Play explores what men really go through
Now on the performance stage is DickTalk, a play that presents not only hilarious views on the size and shape of the male genitalia but also tackles more serious matters involving men.
“DickTalk is extremely clever material,” said Gold Aceron during our exclusive online interview.
“Everyone should understand that men also go through something (in life). We, men, who are always seen as strong and fearless, are not encouraged to outwardly express emotions. Hindi kami laging malakas pero kailangan,” he added.
Gold plays the teenager Junjun Salvador who worries too much about his curved dick.
Nil Nodalo, on the other hand, sees DickTalk “as a show that will finally break the barrier that trans men are not men. This play is a good platform to share awareness to the public that trans men really do exist. We are valid and trans men are men.”
Below, Gold and Nil further discussed how their respective characters will make the audience understand men, what message the play wants to send to people and what their roles say about them.
DickTalk touches on issues that a man goes through in society. What do you think is the biggest issue that a man has to deal with at present?
Gold: “In the life of a teenage boy, this is the stage where he begins to show curiosity in sexual topics. He starts to explore and understand sexuality. For me, this is the biggest issue that teenage boys are facing today. Another is fear — the fear to show one’s weakness because men who express their emotions are often seen as weak.”
Nil: “I think by just simply voicing out our opinions, the way we should behave, the way we talk or dress up. It’s also a big deal how a man in the family should act accordingly. Filipinos have the stigma for men: It’s actually a taboo if we see a man crying.”
As a man, do you believe there is a correlation between size and confidence level? What can you say to that oft-repeated question, “Does size really matter?”
Gold: “For me, it doesn’t matter because if love is real between two people, there is willingness to accept each other unconditionally and for sure, size won’t matter. For a man, the size can boost his confidence level pero hindi rin dapat ikahina ng loob kung anong meron ka.”
Nil: “As a man with a transgender man life experience, it’s really not about the size. It’s all about the performance, if we are talking about sex. Overall, confidence is all about inner self-recognition that you are enough.”
How do you think the play would impact the audience?
Gold: “I’m sure it will definitely make a big impact not just to male audiences but also to women because it will serve as an eye-opener to what men are going through. Being a man is not easy. You have the family on your back and it’s a lot of responsibility.”
Nil: “It will help the audience understand men on a deeper level. After all, we all have men in our families, so this is a brave platform to show what men are really going through.”
Are you willing to do nudity for your role?
Gold: “Yes, because theater is an art so whatever my role requires, I’ll certainly do. ‘Pag sinabing teatro, wala tayong hindi kayang gawin. So, you have to find out what we’re gonna do in DickTalk.”
Nil: “Nudity is not necessary for my role. The story itself will bare the life of what trans man is all about.”
If your dick could really talk, what would it say to the audience?
Gold: “Meow.”
Nil: “I am enough.”
Since you’re always together in rehearsals, what did you discover about each other?
Gold: “Their passion for the craft inspires me to do my best. We’ve become friends and I truly learned a lot from them, especially kay Kuya Nil since wala akong alam about trans man, so ang dami kong nalaman.”
Nil: “As a transgender man, I don’t have a lot of male friends but when I got to know more about my co-stars, I realized that trans men are no different from these men (his co-stars are — apart from Gold — Jake Cuenca, Archi Adamos and Mikoy Morales).”
What does your role say about you?
Gold: “It doesn’t matter whether you have a straight or curved, big or small one, what’s important is you know your worth as a person.”
Nil: “Trans men have different stories but the bottom line is, we exist.”
What’s the best and toughest parts of theater acting?
Gold: “Best parts are the experiences and the learnings. Theater acting polishes my acting skills. The toughest part is the amount of effort that stage acting requires. In order to effectively give life to your role, you really have to study what kind of approach you present to your audience. Theater acting is fun and at the same time challenging.”
Nil: “At first, the lines/scripts are overwhelming but once you read them again and again, you will gain muscle memory. Theater acting is intense and addicting.”
(DickTalk runs for a limited time until April 23 at the RCBC Theater, Makati City. Tickets are available on ticketworld.com.ph.)
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