si direk frannie zamora at ang vintage photo ng KANSER, taong 1993...

KANSER 1993 VINTAGE PHOTO! (PHOTO COURTESY OF: MS. SHERRY ALINGOD)

direk frannie on a selfie millenial mode

Kung titignan mo ang LARAWAN sa ibaba, ay para talagang sinauna na. Tipong sila talaga 'yung mga taong nag-exist na, sa ika-labingwalong siglo- ang panahon ng tema sa dulang KANSER, na hango sa walang kamatayang nobela ni Dr. Jose Rizal na NOLI ME TANGERE.

Pero hindi po nu'ng 18th century kinunan ang larawang iyon, kundi nu'ng 20th century na- taong 1993, to be exact. Isang photo shoot iyon para sa publisidad ng dulang KANSER ng Gantimpala Theater Foundation, 1993 version, na ginanap sa Cultural Center of the Philippines.

"'Yun ang kauna-unahang pagdidirek ko ng KANSER", pagbabalik-gunita ni direk Frannie Zamora habang nagko-coffee kasama ang kaibigan niyang blogger. "At ikinararangal ko na sa Cultural Center of the Philippines kaagad ang venue ng unang sabak ko sa pagdidirek ng isang dula. Nagmula kasi ako sa pagiging isang pop singer at concert artist- and before that, also a ramp model- bago ako tuluyang nasabak sa mundo ng teatro.

"Magmula nuon ay nagtuloy-tuloy na ako", dugtong na sabi ni direk Frannie. "For the last four years now, consecutively, ako ang nagdi-direk ng updated versions ng dulang KANSER para sa GTF (Gantimpala Theater Foundation). And I could say by now, it's such a worthy experience- all throughout the years."

Hindi n'yo ba alam, bagets pa lang din nuon si direk Frannie? Kaya naman, bagets din ang kanyang cast nuon sa tuwina ng dulang KANSER. Lumabas sa unang pagdidirek niya ng KANSER ang binatilyo pa nuong si Arnold Reyes, ang dalaga pa lang nuong sina Suzette Ranillo at Cherry Pie Picache, ang bata-bata pang sina Ray Ventura, Dido dela Paz, Perry Dizon, Roobak Valle at Pen Medina! Awesome.

"Si Pen Medina ang Elias ko nu'ng 1993", sabi ni direk Frannie. "At kada magkikita kami ngayon ni Pen, nagbabalik-tanaw kami nu'ng ginawa ko siyang Elias. Si Pen kasi ang isa mga pinakamagaling na Elias ng dulang KANSER!"

Sa mga nagdaang taon ng 2016, 2015 at 2014- hanggang sa pagtatapos ng taong 2017- tatlong Crisostomo Ibarra naman ang nilikha ni direk Frannie- at sila'y ang pop singer na si Michael Pangilinan, ang soprano singer na si Carlo Manalac at ang TV commercial model na si Joel Molina.

"I am proud to say, karamihan sa mga naging akTOR at aktres ko sa mga dulang nagawa ko na, most of them made good careers in the acting field", muling sabi ni direk Frannie. "Kaya hindi ako nagsasawa na makagawa pa ng mga bagong aktor at aktres at hubugin silang maging ganap na performers of high caliber balang araw."

Sa susunod na taon- ang paparating nang 2018, magse-celebrate na ng 40th anniversary ang GTF. Napaka-importanteng taon ito, kung tutuusin. Kaya naman hindi pa mai-reveal sa ngayon ni direk Frannie kung siya pa rin ang magdidirek ng Kanser sa next theater season ng GTF, o baka magbago ng mga programa't plataporma dahil nga magsi-celebrate sila ng 40 years.

"But one thing is sure, though", pagtatapos na wika ni direk Frannie. "Magdidirek ako ng isang panibagong dula. May materyal na ako pero hindi ko pa mai-reveal. Baka gumawa din ako ng isang indie film. Maaga pa sa ngayon para sa mga detalye, pero kukunin ko doon si Soliman Cruz dahil balita ko, okey na siya ngayon. Pero siyempre, nariyan pa rin ang mga corporate shows ko dahil 'yun naman talaga ang bread and butter ko."

