swordshines10: ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR (a review for the concert play TROY AVENUE)...

In loving someone, you sacrifice almost everything. It's because you love that person so much and you'd never care about loosing it all.

In loving someone, you tend to be brave. You would be strong enough to fight and protect the very person you love.

And you'd soon know, there would always be people out there who would help with the FIGHT. They were the people within the bounds of your very existence- your family, your friends, your co-people, your neighbors.

And in the end, you'd see. Yes, you'd see... that the strength was really deep within you. And even a demi-god would die from your pointing arrow- just for you to know that your LOVE was stronger and your HEART, more powerful.

That was the place they called TROY AVENUE. A place that somehow existed in the mythology of time and space. Where people and gods co-existed, where power and might ruled an entire city. And where beauty and love embraced anew.

Paris (so sweetly portrayed by Stager Poul Garcia) was just a simple, young man. Yet he loved a woman greater than a faith that could move mountains. He proved his great manliness and fair manners to everyone- which only greater impressed his father- King Priam (outstandingly portrayed by Stager Chin Ortega) and that was the reason why he got all the support needed from the people of Troy not to return back Helen (performed with much angst and passion by New Stager Maya Encila) to the land of Greece and under the evil arrogancy of Menelaus (acted upon with great intensity by Stager Gerald Himarino).

AND THE WAR SOON ERUPTED. It was ignited by Paris' great love on the most beautiful woman on earth- Helen.

King Agamemnon (performed on stage with great overwhelming power of conviction by Stager Jomar Tanada Bautista) became the angriest man on the planet and he commanded a thousand ships and a treachery to the land and people of Troy- in order to conquer it and get Helen back. A demi-god in person of Achilles (so wonderfully portrayed by Stager Kenneth Sadsad) participated in the conflict with his own personal agenda and egoistic whims.

In the end, the people of Troy were never conquered. Because Paris proved to everyone that even a demi-god like Achilles would die just for LOVE. And in war, all seemed to be FAIR.

YES, ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR.

You would insist, sometimes, that it's all unfair and unjust. But it was not.
Because, just like in loving, both sides die, both sides win, both sides loose.

A milestone of a performance was again seen in the performances of Stagers Adelle Ibarrientos-Lim, Hark Montillana and John Rey Rivas.
Hark as Hector was convincing and penerating, Adelle as the Troy woman/baby sitter made us laugh to death, and John Rey as Achilles' best friend performed with a new kind of an acting style on stage that's so eye-catching and efficient. Kudos!

But without the great direction and a well-written play script by Vince Tanada, the concert play Troy Avenue would not reach its true intent-

That,

of loving

some one back, again...

AND FOREVER.

(as the words were written by robert manuguid silverio)