Cheska back to stage acting

Cheska Iñigo has no qualms inviting her children to watch the forthcoming 10th anniversary Atlantis Productions presentation, Spring Awakening. Even if the musical is seemingly about sex, sex and even more sex.

“It’s not just about sex. Besides, sex is just incidental in the story. It’s about truth — finding the truth and facing it squarely in the face,” said Cheska in a recent interview.

Written in the late 1800s by Frank Wedekind, the story of teenage self-discovery of Spring Awakening became so controversial back then that it was banned from stage.

And although times have changed, Cheska thinks that the subjects the play touches on (abortion, rape, suicide, etc) are still predominantly taboo in the Philippines — and one that must be reexamined responsibly.

“I plan to take my children out to dinner after they’ve seen Spring Awakening. I expect that they would want to talk about it, from the nudity to some of the provocatively-titled songs. “Hopefully, parents who will watch the show with their children will do the same. My measure of success with this one is if it opens a dialogue between generations.”

In Spring Awakening, Cheska plays the Female Adult Figure which is actually five roles, each of which has its distinct personality. These roles are a slew of mothers (some supportive, others ignorant or negligent), a piano teacher and an instructor who couldn’t care less about her troubled students.  

Cheska joked that she almost became “schizophrenic” trying to segregate the roles so that each is in its proper place.

“I was careful that my characterizations did not overlap. I had to build a persona for each one — and not get confused. This is one of the most challenging roles I have ever portrayed,” she said.

Cheska is proud of the music of Spring Awakening (“though I won’t be singing here, don’t worry,” she kidded). The songs (written by Duncan Sheik of Barely Breathing and On A High-fame) are totally accessible to today’s generation which offsets the notion some may have that the play might be “dated” due to its setting.

“It’s about a timely subject, the songs rock, the story has many twists — what can be more hip?” said Cheska of the Tony award-winning Spring Awakening.

The actress recalls being pleasantly surprised when she was picked to become part of the musical. Although not new in the business (she was, after all, part of Bagets 2 in the ’80s), Cheska returns to the stage after a 25-year hiatus.

“I don’t know why, but the people from Atlantis Productions remembered me somehow,” she said, laughing. Cheska was last seen onstage as a young girl in shows like Night of the Iguana, South Pacific and Fiddler on the Roof.

Cheska has already been appearing on TV shows but she admits to still miss theater.

“Theater is a different form of fulfillment. It keeps you on your toes. The rush an actor gets after a performance cannot be replicated in film or TV. The connection an actor gets with the audience is almost electric.”

Spring Awakening runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 18 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City. For tickets, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or 840-1187. Spring Awakening also stars Jett Pangan, Sitti and Miguel Mendoza.  

Madonna Brava at CCP

Shamaine Centenera Buencamino plays Madonna Brava in Tanghalang Pilipino’s Madonna Brava ng Mindanao at Tanghalang Huseng Batute (Studio Theater), Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Directed by Nestor Horfilla, founding artistic director of Kaliwat Theater Collective, Inc. of Davao, Madonna Brava is based on Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children.

Described by TP artistic director Nanding Josef as “a relevant and exciting new production,” Madonna Brava ng Mindanao also features music composed and arranged by Mebuyan.

Madonna Brava ng Mindanao will run for four weekends until Oct. 11, with evening shows at 8 on Fridays and Saturdays and matinees at 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

For details, call Tanghalang Pilipino at 832-1125 loc. 1620 and 1621/telefax: 832-3661 or e-mail [email protected] or log on to www.tangha-langpilipino.com.