Goodluck para sa taong 2018, direk Frannie!!!



(sinulat ni robert silverio)

VINTAGE PHOTO OF DIREK FRANNIE: (from left to right) FERNAN SUCALIT, PETERSEN & DIREK FRANNIE

direk frannie with some of his closest friends

direk frannie's close-up smile

direk frannie with his most intimate friends in an after-work drinking spree (perry dizon, sarah molina, blogger robert, christian, ram, romualdo delos reyes and mr. joel molina)

ang patuloy na paglalayag ng KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL...

(Maraming salamat kay CYRIL CANO sa Youtube MTV niya sa itaas ukol sa My Last Farewell ni Dr. Jose Rizal--- rms)*

Sa kasaysayan ng Philippine Theater, wala na sigurong makakalamang pa sa haba ng paglalayag ng dulang KANSER, isang play adaptation ng nobelang NOLI ME TANGERE ni Dr. Jose Rizal. Unang sinulat nu'ng bata pa ang playwright na si Jomar Fleras, nagkaroon ng iba't-ibang bersyon at "updates". Iba-ibang atake sa pagsasadula, ika nga.

Sankaterbang mga magagaling artista na ang mga nagsiganap sa iba't-ibang karakter sa nasabing dula. Karamihan sa kanila'y mga beterano at nirerespeto sa industriya ng Pelikulang Pilipino at teatro. Hindi na nga maikukubli pa ang kakaibang tagumpay na tinamasa ng dulang ito.

Sa huling nagdaang tatlong taon, sa mga kamay at creative genius ni direk Frannie Zamora napunta ang pagsasadula ng KANSER. Nagkaroon pa siya ng isang all-out musical version sa nasabing play at si Michael Pangilinan pa ang nakuha niyang aktor para gumanap sa papel na Crisostomo Ibarra. Nanalo pa si direk Frannie two years ago ng Best Director for a Musical sa Aliw Awards dahil napakaganda niyang pagkaka-direk sa nasabing musical version ng dula.

Sa taong ito, ginawang straight play na lamang ni direk Frannie ang KANSER, at nilapatan ng mild music. Nagkaroon ito ng titulong KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL. At sa muli, ito ay nagtamasa ng mga papuri.

Nagkaroon ng huling performance nuong mga nagdaang linggo sa SM South Mall ang nasabing updated version ng KANSER, na isa sa mga four classic plays na itinatanghal ng Gantimpala Theater Foundation para sa mga estudyante't mag-aaral. Pero hindi doon natatapos ang walang hanggang paglalayag ng KANSER.

Sa mga susunod na buwan at araw, magkakaroon ng provincial tours ang nasabing dula. Patuloy ang biyahe nito. Lilibot sa iba't-ibang parte't kapuluan ng Pilipinas. Upang patuloy pa ring mailahad ang tunay na mga mensahe ni Dr. Jose Rizal para sa mga kabataan.

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

Habang ang mundo'y patuloy pa ring umiikot, ang kaluluwa ng mga Pilipinong bayani ay magmamatyag pa rin. Ang mga klasikong nobela na ukol sa pagmamahal sa bayan ay mangangabuhay pa rin, at ang mga artistikong nilalang na tulad ni direk Frannie ay walang sawang makikipaglaban para maihatid ito sa madla.

Ito ang KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL.

Ito ay para sa iyo....


Para sa kanya,

para rin sa ating lahat-



MAGPAKAILANMAN.




(sinulat ni robert manuguid silverio)

direk frannie zamora: still giving a new life for the play KANSER

PAUL JAKE PAULE as ELIAS and JOEL MOLINA as CRISOSTOMO IBARRA

the whole cast and staff of KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL

"enough of those off-broadway shows which kills the local theater market!"--- direk frannie zamora

frannie zamora: proud to direk KANSER.

