Theater Review: The Riddle of the Sphinx- An Artist Playground Production

What started as something that is unclear ended in stark clarity; such was my experience when I have witnessed this new offering of Artist Playground – The Riddle of the Sphinx.

After a well received staging of Ginugunita Kita at the Aldaba Hall in UP Diliman, Artist Playground presents this work originally written by Eugenio Deriada in English and was translated in Filipino by Jim Bergado.  With Sheila Espina and Ace Urieta, as actors and directed by Paul Jake Paule, The Riddle of the Sphinx is set to tickle your mind with the humor, wit and simplicity of how it was presented to the viewing public.

Synopsis

The Riddle of the Sphinx is a play about two strangers exploring the diverse viewpoints regarding the intricacies of a human being, the relationship dynamics of a man and a woman and the fundamentals of cultural imprinting through a game that they played while waiting for the buses that will take them to their destinations.

                                                     Courtesy of publicist Mr. Toots Tolentino and The Artist Playground

This is actually one short stage piece that they were able to strengthen further by the manner that they have treated it.  They opened up the stage with a movement scene, showing the whole storyline but at the same time teasing you – something to wet your palate, so to speak.  Then a transition occurred and the play begins.

Despite the limitations of the space, the stage area is like 8”x 15” more or less, the actors were able to define the spot that they are one and at what time frame.  The bendable stepladder also played an integral role in defining the space and place that is needed in the situation.  Because of the limitation, strategic placements of lights were made to support the scene.  Some of you may say that it is quite a small space and that presenting a piece is a challenge.  Well my dearies . . .Welcome to The Little Room Upstairs! – the playground area of Artist Playground.  For me, in cooking, this is the test kitchen; a place where artist can experiment and explore before they go out in the bigger world.  A place where materials can be tried out to a small viewing body and get feedbacks for its betterment. 

What started out as disconnected in my mind suddenly click into clarity when I recalled the story about an adventurer who encountered a sphinx who then gave him a riddle to solve.  The answer to that riddle connected everything that I get to see and hear at that time.  Now I get to enjoy the subtle intricacies presented by the play. The difference between man’s thought processing to that of a woman, the emotional need of a woman in a relationship to that of the physical need of a man, the manipulative actions of a female to the controlling moves of a male. . . the yin and the yang.

Should you wish to experience how it is to be part of the viewing public in The Riddle of the Sphinx, visit The Little Room Upstairs which is at Unit 1701 Landsdale Tower, along Mother Ignacia Avenue, near Timog Avenue in Quezon City.  Shown every Saturday of July with play hours at 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm, respectively, it is now up to you to choose your day and time.

Enjoy the moment!

Photos:

(All photos used were personally taken by me during the press preview at The Little Room Upstairs.  If you wish to see the whole album, go to the Facebook page of Above, Under and Beyond the Rainbow)