Gantimpala Theater revisits 'Kanser'
Manila, Philippines - On the occasion of its 35th theater season, Gantimpala Theater (GT) presents the longest running Philippine theater classic (first staged in 1980 at the CCP), Kanser, penned by award-winning playwright Jomar Fleras, with Adriana Agcaoili and Jheyar Caguimbal as directors.
With the company’s commitment to educate and entertain its audiences, it now highlights the 10 reasons why the audiences must watch this much-loved classic.
Director Agcaoili says, “As live theater, it makes for an entertaining two-hours of watching. As a historical record, however, it is a powerful and very real testament that Rizal — and all the revolutionary Eliases, the victimized Sisas and Crispins, and the broken idealists like for Ibarra — made for our motherland. The lost dreams and the blood they have shed have bought us the freedom we enjoy and sometimes take for granted.”
The pair of Kapuso actor Jay Gonzaga and Kapamilya Cris Pastor star as Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara.
“Ibarra is a very difficult role since he is the center of the novel’s universe. He starts as an idealistic ilustrado who just came from Europe, whose main reason for coming home is to rekindle his affair with Maria Clara. What happens as the play progresses, all his discoveries and battles are all gut wrenching and heart breaking, consuming him in the end, ” says Gonzaga.
Pastor tells, “I have a better appreciation of her person because of this production. To many, she is emotionally weak. As I discover deeper my character, I realize that she is a brave and strong woman. She sacrificed so much to protect the purity of her love for Crisostomo.”
Seventh, Philstage Best Actress Marj Lorico is Sisa. “I am also a mother so I know how she feels and I am not an aristocrat either. Given her situation then, it was indeed an extremely excruciating moment.”
Lorico adds, “This is an advocacy for me as well. Giving life to such a larger-than-life character is my way of telling today’s generation to read our literary classics. What I like about this play is that each of the major characters re highlighted, thus audiences get to know them better.”
Assisting directors Agcaoli and Caguimbal to realize the town of San Diego and its denizens are Benjie Cayetano (Lighting Designer), Norman Peñaflorida (Set Designer), Roobak Valle (Choreographer), Charyl De Guzman (Production Manager), Wilmark Oliver Tabio (Stage Manager).
The National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) and Everbilena fully support Gantimpala Theater’s production of Kanser.
Performances are on Aug. 26, (7 p.m.), Concert at the Park Open Air Auditorium, Luneta, Manila; Aug. 31, Sept 1 and 2, (9 a.m./12 noon/3 p.m.), AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City; Sept. 7 to 9, (9 a.m./12 noon/3 p.m.), Star Theater, Star City Compound, Pasay City; Sept. 14 to 16, (11 a.m./2 p.m.), Cinema 3, SM Southmall, Las Piñas City.
For tickets, call 998-5622. Like: www.facebook/gantimpala.