DIREK FRANNIE (seated in red stripes shirt) with the staff and cast of KANSER

Isang early afternoon coffee break iyon sa Kuya J restaurant, at nasa magandang mood si direk Frannie Zamora. Katatapos lang nu'n ng isang successful performance ng KANSER2017: THE NOVEL. At, naisipan ni direk Frannie, mag-kape muna somewhere.

Kasama ang aktor na si Joel Molina at isang blogger na kaibigan niya, napag-usapan ang pagiging aktibo ng teatro ngayon sa mundo ng entertainment scene. At heto ang naging pambungad na reaksyon ni direk Frannie ukol sa bagay na iyon:

"Active kung active, yes!", sabi niya. "At sino pa ba ang sasaya diyan kundi kami ring nasa mundo ng teatro. Malaking tulong 'yung well-publicized kasi these days ang teatro- lalo na sa Social Networking sites, very exciting ang effect nito. But sad to say, when it comes to revenue or kita, nagkukumahog pa rin kami. We're pulling the strings pa rin, at salamat naman, nakakatawid pa rin kami."

Bakit kaya ganu'n direk Frannie? realistically, totoo po ang mga nasabi mo. And we just wanna know, what could be the reason kung bakit kulang pa rin ang revenues sa mga theater shows? Tanong 'yan ng isang blogger.

"Theater appeals only for a certain group", sagot ni direk Frannie. "And theater is not a commercially-appealing. It only attracts limited type of students- like art students or maybe, students who wants to be in the theater arts someday. Isa pa rin sa naiisip ko, 'yung audience ng theater is a mixture of curious people or those people who are simply monitoring who's who in the theater scene. Iba-iba talaga ang audience ng teatro. And now I can say, kulang pa rin kami sa suporta sa mga ganitong klase ng palabas. Nahihirapan kami sa mga sponsors."

But will theater still prevail in the end, direk Frannie?

"Maybe we have to offer something different", sagot muli ni direk Frannie. "And enough of those off-Broadway shows which simply kills the local theater market scene. Kaya ako, I never patronized them. I never watched any of those shows here. mas gusto ko pa rin ang mga gawa natin."

Marami ang nagsasabi, bakit hindi raw magdirek ng ibang klase ng stage play naman, aside from Kanser which he's been directing for the four years now sa Gantimpala Theater Foundation. Wala ba siyang plano na magdirek ng ibang klase ng play?

"I cannot, as of the meantime", mabilis na sagot ni direk Frannie. "All I can say now is, ang suwerte ko dahil kahit isa lang itong dinidirek ko sa Gantimpala, it's the Kanser play naman. And it's one of the best plays- in fact, it's the longest-running play in Philippine theater history. Walang makakatalo sa Kanser pagdating sa bagay na iyan.Tumagal ng 37 years ang play and it's still running."

Ang maganda pa, for the past four years, laging updated ang version ng Kanser. Nagiiba-iba. Hindi siya nakakasawa.

"And I am so proud this time", pagtatapos na sabi ni direk Frannie. "In fact, a lot prouder this time. Dahil tinitignan ko yung mga estudyante, everytime na matatapos ang performances ng Kanser, I could see na pumasok sa system 'yung mensahe ng play. Kaya nakatulong ang mga new formulas ko in updating the play."

kanser2017:The Novel will have its last two performances today at SM Southmall. But there are more performances to come soon.

break a leg, direk Frannie Zamora!


(written by robert silverio)

when you believe the soft whispers of your heart, everybody will come alive (A REVIEW TO THE UPDATED VERSION OF "KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL")...

At the climactic ending of the play KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL, the whole ensemble cast were seen covered by white veils, with faces unseen and a lingering music played.

The white veil was not black. And it's not the "conjuring"-kind of thing, but rather, it signified blocking of tenderness and hope, that the future awaited with lesser conflicts and an undying quench for a nation's freedom- at that era of all-out drama, conflicts and oppression.

At last, the message was sent. The signals not blurred. And the Millenials knew, all-too clearly, that Kanser, which was based on the Noli Me Tangere novel of Dr. Jose Rizal, was a kind of story which belonged to one of the greatest stories ever told about the Malayan race.

