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| ESTEBAN IN A SCENE FROM "BAGONG CRISTO" |
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| ESTEBAN'S FINALE SCENE IN "BAGONG CRISTO" |
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| ESTEBAN: ON BOARD AS JESUS |
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| ESTEBAN: TINIER JESUS, YET MIGHTIER |
You may be wondering why some people chooses to be a HERO. Why some individuals must rather go out there on the streets and preach and shout... Why some, too, chooses to die, rather than hide. Chooses to be beaten, rather than acclaimed, and chooses to live a life that offers a lot more pains, sacrifices, hurts.
In Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas' latest opus play, chances are, you'd want to be a HERO again- but in a lot more magnificent way. Because heroes are like Jesus Christ's of Modern Day Society. They could be anywhere, as seen in the past and ancient pages of long-forgotten antique boxes of history.
The setting could be old, the scenarios fading and the speech Poetic and not slang. But it's simply the FACADE of it all. The play was more meant for today, it won't ever linger in the past- because it flowed in different dimensions of TIME.
Forget about the many festivities and rituals that was shown, because they were put upon there with a PURPOSE of creating a more-lasting visual presentation. Or rather, clung farther from the deepest intellects and passions of a true Filipino spirit- with a man, in the form of CHRIST- embrace you with a magnificent glory of deeper personal revelations.
When you see and watch a play about Jesus Christ or let's say, a man who leads the working masses- both combined, the effect was always too personal for you. And again, it's because it involved experiences of your past - of you knowing Christ face-on and head-on. And with you embracing the humble roots of your ancestors who fished out creatures from the everlasting sea.
Greatly presented in a unique form and concept- the play BAGONG CRISTO was one enlightenment and remembrance. If that was the wish of its director- in person of Mr. Alexander C. Cortez, well then, he had achieved it perfectly.
Directing a play of lengthy proportions and dialogues and speeches,- and, making everything put upon in a compressed theater stage- plus, creating a unified and breath-taking impression on the highlight scenes of the play- was too hard to do. But it was executed by the director in a marvelous way.
Scenes won't fool you because this one was not a MUSICAL, that always tended to cover the mind with foolish thoughts and feelings. This one is a straight play, and the music you heard all throughout did not come from the stage, but within the deepest recesses of your heart.
Most of the Cast Ensemble might be young and mostly students from U.P.- but out of their rawness, the freshness and the 'juices' came out. And the lead actor managed to carry them all. If not, then the play would have had a weaker impact.
Out of the supporting cast, it was only Gwyn Guanzon who delivered a character in a different way. Not much in "characterizing", but rather, in a little more subtle but heart-rending manner. Kudos!
The rest, they were all meaty and "full of juice"- BUT, they all lacked somehow in ways and appearances. Thank God, one young Jesus saved them all. In this version, we meant (and not the Boo Gabunada version).*
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He once said to a Blogger- "Out of nowhere, I played Jesus".
He could be right. Out from nowhere, you could suddenly see someone appearing in a manner worthy of recognition. Delivering a performance that could last a LIFETIME.
In years, this could have been the best performance that someone had seen. And a younger Jesus at that, delivered an overwhelming might and power that stabbed someone's heart.
He could be smaller and tinier to look at, but he was the BIGGER JESUS.
In many reasons
and in many apprehensions-
He was the true HERO of it all.
ESTEBAN FULAY, JR. was the kind of actor
that stayed on
inside your heart and mind-
FOREVERMORE.
(as written by robert manuguid silverio)
CATCH ESTEBAN FULAY, JR.'s LAST PERFORMANCE AS JESUS- TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 30!!!
and BAGONG CRISTO's remaining performances below:
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