si mr. ishtak khabarov stern at ang rebyu niya sa dulang "MNL Trapik"....

an angelic scene in "mnl trapik" (photo courtesy of MATA productions)

ISANG NAPAPANAHONG REBYU NA SINULAT NI MR. ISHTAK KHABAROV STERN AT KINUHA MISMO SA KANYANG SARILING FB ACCOUNT.

mr. ishtak khabarov stern

Okay, kanina nanood ako ng isang theatre play sa PHILCOA, kaunting kembot lang mula sa UP Diliman. Bale sa Teatro Papet Museo 'yung venue - a very intimate and an unexpected place para sa isang theatre production.

The play is titled "MNL Trapik", written by Cebu based playwright Emmanuel Mante, and directed by Chris Dagsil. It is about the stories of Pinays who were victims of human trafficking in our local country, and international roots. The whole play is actually composed by three one act plays pero pareho ang topic.

Well, let's talk about the place muna.

As I said, intimate nga ang place, made for about 200 to 300 audience only, or mas kaunti pa nga. Improvised at halu-halo ang mga upuan. May mga upuang pang teatro talaga, may mga metal chairs na kadalasang makikita sa mga labas ng bahay (usually sa backyard or sa garden ng mga mayayaman na tao). May ilang upuan rin na karaniwang makikita sa mga sari-sari store. 'Yung gawa sa cocolumber or hard driftwood. Ayon, talagang modernist na realist. 

Then, yung mismong set ay minimalist. Realistic ang mga gamit: office chair, table and small versions of it, may kapihan pa nga at santo.

Sa taas ay may nakasabit na mga wooden crates, as a form of art or design. Basta pirmis ang disenyong 'yon.
Okay, story number one.

Titled "Ate", it tells the story of Jovie (Alecks Ambayec) na biktima ng human trafficking at kasalukuyang isang prostitute or service girl na pumunta sa isang center at doon, nakilala niya si Jace (Esteban Fulay, Jr.) na isang social worker. Nag-usap sa umpisa, hanggang nagkaungkatan ng kuwento at sa huli, may natutunan sila sa bawat isa.

Sa pangalawang kuwento, titled "Cherry Blossom Eskapo", Sarah (Goddess Amparo) seeks refuge to a man named Andrew (Ali Hooshmand) in Japan, after running out to her job as a guest relation officer (GRO), which was different to the job which was offered to Sarah. Hindi inaasahan ni Sarah ang mga patung-patong na kasinungalingan at kawalang awa alang-alang lang sa pagkita ng malutong na pera.

The last story is titled "Eva Hamok" and played by Micah Musa all by herself. Tungkol naman ito sa pagiging desperada sa pag-asa na yayaman siya sa pag-aasawa ng mga foriegners through online dating.

"Ate" cements the story with the right amount of wordplay, and it is unexpectedly gritty, at to be honest, medyo nakakaiyak, at nakakapanggigil ang bawat eksenang ikinukuwento ni Jovie and kaniyang masalimuot na kinahantungan. Jace balanced this and delivered such power to it na pati ako, hindi ko alam kung saan papanig.

Sa second story, "Cherry Blossom Eskapo", I will say, this is my favorite segment out of three. This is the most intense story. Full of realized characters, unpredictable scenes and intentions - and it all suddenly crumbled up na hindi ko maiwasang ma-overwhelm. Minimalist as it could be, but this depicts what human will is, for better or for worse - for dignity or money.

The third story delivered pretty well. Micah Musa slapped the audience with her tour-de-force performance as two alternate personality in one body, questioning her actions and repeatedly falling into pieces, then she tried to glue herself again, only to be smashed again by overwhelmness.

Overall, MNL Trapik is an intense experience. Not for the close minded, it's in your face narrative, pure truth, and masterfully crafted. Propelled by unmatched performance, MNL Trapik is one of the best theatre plays in years, but an underrated one, as it will run for a couple nights. I spotted a few flaws and errors but it was forgivable, thanks to their performances. After the play, I was not ready to leave the theater yet, dahil tumatakbo pa rin sa isip ko ang mga pangyayari. Masakit sa puso, napakasakit sa isip.


written by: ishtak khabarov stern


(Rating: 3.5/4 stars)

Watch and support them, MNL Trapik will still run, I think, on 15, 17 or 18 of February. P250 entrance fee. Bring your friends, your squad. Support local theater. Highly recommended.
#MNLTrapik

curtain call for "mnl trapik"

MNL TRAPIK: A TRILOGY OF PLAYS (last remaining shows on feb. 17 and 18)....