With an EXOTIC deliverance of powerful details and images, shocking revelations, precise yet true Filipino language and skillful actors- a finely and well-crafted direction of music and choreography- monologues and speeches by the singer (performed by Norman Penaflorinda)- plus poetic verses of Pilosopong Tasyo (played by Abel C. Napuran)- one blogger felt, this could be the greatest presentation of all of the classic play Kanser.


When you believe the soft whispers of your heart, everybody will come alive. And you could look upon those undying characters of the play- especially the handsome Crisosotomo Ibarra  (acted upon with magnifying presence by Joel Molina)-, you'd feel an embracing unison of awe and continuing task to preserve the Nationalism of the Filipino spirit.

As the greatest of all kinds of lights design and crystal-like images that seemed ethereal (Kudos to the "lights" man Joseph G. Matheu) - it seemed that heaven was sent back on earth. The beauty of the actors shone brightly with great justice- and from afar, it was picturesque and all too-powerful.

Polished, minimal but almost perfect- what added up to the beauty of this updated play were the new acting techniques (and not "typecasted") executed by Ms. Dea Formacil-Chua as Maria Clara, Paul Jake Paule (as Elias), Shasha Rivera (as Sisa), and of course, Mr. Francis Matheu (as Padre Damaso).

One weak link was the performance of Padre Salvi (played by Aldrin Angeles), but his youthful charm and beauty exuded beyond the imaginings of the play.

They say, that Crisostomo Ibarra will never be the same again after this play. Because his kisses to Maria Clara was daring, soft and unlimited- making one blogger bet his ass for an acting nomination.

Costumes were authentic, the Stage Design simplified but artistic.


If KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL will be played over and over again in the years to come, we'd owe it one great artistic and precise mind-

The mind of director Frannie Zamora.

because he delivered it well fully- like a God who saw it all and patterned lives, edited parts, clinged with the soft whispers of his pure, Filipino kind of heart.

A heart that will simply


last


amidst....




FOREVER.



(as written by roberta silverio P.)

DIRECTOR FRANNIE ZAMORA

updated thoughts on the classic play KANSER ("kanser2017: the novel")....

GTF PEOPLE: THE REUNION

THE GANTIMPALA THEATER PEOPLE! "THE ORIGINAL ONES!!!!

a highlight scene from "kanser 2017: the novel"

a scene from "kanser 2017: the novel"

A tradition will always be a TRADITION...


Adapted from the novel of our National Hero,  this classic play will withstand the tests of TIME

a FIGHT for our country's freedom, souls coming back to let the YOUTHS remember...

The right values, the unjust oppression, and the continuing HOPE.

That's what KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL offers...


Imagine the KIDS, doing some acrobatic kicks and turns and jumps

So happy to see the true images of their roots and suffeings in the past-, .... now redeemed.

Crazy in some ways

But hopeful, in the end...

With lovers outcasted

And a rebel about to die.

Choose the heart of a sincere Filipino identity.


And this time around, the Millenial kids can relate and identify.

The updated version of the classic play, based on the novel Noli Me Tangere shall prove...

all the more.


That GANTIMPALA THEATER FOUNDATION

will CONTINUE teaching the young-

what is it to become a FILIPINO....




FOREVER.



(as written by roberta silverio p.)

francis matheu: on the rebound

francis: physically REBOUNDING

FRANCIS: EXPERIMENTING AS AN ACTOR

REBOUNDS. that's what's been happening lately on the life of one good theater actor by the name of Francis Matheu. Rebounds, in the sense that he's out to do a lot more, change strategies, set changes and moving on FORWARD.

Rebounds, too, in the sense that he's rediscovering his works, reinventing his self, transforming and BECOMING.

Just like now, in his come-back for the play KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL by Gantimpala Theater Foundation, he's out to portray an entirely different but more meaningful character. If last year he played the role of ELIAS in the mild musical version of the classic play, this time, there's a big TURN AROUND.

