you tell yourself na ang galing galing naman nila! And then just like that, you forget about all your achievements. Then you strive harder because you’re aware that you cannot be kampante.

What about Manila? What are your favorite spots here?

Right now, the spa. I go to the salon. I go to my favorite restaurants in Tomas Morato. I go to Uno restaurant and Taste of LA.

What do you love and hate most about Manila?

I love our weather especially when it’s not a disaster. If it’s a beautiful summer, it’s really beautiful. If it’s just raining na hindi naman monsoon or storm, iba ang ulan sa Manila. It’s more dramatic, hindi katulad ng ulan sa ibang bansa na gloomy. Masaya. Iba talaga ang warmth sa Manila, siguro dahil tropical country tayo. What I hate about Manila is our garbage na nagiging cause ng lahat ng ating delubyo. Sana someday with the lessons learned and discipline starting from our own household, matapos na 'tong mga disaster. Ang dami kasing nagiging biktima dahil na rin sa ating kasalanan.

Photos by by Rodney Baladjay. Additional photos courtesy of PETA and I Do Bidoo Bidoo.

 

 Catch BONA on its closing weekend!
SEPTEMBER 22, 2012 / Saturday / 3 PM   

at The PETA Theater Center 

(No.5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, QC)

Contact Us:
Robert Ceazar Marzan  (0922.888.5348)
Jayme del Rosario (0927.202.2017)
or Onay Sales (0917.908.0565)

GMA Network: 'Bona' sa kontemporaryong panahon, matutunghayan na sa entablado

AMANDA FERNANDEZ

GMA News 

August 19, 2012 9:11pm

 Original Article can be found HERE

Matapos ang mahigit tatlong dekada, mabubuhay muli ang kwento ni Bona, ang karakter na ginampanan ng nag-iisang Superstar na si Nora Aunor sa hindi-malilimutang pelikula na lumabas noong 1980, sa pamamagitan ng isang adaptasyong sumasalamin sa kontemporaryong panahon.

Sa pagkakataong ito, hindi sa pelikula matutunghayan ang "Bona" ngunit sa entablado ng Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) ngayong Agosto hanggang Setyembre.

Pagbibidahan ni Eugene Domingo ang comedy-drama na adaptasyon ng Bona, kung saan kanyang ipapamalas sa teatro ang pagiging fan sa Pilipinas sa panahon ngayon.

Gaganap si Domingo bilang Bona, isang call center agent at breadwinner ng pamilya, na naging tagahanga ng talent search contestant na si Gino Sanchez, na gagampanan ni Edgar Allan Guzman. Sa kalaunan, mas lumalim ang pagkahumaling ni Bona kay Gino, kung saan kanyang tinalikuran ang lahat, kabilang na ang pagkakaroon ng maginhawang buhay, mapasaya lamang ang kanyang idolo.

"I felt that the theme of being a fan is something that is very important to interrogate now," ani PETA Artistic Director Maribel Legarda nang tanungin kung bakit ang pelikulang Bona ang naisipang itampok sa pagbubukas ng ika-45 season ng PETA.

Pagiging fan noon at fan ngayon

Ayon kay Legarda, magkakaroon ng ilang pagbabago mula sa orihinal na pelikula upang maipakita ang pagkakaiba sa pagiging fan noon sa pagiging fan sa kontemporaryong panahon. "Ang fan noon in the 70's at ang fan ngayon ay napakaiba," kwento niya.

Sa pag-unlad ng teknolohiya sa kontemporaryong panahon, mas nabibigyang kakayahan ang lipunan upang ihayag ang kanilang paghanga sa kani-kanilang idolo.

Ayon kay Legarda, ngayong mayroon nang internet, maaari nang gamitin ang mga social networking site upang mapadali ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng mga mamamayan sa mga artista.

'Yung character ni Bona, adept siya sa mga ganitong sitwasyon. Alam niya 'yung Facebook, alam niya 'yung Twitter, alam niya 'yung Friendster...," ani Director Soxie Topacio.

Ang fan ngayon: Si Domingo bilang Bona.Photo courtesy of PETA.

Maliban nito, maaari ring maturo ang midya bilang isa sa mga salik sa pagkakaiba ng mga fan noon sa mga fan ngayon, ayon kay Legarda. Naiimpluwensya ng midya ang pag-iisip ng lipunan.

