Michael Williams: Directing Cinderella is a blast!

Michael Stuart Williams, the veteran theater actor that we all know and love for his years devoted to the Philippine stage, has transitioned seamlessly into directing. His latest work as a director, Cinderella, can be seen until Dec. 20 at the impressive Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila.

I recently sat down with Michael to discuss the new project that sees him donning the director’s hat.

How has the transition been from actor to director?

“Transitioning from acting to directing has been quite easy for me and I attribute this to my roots, all my years of training at the Repertory Philippines. There, my directors were also actresses, Baby Barredo and the late Zenaida Amador. The process of directing for them is from the perspective of an actor. It’s not too dissimilar. You have an overview of the project but you also look at the details of what the actor needs. As an actor, I love working with directors who know what the actor requires and they allow for it to happen. So for me, it’s easy to move from one to another, and is a natural progression for me coming from Repertory and the style of work that we do there. As actors, we always dissect the material anyway, and we are always discussing how best to tell the story, which is actually a director’s perspective as well.”

How has it been directing Cinderella so far?

“Directing Cinderella has been a blast! I have a great cast. An amazing ensemble…they are very, very strong! The ensemble is daring, courageous and brave, and people know the stage here at Newport Performing Arts Theater is huge. And yet, they go on there every night and just bring it! A great technical staff, a great artistic team, great set of musicians playing for us and it’s been a wonderful ride from beginning to end.”

What are the challenges in staging such an iconic story?

“An iconic story like this, it’s almost like the ‘To Be or Not to Be’ speech of Shakespeare, everybody knows it! And because everyone does know it, it’s a challenge to try to find that thing which is fresh about it or that thing which makes it vital and viable and important, but I realize that if you trusted the material, it will take care of itself. The reason why this show, this story is a classic, is because it has a nugget of truth in it. There is something in it for everyone. There is a Cinderella in everyone! There is an employee that hasn’t been recognized. There is the young sibling overshadowed by the older sibling. There is always a Cinderella; this is the story that tells that. The desire to be recognized, the desire to get your wish and the desire to go to the ball. It’s cathartic for people who watch it. You have to come to see the show to see the enchantment that it weaves!”

Why do people have to come watch this staging of Cinderella at Resorts World?

“People have to come watch Cinderella because it’s a fantastic show! You’re not likely to see a show like this in a long time. It’s just a spectacle of a show!”

I caught Cinderella at Resorts World and was really impressed by the staging and, as direk Michael puts it, the spectacle of the production. Julia Abueva and Fred Lo were on that night and it was a joy to watch their fairytale love affair blossom on stage. Don’t fail to catch this show!