"I am portraying the character of Padre Damaso!", Francis to a blogger. "And I am so happy that direk Frannie Zamora entrusted me for this role. And in order for me to effectively deliver the role, I went out of my way to study the ways and means of old priests living back then in the 18th century. I even went to the corner stones of the Walls in Intramuros to feel the jibe and the aura of what was it like at that period of time. It was the Spanish occupation that our play Kanser was set in. So I imagined and put myself in that situation- that's how I really work and internalized for this great character of Padre Damaso."

And that's the kind of REBOUND we badly wanted for Francis. A great REBOUND, that is. In case Francis didn't know yet, the role of Padre Damaso was very much wanted by other veteran actors. Vince Tanada of Philippine Stagers Foundation wanted to portray that role, alongside with Norman Penaflorinda and others. But direk Frannie Zamora opted Francis to portray the role of Padre Damaso, because he knew, how experimental Francis could be.

"This play is the history of Filipino people", Francis suddenly changed the topic and reaction. "It's about displacement and making Filipinos the second class citizens of their own country. I guess, it's such an honor for me to be a part of this revolutionary play written by Dr. Jose Rizal in his book Noli Me Tangere and transformed into a play by playwright Jomar Fleras. Because you see, one of my main crusades now is to establish the true Filipino identity."

YES. That's why now, on Francis' own theater group called the TwinBill Theater Company, Filipiniana motiff is on the offspring.

"We're now preaparing a lot for our next theater season at Twin Bill", Francis continued saying. "It's gonna be a new brand for our company. A new process, too. And we're gonna be having a soft launching about it soon. Our teaser starts with the letter P".

"P" as in PILIPINO? Your gues is as good as ours. But as of press time, Francis is not yet revealing anything. 

"All I can say is, it's a brand that would cater to Filipino plays for Twin Bill theater production", Francis said in the end. "A total rebound from twin Bill has been offering in the past- like our socially-relevant plays. I want the Filipino culture to be the center of our brand this time around."

Yup, we say again and again. Francis Matheu is on the REBOUND....


Amidst


FOREVER.

francis with blogger ROBERT (me).**

(as written by robert manuguid silverio)

FRANCIS INTERNALIZES (PHOTO CREDITS: DEAH LORENZO)

"KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL": KINASASABIKAN NA!!!!

JOEL MOLINA AS IBARRA: SEXIER, BOLDER!

Nakakaloka ang dami ng blog views na kapo-post pa lang naming bagong artikulo ukol sa KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL. Wala pa itong isang oras a viral world, nag-trending na agad sadami ng views. It only means, kinasasabikan na talaga ng mga bagong batch ng mga disciplined students na mapanood na ang bagong millenial version ng klasikong dulang KANSER, na hango sa nobelang Noli Me Tangere ni Dr. Jose Rizal.

"May dalawang millenial characters kasi akong dinagdag sa dula, and playwright Jomar Fleras gave me naman the permission", nasabi ni direk Frannie sa isang blogger in a casual na kuwentuhan."Yung isa, character ni Norman Penaflorinda na isang taga-awit sa dula at lalabas siya tuwing intermission numbers. At yung isa naman, updated na character ni Pilosopong Tasyo na moderno at maka-millenial. Maraming mga millenial students ang matutuwa sa ibang interpretasyon ng character na gagawin ko sa kanila.Pero hindi ko pa puwedeng mai-reveal ngayon."

Ibang attack din sa character ni Crisostomo Ibarra ang naiisip na gawin ni Joel Molina, ang aktor na gumaganap ngayon sa nasabing klasikong karakter na Ibarra. Tipong daring, sexy, and revealing! Sa isang eksena ng dula,magi-strip ng polo shirt si Ibarra at maghuhubad from the waist-up. Eh,napakaganda pa mandin ng katawan nitong si Joel, F.Y.I.!