More pathetic?

Ayon kay Bucoy, kung ikukumpara sa orihinal na karakter na Bona, "kaya niyang tumayo sa sarili niyang paa."

Sa orihinal na pelikula, na idinirekta ni Lino Brocka at isinulat ni Cenen Ramones, ginampanan ni Nora Aunor si Bona, ang mag-aaral na "die-hard fan" ng aktor na si Gardo, na ginampanan naman ni Philip Salvador. Bilang mag-aaral, umaasa lamang si Bona sa kanyang magulang kaya nang iwan niya mga ito upang makasama si Gardo, tinalikuran niya ang pagkakaroon ng maginhawang buhay at wala nang naiwan sa kanya.

"The character I'm portraying, as Bona of today, became more pathetic. Hindi naman siya tanga, hindi naman siya nagdarahok, anong nangyari?" ani Domingo.

Paliwanag naman ni Bucoy, "Maaari 'yung mentalidad na pagiging fan, hindi naman siya dinidiktahan na kung ano 'yung estadong pang-ekonomiya sa buhay, kung hindi, mayroong mga salik na umiikot o nag-iimpluwensya doon sa isang tao, o factors na nag-iimpluwensya o nagtutulak sa atin para mapunta tayo sa isang katayuan o etstado, na hindi tayo nabubuhay na mag-isa lang."

'Iconic scenes'

Samantala, ipinapangako naman ni Topacio na lalabas ang mga pangunahing eksena ng orihinal na pelikula sa adaptasyon, ngunit ilalagay ito sa kontemporaryong sitwasyon upang magkaroon ng relasyon sa mga tagapanuod ngayon. "We choose iconic scenes na makikita mo sa pelikula at dito sa dula... but then, nilawakan namin," aniya.

"The essence of the film is still there definitely, but we have to cater to more audiences because the socio-political environment then or the times then is very different from now," ayon naman kay Domingo, na aminadong may bahagi sa pagsasagawa ng konsepto sa adaptasyon.

Ayon naman kay Layeta Bucoy, sumulat sa adaptasyon ng Bona, isa sa mga pananatalihin niyang eksena ay ang huling eksena ng pelikula kung saan tatapunan ni Bona ng kumukulong tubig si Gardo habang papaliguan niya ito.

"It's going to be there but it's not the last scene," aniya. "Mayroon pang mangyayari, may twist pa."

"It's a different kind of ending. May kaunting kasunod pa to emphasize this time or the contemporary time," dagdag niya.

 

 Catch BONA on its closing weekend!
SEPTEMBER 22, 2012 / Saturday / 3 PM   

at The PETA Theater Center 

(No.5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, QC)

Contact Us:
Robert Ceazar Marzan  (0922.888.5348)
Jayme del Rosario (0927.202.2017)
or Onay Sales (0917.908.0565)

Eugene Domingo takes centerstage in PETA's adaptation of Bona

by William Reyes

Original Article can be found HERE

 

Magkahalong comedy at nostalgia ang nangyari noong gabi ng August 14, sa ginanap na presscon ng dulang Bona, sa PETA Center sa E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon City.

Ang Bona ang magiging 45th Season Opener ng Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) sa taong 2012. 
Sa dula, gaganap sa papel na Bona, ang dakilang fan, ang mahusay at popular na aktres at komedyanteng si Eugene Domingo.

Ito rin ang ginampanang papel ng respetadong dramatic actress na si Nora Aunor noong 1980, sa pelikulang Bona na idinirehe ng National Artist for Film Lino Brocka.

Sa pagganap ni Eugene sa stage adaptation ng Bona, binalikan nito ang moments ni Nora sa pelikulang Bona.  

Tulad ng climactic scene kung saan ibubuhos ni Bona (Nora) ang kumukulong tubig sa sinasamba nitong si Gardo (Phillip Salvador), isang movie bit player na sukdulan na ang pagkutya at pag-api sa kanya.

Sa dula, tagapagtaguyod at tagapagsilbi naman si Bona (Eugene) ni Gino Sanchez (Edgar Allan Guzman), ang wannabe star ng isang reality star search.
Ang direktor ng dula ng PETA ay si Soxy Topacio, ang artistic director ay si Maribel Legarda, at ang nag-adapt ng pelikula para sa stage ay si Layeta "Lali" Bucoy.

