VLF5, Set-A, Play #1: ISANG MUKHA NG PANDARAYA

Production: Virgin Labfest 5
Set A – SCHOOL OF LIFE (MGA DULANG WALANG PINAG-ARALAN)

Theatre Companies: TANGHALANG PILIPINO & WRITER’S BLOC, INC.
Show Dates: June 23-July 5, 2009
Date Watched: June 23, 2009 (Tuesday, 8:00 pm)
Venue: Tanghalang Huseng Batute, CCP

Photo courtesy of Joey Ting

Play #1: ISANG MUKHA NG PANDARAYA
[Genre: DRAMA]
Playwright: Oggie Arcenas
Director: Roli Inocencio
Co-Director: JK Anicoche
Stage Manager: Vincent Tan
Actors: Ana Deroca (Isadora)*, Kat Castillo (Amor)*, Randy Villarama (Atty. Roel), Eric dela Cruz (Atty. Charlie), Jef-Henson Dee (Judge Raul)

Ratings: Lowest – 0.0; Highest – 5.0; * - Outstanding

Production : 4.5
Stage Direction : 4.0
Story/ Script : 4.5
Production/Stage Design : 3.5
Costume Design : 3.5
Lighting Design : 4.0
Sound and/or Music : 4.0
Theatre Performance : 4.5

Average Rating: 4.06

Comments:

The story tackles a kind of cheating reportedly committed by Isadora during a final exam. Amor, the classmate and the accuser, lacks solid evidence to prove Isadora of an offense that would instigate Isadora to be suspended or expelled and be stripped off her possible summa cum laude award. Isadora then says that the reason why Amor is doing this to her is because of “The Great Divide” – the line that separates the rich from the poor, a kind of excuse she wants to make. The Student Disciplinary Tribunal is constantly hearing the case, but as the story unfolds, Amor’s accusation is found false due to a lack of evidence and a witness that can help Amor testify of what she thinks is true and right. Amor is pressing on that she had seen Isadora hiding a book inside her jacket and that she went to the comfort room during the exam. The teacher-proctor is nowhere to be found when Isadora needed to urinate.

The story is interesting. Different forms of cheating really happens in schools. But the adversity enters when no one, even the accuser, can prove the allegations. The school then makes a background check of the people involved in the case and sometimes, the person’s social status and her character become now the bases for believing what the truth really is. In the story, Amor is an underachieving student and a campus slut. If Amor still wants to pursue the case and be victorious, the judge offers an indecent solution. Ana Deroca (Isadora) and Kat Castillo’s performance (Amor) was moving and intense. The stage design can still somehow be improved. But this play is worth the watch!

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