DIREK FRANNIE WITH HIS STAGE MANAGER JAYSON B.AND FRIEND SARAH MARIA

THE GANTIMPALA THEATER FOUNDATION "INSIDERS"

MARIA CLARA AND IBARRA REHEARSES FOR A SCENE

"Mapusok si Ibarra at mapangahas", sabi ni direk Frannie."'Yun lang naman ang nais naming maipakita. Yung paghuhubad niya ng damit, ay dala lamang ng galit at paghihimagsik ng damdamin niya."

Nu'ng taong 2014, three years ago, ay nagampanan na ni Joel sa dulang Kanser din ang papel na Ibarra. At napaka-convincing niya as Ibarra. Para sa isang blogger- siya ang pinaka-realistic na Ibarra!

Anyway, sa September 2 ay may Press Night ang dulang Kanser 2017: The Novel sa AFP Theater sa ganap na alas-tres ng  hapon.

Kinasasabikan na kasi ng lahat ang bago na namang bersyon ng dulang ito.

Nanalo na rin si direk Frannie Zamora ng Best Director for a Musical Play sa Aliw Awards two years ago para sa dulang Kanser: TheMusical, beating the likes of  Chris Millado and Vince Tanada. Malamang sa taong ito, hindi malabong mangyari ulit yun.

Kaya panoorinang dulang "KANSER 2017:THE NOVEL"!!!!



(Sinulat ni Robert Silverio)

"KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL", IN A SPECIAL PHOTO SHOOT...

PAUL JAKE PAULE (as elias) and JOEL MOLINA (as Ibarra): THE SAGA CONTINUES in "Kanser2017: The Novel"

SABI NGA NILA, ANG PAGMAMAHAL DAW SA BAYAN AY HIGIT PA SA PAGMAMAHAL MO SA IYONG SARILI. SANKATERBANG DUGO NG MGA BAYANI ANG UMAPAW NA, PARA LANG SA BAYAN... PARA LANG SA BANSANG PILIPINAS.

DAPAT NA PATULOY PA RIN ITONG MALAMAN NG MGA KABATAN, NG MGA TINATAWAG NA "MILLENIAL KIDS"... MGA PAGASA NG KINABUKASAN.

KAYA NAMAN, MAGPAKAILANMAN, ANG DULANG "KANSER" NG PLAYWRIGHT NA SI JOMAR FLERAS AY TAON-TAON PA RING MASASAKSIHAN NG MGA ESTUDYANTE, DAHIL ITO AY MISYON NA NG GANTIMPALA THEATER FOUNDATION.

AT MULA SA DIREKSYON NI FRANNIE ZAMORA, TAON-TAON DIN AY NAGKAKAROON ITO NG IBA-IBANG BERSYON, TAON-TAON AY NAKIKIAYON SA TAKBO NG PANAHON- MULA NA RIN SA CREATIVE MIND AND GENIUS NI DIREK FRANNIE, AND HIS STAFF.

THIS YEAR, MAGPAKA-MILLENIAL TAYO. MAY MILD MUSIC SA KABUUAN NG DULANG "KANSER 2017: THE NOVEL". MANOOD MULI  TAYO AT SAKSIHAN ANG MGA KARAKTER NA NILIKHA NI DR. JOSE RIZAL (ANG "KANSER" AY HANGO SA NOBELANG "NOLI ME TANGERE") NA MULING MABUBUHAY SA HARAP NG TANGHALAN.

AT SINO PA BA ANG TATANGGI SA KAKISIGAN NILA JOEL MOLINA (AS IBARRA), PAUL JAKE PAULE (AS ELIAS) AT FRANCIS MATTHEU (AS PADRE DAMASO) SA DULANG ITO?

SIYEMPRE, NARIYAN DIN ANG KAGANDAHAN NI DEA CHUA BILANG BAGONG MARIA CLARA.

TARA NA. BUHAYIN NATING MULI ANG PUSO AT DAMDAMIN NG ISANG TUNAY NA PILIPINO.

TARA NA, PILIIN PA RIN NATIN ANG PILIPINAS!!!



(sinulat ni robert silverio)

frannie zamora: the director of "kanser"