Antimano ay sinabihan sila ni Eugene na ibang klase ang Bona ni Nora.
“Nag-usap nga kami ni Direk Soxy, ni Maribel, ni Lalie, na sabi ko, ‘Kahit banlian ninyo ako ng kumukulong tubig, hindi ko kaya yung ginawa ni Nora Aunor!’

“At sinabi ko rin iyon kay Ate Guy! So tawa siya nang tawa.  Sabi niya, 
‘Susugurin kita diyan!’

“So, ang pinakagusto kong mangyari dito, pag napanood ni Ate Guy [ang play] ay maaliw siya. 

“Ready na po kaming aliwin siya.  Pagkatapos niya po tayong aliwin ng maraming mga taon, it’s time for her to be entertained.

“At gusto kong ipakita sa kanya na ang ginawa niya noon, hanggang ngayon, bilang classic, ay dapat pa ring mapanood.  Kaya namin siya in-adapt.

“So the essence of the film is still there, definitely!

“But we have to cater to more audiences because the socio-political environment then, or during those times, was very different from now.

“So, ito ay pagpupugay natin kay Lino Brocka, kay Cenen Ramones [orihinal na sumulat ng Bona], at kay Ms. Nora Aunor sa kanilang trabaho.

“Una, para sa TV drama anthology episode ng Lino Brocka Presents, na ginampanan ni Laurice Guillen noong '70s; pangalawa, para sa pelikula ni Nora.”

KISSING SCENE.  Well-attended ng local showbiz media, kabilang na ang PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), ang presscon ng Bona.
Sa presscon, ipinakita muna ng PETA ang ilang natatanging tagpo ng dula, tampok sina Eugene, Edgar Allan, Joey Paras at iba pang kasali sa cast.
Ang mahabang eksena ng away nina Edgar Allan at Joey, kung saan pumagitna si Eugene, ang naging tampok na teaser.

Natapos ito sa mainit na kissing scene nina Eugene at Edgar Allan, na umabot nang mahigit isang minuto.

Pagdating sa Q & A, siyempre pa, natanong kung ano ang naging pakiramdam nina Uge at Edgar sa ginawa nilang kissing scene.

Sabi ni Uge, ito raw ang una niyang naisip: “Ay, kissing scene pala ito, makapag-gargle nga!” 

Natatawang sagot naman ni Edgar Allan: “Ang sarap! Masarap talaga!”
Na kinontra naman ni Uge: “Paanong magiging masarap, e, menthol ‘yun—menthol!” 

“Masarap talaga!” diin uli ni Edgar, sabay nangulit. “And pinaghandaan ko pa talaga yung iba pa naming eksena ni Ate Uge, na may kissing scenes. Siguro mas grabe pa doon ang gagawin ko.”

Kontra uli ni Uge: “Isa lang naman... iyon na yun!”

Pagpipilit pa rin ni Edgar Allan: “Mas grabe pa.  Kasi ito, medyo ano pa, wala pang tuma-tumbling!”

Natawa rito si Uge: “Wala pa kaming set, e, kaya iba pa yung mismong mapapanood sa entablado...”

“Kaya hanggang labi muna...” singit ni Edgar Allan.

NORANIAN OR VILMANIAN?  May tanong din noong presscon na tila naglalagay kay Uge sa alanganin. Ang tanong ay kung siya ba ay Noranian.

“Oo naman!” sabi ni Uge. "Kaya masuwerte ako, kasi sa mga unang pelikula, o sine na ipinasok ako ng nanay ko, mga earlier films ni Ate Guy.

“Lollipops and Roses, yung mga pang-MMFF, like, yung Atsay... Superstar [TV show] kada Linggo."

Dagdag ni Uge, na palayaw ni Eugene: “To tell you, honestly, para sa akin, natatapos ang mga stars, superstars, kay Nora at kay Vilma.  Sila lang, para sa akin.”

So Vilmanian din si Eugene?  

Dito na pumasok ang bilis at talino ni Eugene sa pagsagot sa minsa'y maintrigang press: “Ah... Diyos ko, sino ba naman ang makakatanggi na hangaan ang dalawang yun?

