Audie: Theater is my sanctuary

MANILA, Philippines - Audie Gemora couldn’t help but lament over the “sad state” of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The CCP has been in the news these past few days for an exhibit that offended religious sensibilities. For the respected stage actor and director, however, there are other matters concerning the CCP that deserve more attention.

Audie was compelled to speak up after a staging of his latest directorial work Noli Me Tangere at the CCP last week had to be halted after only three scenes because the lighting board bogged down. Noli Me Tangere, the Ryan Cayabyab and Bien Lumbera stage musical adaptation of the first novel of our national hero Jose Rizal, is the 25th season opener of CCP’s resident theater company, Tanghalang Pilipino.  

“The lighting board of CCP is conking out because it’s already 40 years old,” Audie told The STAR. He also said that rain would leak from the ceiling, soaking portions of the venue’s carpet, some restrooms aren’t functioning, among other signs of disrepair in what is known as the home of Filipino culture and the arts.

“Let’s not ignore CCP because it’s our national theater. Kung napabayaan ng past administrations sana naman mabigyan ng pansin at suportahan ng gobyerno ngayon,” he appealed.

He also hopes that his colleagues would rally support for the institution with the same level of energy and “righteous indignation” they directed at a Cinemalaya director who made a comment on theater artists already contended being fed with “skyflakes and catfood.” (The director has since apologized for the remark.) 

“That conking out of the lighting board is the same with the ‘skyflakes statement.’ Theater actors are paid so little. I gave up my paycheck to do Noli because I needed more chorus people but walang pera. I don’t say that to look good but to underline the sad state of our national theater na walang pera dumadating. Walang pera sa culture and arts, which is the soul of the Filipino people. I want my colleagues to rally this government to give a budget to run the CCP (well),” he said.

Nevertheless, Audie was able to glean consolation from the incident that coincided with his birthday, as it was attended by friends who were willing to have their tickets honored on other playdates. 

“After the conk-out, people rushed on stage, we had a party and picture-taking. It also became a reunion with people who did Noli before like Monique Wilson and Regine Velasquez,” he said, referring to his co-actors in the original run of Noli 17 years ago, wherein he took on the lead role of Crisostomo Ibarra.

Asked what kind of fulfillment he gets out of stage acting and directing, he said: “When you act, the process of bringing to life the character and of projecting the right emotions is where you get your fulfillment. It’s very internal. In directing, you look at the bigger picture. You consider the theme and statement you’re making.”

In Noli for example, the challenge was to provide a fresh interpretation that remains faithful to the novel and highlights its relevance: That the very same ills dramatized by Rizal in the novel still exist today.

The descendants of Rizal were very happy after watching it, he shared. “Directing is more difficult so the satisfaction is more heightened. When I get positive reactions, sobrang sarap ng feeling,” added Audie who won an award for directing the controversial Equus last year.

After Noli, his sixth directorial job to date, he is set to helm two more plays next year including Next Fall, a tale of two male lovers, one of whom is a born-again Christian. Audie expects reactions like the way his pastors reacted to Equus. “Although I use a lot of my art to uplift (faith), I’m not afraid to take up matters that are real. As artists, we reflect life. My faith is different from my art. A born-again who struggles with his homosexuality, it’s reality. I want to present a reality of life but you make the judgment and choices.”

With or without controversy, what’s certain is that theater is something that he can’t do without, even with his monumental job of heading TV5’s talent management and development division. “(Theater) keeps my sane. My basic work is very taxing. It’s building stars and you don’t have all the cards in building stars. There’s no formula. But in theater, the results can be controlled. Hard work and dedication will give you results. That’s why the theater is my sanctuary.”

Noli Me Tangere runs on all weekends of this month to commemorate Rizal’s 150th birthday anniversary. Mark Bautista and Gian Magdangal alternate as Ibarra with Cris Villonco as Maria Clara. Libretto is by National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera; music by Ryan Cayabyab; and set design by National Artist for Theatre Design Salvador Bernal.