Red Turnip’s Cock: Insane & divine

Red Turnip Theater’s production of Cock revolves around the story of a gay couple, John (played by Topper Fabregas) and M (Niccolo Manahan) who found themselves in an interesting love triangle with W (Jenny Jamora), the woman whom John sleeps and falls in love with. This ensued in a mind-blowing cockfight of the sexes because neither of them wants to give up John. Joining the colorful and intriguing characters is M’s father, F (Audie Gemora) who inevitably appears almost at the end of the story.

For the no-nonsense Bibeth Orteza to glide the extra Cock mile, to remind me not just once but twice for the sake of life, beauty, theater and nothing at all, it was imperative for me (who spent his cockiest years in the streets and in the theater) to watch Cock at Whitespace in Makati. I’ve read and heard about British playwright Mike Bartlett’s rock-hard Cock that amused, entertained and intrigued people in London and New York and I figured, who doesn’t want to see Cock?

So with my two friends, I went to Whitespace one Saturday evening. I was a bit late having traversed the horrid traffic of EDSA from far-away Quezon City.

Five minutes into Cock, I was seduced and I surrendered without a fight! This Cock was insane, pulsating, divine, playful and solid.

A few more seconds on stage, Audie would have owned the whole building of Whitespace. He is insanely talented and as an actor, he always has a fresh take on his roles. He is the king!

Niccolo cannot not be gay. He was so natural. He sizzled with gay bravado and acerbity like no one I have seen on and off stage. Pope Francis should beatify him. He’s a priceless theatrical treasure. And he’s straight!

Jenny was so good, I hated her for an hour. How dare she barged beyond our nine-dash-line-boundary. I remembered all the women who caused me pain. And I prayed. She was so real in that stylized cockpit, I wanted to scratch her face after the lights have dimmed. Powerful actor!

Topper was delicious, dangerous and devilish. He was confused, neurotic, vulnerable — everything we are and we were when we fall in love. To say that he was brilliant in Cock is to denigrate the honesty and charm he put into John. Topper provoked me too much, I’m still thinking about John!

Rem Zamora’s direction was straightforward, clever, sleek and inspired.

Go find your tickets for Cock. I found mine at National Bookstore in Quezon Ave. near ABS-CBN. If you don’t watch this, you’ll never experience a theatrical show as sybaritic as this. And that’s a hell of a life!

Cock runs until April 6 at Whitespace, 2314 Chino Roces Ave. Extension, Makati. Tickets are available through TicketWorld (call 891-9999) or Ticketworld Online.

Anne: No awkwardness with Sam

The entertainment business welcomed another Dyesebel in Anne Curtis. She is the latest star to wear the iconic title of Mars Ravelo’s classic. Fans of the actress say that Anne is the sexiest of the Dyesebels.

Dyesebel first came to life on the screen in 1953 with Edna Luna. In the ‘70s, Star For All Seasons and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos portrayed the role, while Alma Moreno donned the Dyesebel costume in 1978. Alice Dixson became Dyesebel in 1990 and Charlene Gonzalez in 1996.

The production and cast are leaving no stone unturned to make the latest ABS-CBN fantaserye on TV a lifetime viewing experience.

Anne who played Dyosa before has done a lot of preparation for the role of a mermaid. “They are different. Dyesebel is searching for her true being.” She also had to watch the previous Dyesebel starrers.

Anne is paired with two hot leading men, Sam Milby and Gerald Anderson. “With Gerald, it’s fresh. He is very professional. Masaya siyang ka-trabaho. I am excited makita kung ano pa pwede namin maibigay sa viewers ng Dyesebel.”

As with former boyfriend Sam, Anne said that there is no awkwardness on the set. “Okay naman,” she added.

And when she learned that Marian Rivera, who previously played Dyesebel in a series on GMA 7, had only good words for her, Anne was ecstatic. “Natutuwa ako kay Marian. I never believed dun sa tsismis na sinabi niya na hindi raw ako bagay. Alam ko hindi niya yun masasabi. Okay kami ni Marian.”