MATA Productions
In cooperation with Fringe Manila 2018
Under the supervision of Prof. Alexander Cortez for Theatre 298 Class in the University of the Philippines-Diliman

"MNL TRAPIK"
A trilogy of one-act plays on human trafficking
Playwright: Emman Mante
Direction: Christian Dagsil 

REMAINING SHOWS ON:
Feb. 17, and 18, 2018
5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo, Quezon City

Tickets at P300; P250 for students.
Buy your tickets now! Contact Alecks Ambayec at 09173490917. ❤ #MATAProds#MNLTrapik #FRINGE2018

esteban fulay, jr. in an acting performance that lasts a lifetime (and the second review on dulaang U.P.'s "bagong cristo")....

ESTEBAN IN A SCENE FROM "BAGONG CRISTO"

ESTEBAN'S FINALE SCENE IN "BAGONG CRISTO"

ESTEBAN: ON BOARD AS JESUS

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).*


****************


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:

ESTEBAN FULAY, JR. : OUT OF NOWHERE, PLAYS JESUS...

esteban smiles

In a minute and in an instant, he was there. All too suddenly, and I didn't notice it. Down below the flight of stairs leading to the magnificent middle of Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero center stage- I saw him like a magic. He was smiling, at the verge of laughter, too, but he managed to control it and regain back his serious side. He was so... cute.

It's like, he was just put upon there. All too quick, without you noticing it before. A young man with those great chinito looks, long hair and ambivalent power of captivity. And as the feeling lingered, along with positivity of the smiles he created, one person felt like he's back home.

This time, in a different venue. Mixed-in with brilliant students from the University of the Philippines and a precise but sincere theater director. With a bonus-factor of interviewing one fine young man- that goes by the name of ESTEBAN FULAY, JR.

Artists have a way of making themselves smile. It's always refreshing to think that younger actors could always save your day.

"Out of nowhere, I suddenly landed the part of being an alternate for the role of Jesus", Esteban Fulay, Jr. said to a blogger- with his eyes almost hidden as he smiled. "Tipong suntok sa buwan, nag-konek-konek lang po ang lahat. And all I knew, I finally got a call from direk Alexander asking me to be the alternate actor for the role of Jesus."

'Jesus' by the way is not really Jesus Christ. It's Jesus Gatbiaya, the lead character in Dulaang U.P.'s BAGONG CRISTO. The Jesus character in the said play is a labor leader whose teachings empowered fellow laborers to fight against social injustice and inequality. The play BAGONG CRISTO shows Jesus Christ's passion as lived by a man (Jesus Gatbiaya) who is willing to offer his life for the liberation of his people.

Esteban is only 18 years old. And actually, he's not a student of Theater at U.P., but rather, a student of Speech.

"Maybe, joining some oratorical contests at U.P., it made me more curious to also pursue an acting job", Esteban continued saying. "It made me develop as a better person, too. That's why when I learned that they're having auditions for this play, I sneaked-in."

A different role was first offered to Esteban. But because of some conflicts on the schedule of actor Boo Gabunada (the main actor portraying Jesus Gatbiaya), Esteban just saw himself alternating with Boo for the lead part.

A sensitive, young and fresh new theater actor as that, Esteban could feel so much. Especially to the character he was portraying.

"It's very empowering", Esteban said. "Even though I'm just acting for that part on the play, I feel that I was talking to the real Jesus already and to every Filipino working as a laborer. I feel that they're alive and representing every living human being and Filipinos who still suffer the plight of wrong working conditions. Sobrang sarap nu'ng feeling na maging instrument ako in performing and acting the part of Jesus. Parang nakakausap ko na rin ang mga kapwa Pilipino ko.

"You see, I admit, I am not rich", Esteban continued. "I am also among them. I also belong to them. That's why it's so personal to me, acting on this play. It's my parents who struggled for me and gave me a good education. I could imagine them sweating it out just to provide for our family. I could always cry for them whenever I think of that. Me and Jesus are but one in the eyes of my soul."

Esteban read books, studied Acting with a Drama coach, prepared himself and equipped himself so much- in order to fully gave more justice to the role of Jesus.

"And Boo, the main actor, we collaborated, too", Esteban said at the end. "He helped me and supported me, too. I got more ideas as we talked together on how to perform Jesus. I go by with him every time we went home after the rehearsals. And we got to bond more. I told him my own ideas, too, on how will I execute the role. We mixed-in the ideas and the result was great.

"But of course, it's still direk Alexander we both owed much", Esteban ended. "He dared us to explore as actors and he gave us freedom. If it's not good outcome, direk Alexander will advise us not to do it. But if it impresses him, then it's okay."


*********************


You see the name Jesus in many different ways. Sometimes, you see it in a travelling speed and journeys past of your one-dimensional life. 

Sometimes, you see it, too, in the arms of an ex-love, reincarnated upon the looks of a new theater actor...

Yes, the world never seemingly ends-

and the name of Jesus


stands


in the heart and mind


of one living friend-




FOREVER.




(as written by robert manuguid silverio)

esteban (far right) with boo gabunada (co-actor) and alexander cortez (director)

esteban as jesus gatbiaya

esteban: memories of an "ex"

esteban: serious look

esteban in a short hair