Stage Thoughts: A New Hope Giving Stage Material Hits the Stage!

June is declared as Pride Month for the LGBTQ community.  Various activities where set left and right celebrating this fun filled month.  One thing that will never fade is the need for continual education of the masses regarding the growing and still a challenge status of HIV infection in the country.  Such is the challenge tackled by these brave theater performers – Artist Playground.

The cast and people behind Roses for Ben

This month, they offered 2 gay-themed plays both showing the struggles of those in the gaydom.  They started with Laro by Floy Quintos and ended the month with a hope-filled production of a new musical tackling HIV entitled ROSES FOR BEN.  Written by Rayne Jarabo and directed by Roeder Camañag, with musical direction coming from Jessie Lucas, assisted by Arnold Bacsal and choreographed by Lezlie Dailisan, with inputs coming from the Red Whistle team, this production is designed to educate and inform the masses that having HIV is not the end of the world.  You can still hope and dream for a future . . .a life comfortable despite the disease.

Opening Scene - the cast

Ben is a young professional who has a good paying but time consuming job, a beautiful relationship and a future filled with his dreams and aspiration, when all this came to a startling halt and turn when he came to know that he is infected due to a past that he can no longer retract and withdraw.   What came after the discovery is the key message of this production.

The key points of this production are the following:   that HIV doesn’t choose who it will attach to; that HIV is now a male-2-female-2-male situation – something that HIV studies has been screaming for nearly a decade now; if you are going to play make it safe – used condom and stay with your partner is you have one, if not then pray to all the gods that you be safe; if detected with HIV then take your medicines on time and in time less you go to a higher cocktail of drugs; there is a law protecting your identity whenever you decided to have yourself tested and there is still life after HIV finding.

Despite the nervous attack during press preview night, the performers delivered their utmost and presented a new stage material that is both educational and informative.  My hands then applauded to the following performers for the following reasons:

Khen Dels – he played the role of Jes, the best buddy of Ben.  He maintained his character on and off stage.  He was funny and dynamic without overdoing it.  He nearly fell off the chair but was able to maintain character and control of the scene. Kulang na lang itulak niya si Ben dahil kinuha nito and space niya, but he did it smoothly that barely no one noticed that slight movement ad lib.

Khen Dels (standing on chair)

Anna Nicole Herrera – she played the role of Ms. Queenie -  ang babaeng fashionista (love for shoes), tsimosa-chicadora at bakla all rolled into one.  I simply love her!  She was funny to watch and very entertaining.  She shifted character smoothly.

Jerome Fuguso – he played the doctor.  What was most notable with this actor is his character delivery before being the doctor  - the debunking of the conception on how HIV is transferred.

Tatlong paraan lang para magkaroon ka ng HIV. Ang pakikipagtalik sa may HIV, ang masalinan ng dugo na may HIV at kung pinagbubuntis ka ng ina mo na may HIV. Nakipagtalik ka ba sa tilapia na may HIV?  Nasalinan ka ba ng dugo ng tilapia na may HIV? May HIV ba ang ina mo ng pinagbubuntis ka? Wala!

Bobby Martino – played the role of Sir Wency (head of the company where Ben works) and Mang Boyet (father of Ben).  Hands down and he played both characters with style and grace!  A little control on the singing voice and he is still good.  He is Two-Faced personified – the dirty old Harry and the supportive father.

            

            

Let Me Be Your Daddy Song

As Mang Boyet

Now that is for character play.  For the singing part, I then bow to the voice quality of Beaulah Mae Saycon (Alice) and Miriam Reyes (Denise, Alice sister).  Then can impart the emotional demand of the songs given to them to deliver without damaging their vocal gifts in the process.  They both know how to find harmonic balance when paired with someone, still maintaining the quality demanded from them as a performer.

 

Alice and Denise

As a viewer, I would say that this new musical piece will still grow and evolve every time it goes on stage.  How it is to be handled and delivered is on the hands of the director and the performing cast.  As long as the purpose of educating and informing is maintained then this production will continue seeing the spotlights, various par lamps and stage designs in years to come.

I love you for making things bright for POSITs out there!