Mark walang paki sa kikitain sa London

Mark Bautista may have looked cool and collected when he met with a group of entertainment writers sa isa sa mga opisina ng Viva Films, where he is under contract to.

But deep inside him, kanyang pag-amin, sobrang kaba ang kanyang nararamdaman. Bagama’t ayon pa rin sa kanya, ‘di pa rin nababawasan ang excitement niya sa pagkakapili sa kanya para gu­­manap bilang si Presidente Ferdinand Marcos sa isang play na i-stage sa West End in London.

He has yet to meet, pahayag niya ang mga taong Briton behind the production. At ang makakasama niya sa production, who include Dean John-Wilson, isang British-Cantonese na stage actor, at Nathalie Mendoza, an Australian-Filipino actress.

While Dean is assigned the role of Ninoy Aquino, si Nathalie naman ang gaganap na Imelda Marcos.

Turning 31 on August 10, Mark admits he has a vague idea of President Marcos, both as a man and former dictator.

‘‘Ang pagiging dictator lang niya ang alam ko. Bagama’t narinig kong ma­buting lider at tao siya. At higit sa lahat, smooth lover daw siya.

‘‘Sana nga, I’ll get the chance to talk even for less than an hour man lang kay Madame Imelda Marcos, before I leave for London on August 16.

‘‘I’d like to know President Marcos, especially as a man, man lang,’’ aniya.

The stage play titled Here Lies Love ay mapapanood sa West End’s Dorfman Theater (National Theater) starting September.

Kaya he will begin rehearsing for the play, according to Mark, as soon as he arrives sa London. He was told, he will do mostly singing and dancing.

First time niyang mawawalay sa family niya. And first time niya rin to live all by himself.

Asked how much he will be paid for this work, as the stage presentation will last hanggang December, sagot ni Mark: ‘‘The financial side, I actually don’t care about much.

‘‘What matters most is the experience I will garner for this, maituturing na bagong journey na tatahakin ko,’’ patuloy pa ni Mark.

Eugene kakaiba ang naramdaman nang mabasa ang script ng Barber’s

Year 1997 pa pala nang isinulat ni direk Jun Robles Lana ang nobelang Barber’s Tales, which was a Carlos Palanca Awards winning novel.

Twice din itong ini-offer ni direk Jun kay Eugene Domingo. Pero dahil busy daw si Eugene noong unang beses na kausapin siya, she begged off.

Kaya lumitaw ang pangalan ni Kris Aquino, na siya sanang second choice for the lead role.

But Kris, according to direk Jun, also begged off, dahil kailangan ngang magpa-kalbo ng bida sa pelikula.

‘‘When direk Jun offered to me the movie the second time and I finally got to read the script, spontaneous ang naging reaction ko.

‘‘Yes, I told him, I’ll do the movie.

‘‘Iba ang naramdaman ko when I read the script.

‘‘Well, you’ll know why when you watch the movie,’’ patuloy pa ni Eugene. ‘‘It will explain as well why binabanggit ko na with Barber’s Tales, puwede na akong mamaalam sa pelikula.”

Barber’s Tales, which has won honors in several prestigious awards-giving body abroad, will hit local theaters ngayong August.