“Sa pagkakataong ito, na Bona ang ginagampanan ko, e, di Noranian ako.  Okey lang?  

“Alangan naman...pag sinabi kong ‘Vilmanian ako!’ e ba’t ako nagbo-Bona?

“Kung Broken Marriage ito, sasabihin ko ‘Vilmanian ako!’ Ganoon lang.  Okey?”
Tawanan naman ang press.

OBSESSED FAN.  Ang Bona ay kuwento ng isang fan na na-obsess sa kanyang ini-idolong male starlet. Mayroon din bang obsession si Eugene sa buhay at paano niya ito nalampasan?

“Nung inilatag ni Layeta [Bucoy] ang aking baraha, tuluy-tuloy na coins ang nakita [sa baraha] niya!”

“Malamang, yun ang obsesyon ko sa buhay ngayon!" prangkang sagot ng komedyante. "Naka-focus talaga ako sa practical side of my life."

Alam naman sa industriya na kapag teatro, walang gaanong kita ang isang aktor, at kapag pelikula, may kitang malaki.

Pero sabi nga ni Eugene sa PETA: “But, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your 45th season."

At dahil kilalang-kilala na si Eugene ng publiko dala ng mga pelikula nitong blockbusters, sinabi ng stage/TV/film actress: “Ito na ang aking... ito ang isa sa mga pangarap ko sa buhay, ang maging bahagi ng isang palabas sa teatro.

“Kung saan, madali kong mahihikayat ang mga manonood ng telebisyon at pelikula na maranasan naman nila kung paanong manood ng mga nagtatanghal sa entablado."

Sabay sabi uli nito sa PETA: “Hopefully, sa 50th anniversary nila, ma-invite uli ako! Hindi ko kasi kaya nang taun-taon.”

EVERYDAY COMMITMENT.  Nagbahagi si Eugene ng demands ng theater sa isang performer.  

“Alam ninyo, talagang ang commitment sa theater... nagigising ako nang madaling araw, tapos, naiisip ko siya kaagad.

“Hindi katulad ng, kapag shooting, 'take! cut!'...Nakalimutan ko na yun.

“Tapos, puwede na akong magpamasahe, nakalimutan ko na lahat.

“Ito, araw-araw, committed ako.” 

Hindi muna nagti-taping o tumatanggap ng bagong assignments si Uge, maliban sa natapos niyang huling pelikula, ang I Do Bidoo Bidoo.

“Talagang grabe ito!  Inuubos talaga ang savings ko!” pakuwela ni Uge tungkol sa seryosong isyu ng low income ng mga nasa teatro.

“Wala akong kinikita, o!  Dalawang buwan na!"

Pero sabi nga ng magaling na aktres: “But, really, there’s no screen bigger than the theater!"

Sabay bagsak ng: “And there’s no talent fee bigger than... TV!” 

 

 Catch BONA on its closing weekend!
SEPTEMBER 22, 2012 / Saturday / 3 PM   

at The PETA Theater Center 

(No.5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, QC)

Contact Us:
Robert Ceazar Marzan  (0922.888.5348)
Jayme del Rosario (0927.202.2017)
or Onay Sales (0917.908.0565)

Eugene Domingo to star in Bona

Eugene Domingo to star in Bona STAR CIRCUIT By Ricky L. Calderon (The Freeman)

Original Article can be found HERE

Award-winning actress Eugene Domingo (Cinemalaya, Enpress Golden Screen Awards and Asian Film Awards) for the indie film “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank” makes her return to theater via PETA’s Bona, a contemporary adaptation of the 1980 movie which starred Nora Aunor. This comes on the heels of the box-office triumph of her movie “Kimi Dora and the Temple of Kiyeme” which affirmed Uge’s stature as a new box office star.

The actress says she had her schedule blocked off in order to concentrate on the play which centers on the life of Bona, a spinster call center agent who becomes a fan of aspiring talent show contestant Gino (played by Edgar Allan Guzman who, like Uge, was a winner at the Cinemalaya and Enpress Golden Screen Awards for Ligo na U, Lapit Na Me for best actor).

