Theater actor gets 'big time' on TV

He can be mistaken for Chris of the Cameron Mackintosh musical Miss Saigon. However, David Garcia Sr. of Tayong Dalawa premiering Jan. 19 on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida has a more complicated life than that of the American G.I. David has two sons and two selfless, strong-willed lady loves.

Like the young soldier caught in the days leading to the Fall of Saigon, the US navy captain yields to that “sinful, original sin,” as The Engineer puts it, but is unaware of the consequence it brings to his life.

Playing David Sr. is Miguel Faustmann, veteran stage actor and perhaps Repertory Philippines’ favorite leading man.

“I’m in love with Agot (Isidro)’s character,” offers Miguel about the pivotal role of the older David in the story. “One night, we fought and I went back to Subic. I got drunk with a bar girl. Then I married Agot without my knowing that the other woman was pregnant. And my wrongdoing comes back to haunt me in the future.”

Miguel hasn’t played a character similar to David Sr. on stage given his more than three-decade career. It is a motivation for him to go beyond the proscenium arch and cross over to the small screen. Tayong Dalawa is Miguel’s biggest TV acting assignment to date.

Last year, he played Lou Gehring’s Disease-stricken Prof. Morrie in Tuesdays with Morrie.

“I never expected that this role would be this big. I thought I was just auditioning for a bit, short part,” says Miguel, who is being represented by Carlo Orosa’s Stages. “I just auditioned and I was chosen. I’m enjoying it. Everybody’s nice. I work with a great team.”

But Tayong Dalawa is not Miguel’s first foray to mainstream acting. He appeared on a telefantasya and also in the award-winning indie Kaleldo with Cherry Pie Picache who happens to be Miguel’s another woman on the TV series.

To play his part, Miguel just tones down his acting and makes everything subdued knowing the intimacy of TV.

How is it working with Gerald Anderson, Jake Cuenca and Kim Chiu?

“They are intense,” answers Miguel. “(As actors) They give and so you can give back. I’m proud to be their (Jake and Gerald’s) father.”

Miguel, Aliw Best Stage Actor winner, is part of the award-winning ensemble of Tayong Dalawa, a cine as he describes it. It has Cherry Pie, Gina Pareño, Anita Linda, Mylene Dizon, Baron Geisler and Coco Martin, all international film festival actors. There’s also the Actors’ Circle comprising of Helen Gamboa, Alessandra de Rossi, Jiro Manio, Agot and Spanky Manikan.

Will David Garcia Sr. be the start of Miguel’s TV career?

“I hope so,” says the actor who acted first for Teatro Hispanico before venturing to Repertory Philippines and Atlantis. “Why not? If I can improve my Tagalog. (If that happens) I want to do different roles. It is more challenging to any actor. Typecasting is boring.”

Although Tayong Dalawa seems to encompass the issues on love, family, anger and forgiveness, Miguel has this to say for everyone to ponder upon, “Be careful. One mistake could cause a lot of trouble. Your past comes back to you (later in life).”