lunes, 24 de febrero de 2014

Recommended theater experience: Osage County by Repertory Philippines

Part of the job of an actor is to watch a lot of theater. I give the play an 8 out of 10.

So I went to watch last production of Repertory Philippines, the number one English theater company of the Philippines.



I was glad to see it was a North American play instead of a British one coz I have a hard time understanding the British accent when I watch regularly to be sincere.

A British man who visited the Philippines told me that us Filipinos have a weird way of faking the British accent. He said we sound like Dick Van Dyke in Marry Poppins coz actors tend to imitate the accent of those days, which differs a lot from the accent of nowadays English citizens. 

Not me tho, coz I can't catch a British accent at all. I guess that's why I'm normally type casted as I hear a thousand times. Happy playing my Spanish characters in Filipino films tho. Keep them coming.

I was happy also to see the theater packed with teenager students. Very cool. That means there's interest among young people, there is hope for straight theater plays in Manila!



The play takes three hours and a half with intermissions, two of them. And you know what? It didn't seem too long nor I fell asleep even when I went being sleepy.

I still feel it's weird to watch straight plays with microphones used. I wish the actors could just project their voices and fill up the theater in the natural traditional theater acting way. Coz you know? The acting is different this way. The delivery is theatrical, which differs from TV acting.

I guess there's not enough actors in the Philippines with enough training to project their voices for theater. Coz I encountered a lot during these two years and a half working here that act with small voices or even whisper in theater as they do in life or screen acting. So I guess directors don't really miss the projection.

Acting was fantastic. And the stage design by Miguel Faustmann is super realistic and pleasant to see.



Some actors smoke on stage real cigarettes while others have electronic cigars, which is a weird contrast. I propose direction decides one only way for all.

And there was an actor, Richard Cunanan, who I didn't know and did a fantastic job. Just thought it might be a miss cast coz he is supposed to be at least 60 years old, but seems he's 30-40. Think it's a director's decision tho not to age him probably. A little weird. And I repeat, great believable acting.

A very intense play, a lot of conflicts, tension, I almost even cried with some interpretations from the actors who were concentrated and kept the character intense almost all the time.

A pool of experienced actors really. 

Thankful to see Pinky Amador back on the stage of Rep after 7 years of absence.

Do I recommend it? Yes. Go watch it. And soon you'll be ablle to compare it with the screen version with Merryl Streep.




16 comentarios:

  1. I love plays! but it's been awhile since I've watched one. It's the first time I've heard of this one though.

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  2. The set is really amazing with so much detail. It adds much to the life of the story. That is why when I watched Marco Polo, I was looking around the whole stage, not just the performance.

    C5 @ http://ceefive.com

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  3. I can't remember the last time I've seen a play. This brought back memories of our theater classes in college. The set design looks awesome. And I'm sure the play is too. Until when is this running?

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    Respuestas
    1. til march 16. more info here. ty :-) http://repertoryphilippines.com/shows/august-osage-county/

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  4. I like their set but I am not really a theater watching type of person. But if it is something really interesting, I think I can give it a try.

    I can't imitate British accent also. HAHA!

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  5. First play I've watch is in our school, nothing follows. I love watching a play with music tho..hahahaha...a sort of a sound of music or miss saigon.

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  6. Thanks for providing an honest and straight to the point feedback about the play that you have watched. Now I am interested to watch it. I was once a part of play too when I was very young. I played the son of Kim in Ms Saigon.

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  7. Asa teacher, I always teach my students on theater arts and how to conduct stage plays in Filipino. I hope someone from them will emerge as theater actors one day! :)

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  8. Love the set! It looks realistic :) Hope to see a poster of this

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  9. It's been a long time ago since I've watched a stage play like this. I hope to experience it once more..:)

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  10. It's been years since I last saw a stage play! I have decided to put it in my bucketlist, though:D

    xoxo

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  11. The setting is cozy! I still have to experience watching a theater play..

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  12. Erika says...
    My mom saw this play! Wasn't able to join her. Although I do love the Meryl Streep version ;)

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  13. Lately, I've been developing a love for stage plays and musicals; so I thought it would be nice if I'm able to see something from Rapertory Philippines in the days to come.

    And I agree, theater performances are starting to make an impression to the younger audience. Plus, stage plays are also starting to garner audiences from all walks of life and not just from the rich and famous.

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  14. I love musicals and stage plays but the last one I've seen was when I was still in college and that is a long time ago! :-|

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  15. I'm not really a fan of theater plays but I would love to give it a try. Y not?

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