“My producers know that I have a play come August and September. I’d like to thank them because they respected my decision that I’d want to concentrate on Bona by not accepting any TV show or movie at the time that I’d be busy rehearsing for it and for the duration of the show as well. Kaya naghihirap na ako kasi wala akong kikitain sa play na ito,” Eugene said in jest.

What makes the play Bona different from the movie version is that the stars, the director Soxie Topacio and the writer Layeta Bucoy made researches and corroborated with the material that is not detached with the germ of the movie but tweaked it to suit the times.

“Lahat kami nag-share ng experiences namin and we gave our input on how we think the story of Bona should be during this time. Dapat reflection ito ng panahon natin but we retained the vision of Direk Lino Brocka. Pero in the same manner, dapat maka-identify din ang audience sa kuwento kasi contemporary na ang setting,” explains Uge during the Bona presscon held last August 14 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City.

Set in contemporary Manila, PETA’s adaptation of “Bona” revolves around Eugene Domingo as a call center who becomes a fan of the “Star of Tomorrow” wannabe Gino Sanchez (Edgar Allan Guzman). Blinded by her obsession on Gino, Bona turns her back on everything she values and gives nearly everything she has. Caught in a quicksand of worship and pity, Bona proves how obsession may overpower love and even lead to a person’s demise.

For her role, Eugene had to lose weight she gained while shooting Kimmy Dora 2. “Nag-diet ako ulit. Tumaba naman ako ng husto sa Kimmy Dora kasi matakaw si Dora ‘di ba? Pero this time hindi ako puwedeng maging mabigat dahil halos dalawang oras ako nasa entablado na kilos ako ng kilos. Kung mabigat ako mapapagod ako agad. At hindi dapat nakikitang hinihingal ka eh. I have to be healthy, yung stamina ko kailangan priority ko at walang bisyo.”

The talented comedienne admits she is happy that she has Nora Aunor’s blessing to play her character. “Napaka-suwerte. Natatanggal ng konti ang kaba ko. Nagkakaroon ako ng kumpiyansa. Kung na-intimidate ako, oo naman. Kaya ang gusto ko mangyari, maaliw si Ate Guy sa Bona naming ito. Alam mo, ilang taon, ilang dekada niya tayong inaliw sa mahusay niyang pagganap, panahon na na siya naman ang ating aliwin. Ang dami na niyang binigay sa atin. So I really hope this time itong aming palabas na ito ay yun talagang matuwa siya at kiligin siya.”

The 41-year-old actress admits she used to be intimidated with Nora even before they worked together in the drama series “Sa Ngalan ng Ina” which was aired on TV5. “Oo, pero nasanay na lang ako sa Sa Ngalan Ng Ina, pero nung una hindi ko alam paano kakausapin. Kasi baka nag-ko-concentrate. Diyos ko, makalipas ang ilang linggo, mas joker pa siya sa akin. Siya talaga yung mahilig tumawa,” she recalls.

Eugene expects there will be comparisons to the original version on Bona once people start watching but she hopes people will appreciate what they have to offer. “Of course, everything mako-compare, yung istorya, lahat, yung execution, yung pag ganap ko, mako-compare. Given na yun na mako-compare but consciously we try to show you something different and I think ma-a-appreciate ninyo because lahat tayo makaka-relate,” she says. 

“But I know na hindi ko kayang pantayan ang ginawa ni Ate Guy sa Bona kasi original siya. Walang magagawa sa ginawa niya sa movie. She’s the one. Diyos ko. Aminado po ako na walang ibang makakagawa nang ginawa ni Ate Guy! Nag-iisa lang siya. Isa pa, comedy ang forte so that is another factor that makes this stage play different. Sana magustuhan ng mga tao ang mapapanood nila.”

At the presscon of Bona, Eugene says she is a true-blooded Noranian. She had a chance to talk with Nora via Facebook and she told her that she will surprise her by watching her performance of the stage play adaptation of the Superstar’s classic movie.

 

 Catch BONA on its closing weekend!
SEPTEMBER 22, 2012 / Saturday / 3 PM   

at The PETA Theater Center 

(No.5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, QC)

Contact Us:
Robert Ceazar Marzan  (0922.888.5348)
Jayme del Rosario (0927.202.2017)
or Onay Sales (0917.908.0565)