A Midsummer Night's Dream in Manila

"The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth,
from earth to heaven;
And as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them to shapes,
and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name."

---- Theseus, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 5, Scene 1
When I got back to Manila, I was in for quite a treat. Not only did I get to hang out with my well-missed beautiful gay cousins, Louie (from Davao) and Fritz (also from Davao, but now our host in Manila), I had the chance to see the much talked about play, A Midsummer Night's Dream at the RCBC Theatre in Makati City.

Tickets to the play cost around P2000 but since Fritz was dancing, Louie and I got in for free. So there we were at the orchestra side, sitting with Lara Fabregas and other big shots in Manila, transported to the magical forest world of Shakespeare's mind. And boy was I impressed!

The adorable, playful yet misguided Puck was played by Epi Cuizon. He was great, I didn't realize he was a serious thespian. It's said that Mylene Dizon also used to alternate for the role but then she quit when she got pregnant-- which was actually a good thing, Fritz said. Mylene was quite terrible for such a crucial role especially when she tended to eat her lines.

Demetrius and Lysander were goodlooking enough and the girls, Helena and Hermia made me laugh. The King Fairy Oberon and Theseus were played by Paolo Fabregas. I didn't recognize him.

And then there was John "Sweet" Lapus and his gang of lost dramatists in the forest almost stealing the show. They were just so funny! The play was cleverly arranged in such a way that there was a story within a story and they kinda adapted part of it to the Filipino setting to make it more palatable probably to the mainstream crowd. But cousin Louie for one, felt the mamang sorbetero was quite overdone.

The Shakespearian dialogue was so lyrical, I was moved. And the set, wow! Lights in greens and blues gave the illusion of a mystical forest. Someday, I hope to learn how to do that-- mixing and blending lights for effect. And then there were Puck, the King and Queen fairies in harnesses, they were practically flying all over the place. I just couldn't take my eyes off the stage.

But what I love best about it were the dances by the fairies/soldiers. And of course, my cousin Fritz was simply the best ;p I realized I underestimated his talent. I didn't know he could split, bend and curl that way with so much grace, control and passion.

Fritz used to be a member of the award-winning UP Pep Squad. He was among the first pep squad flown to the 2002 Asian Games in Korea. He was also chosen as a delegate to compete in Sports Aerobics in the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam and is now a member of the Philippine Team. Right now he's living his passion -- he is an instructor at Fitness First by day and dances in plays at night. He's quite an inspiration. So watch out, world, you've yet to see his name in lights. Hehe

The play is running till September. They're halfway their designated 50 performances. The show is directed by Ricardo Abad with selected translations by Rolando Tinio, a respected Filipino playwright. The producer, Steven Uy, was quite a surprise-- he's so young. I was told he's made his million at such a young age too. I like him especially for sharing or investing part of it to the theater world.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is quite an experience and one I doubt I'll forget. It made me realize that there is still so much I can learn about theater, the craft, the production, the artistry. It made me think of magic and possibilities. It challenges me to stretch myself more to make my own dream, how elusive it might be, come true.

To Fritz and Louie, thank you for sharing the dream with me. I miss you guys already.