Tanghalang Ateneo opened their 38th
season titled De/Constructing Narratives with a bang as they staged
the first international premiere of a thought-provoking Boy by Anna
Ziegler.
The play, originally produced by Keen
Company in New Yorj City earlier this year, is translated into
Filipino by Guela Varela-Luarca and directed by Ed Lacson, Jr. It
stars Cholo Ledesma as Adam Turner/Samantha, Teroy Guzman as Dr.
Wendell Barnes, Camille Abaya as Jenny, Mayen Estanero and Wenah
Nagales as Trudy, and Juliene Mendoza as Doug.
The play is a story of self-realization
and gender identity, a journey of Adam Turner, towards to one's self
despite doubts and confusion on his gender. Turner was an actual boy
who suffered an unfortunate medical accident resulting into one the
toughest part of his life: being raised as a girl by his parents
(Trudy and Doug) upon the advice of a renowned psychologist (Dr.
Wendell). However, as Adam – or Samantha – grows older, his
confusion about who he is and what he wants to become in life grows
more and more apparent, which lead to his parents eventually decide
to reveal him his biological gender.
The play runs for about one and a half
hours, but it wasn't really dragging as despite Barretto doing the
doble-kara-like character, there is a clear distinction on the side
of personality he is playing.
Guzman was so freaking effective on
playing the psychologist. Well, he did portray the typical antagonist
and instead, resort into a somewhat humanitarian-like approach –
the kind one yet had some black intentions in mind, and that is to
mold Adam into something he never really wanted to be in a long run –
as Samantha.
Abaya as Adam's love interest was
perhaps a challenging role in complimenting the confused Adam in the
context on where the lead will actually eventually fall – to his
past “her” self or to her side, with also her son being Adam's
subject of interest more than her.
I have yet to see Nagales as an
alternate, but Estanero certainly did a great job as Trudy, the
mother who has been totally concerned about his son upon developing.
Mendoza's character may have been mostly-silent type but that showed
how most fathers are: once they spit, it's lethal. And they may be
really hardworking, but the machismo spirit proved he still cares for
his son. Imagine drinking a beer with your dad at one night of your
life.
To sum up, Boy was indeed
thought-provoking as it talked about the modern-day issue of
transgender which shouldn't be a taboo anymore. Plus it helped that
the actors have known the background better; to think this play was
actually derived from the study known as “Dr. Money and The Boy
With No Penis,” which had traumatic results as an aftermath.
Besides, on a personal level, this is actually the first time I did a review on theater play and was barely the first time I hit such since 2009. So perhaps I really have little knowledge about performing in the curtains and hopefully I have yet to get back on it soon.
Author: slickmaster | © 2016 september twenty-eight productions
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