This September, a new rock opera by Ryan Cayabyab opens at the College of St. Benilde.
“Lorenzo”—about an OFW awaiting execution in the Middle East who, while in prison, creates a theater production based on the life of the first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz—has music by Cayabyab, book and lyrics by Paul Dumol and Christian Vallez, production design by Gino Gonzales, and direction by Nonon Padilla.
The musical narrates the strange events surrounding Lorenzo Ruiz, a parish assistant in the Church of Binondo, who finds himself a fugitive after killing a Spaniard. The parish priest helps him escape, and Ruiz accidentally joins a group of merchants en route to Japan, where he is pursued by malas (bad luck), ending up with a group of persecuted missionaries.
Padilla says: “‘Lorenzo’ focuses on the physical odyssey to escape the law. The trip deepens into an inner journey of two Pinoys, one from history, another a contemporary living the life of a vagabond OFW—both overcoming mental anguish and spiritual turmoil as they help each other question the nature of fate, one’s faith and the real meaning of love.
“It is an intense and provocative examination of today’s issues regarding exile and its myriad consequences, and the deeper question of what it really takes to become, or be, a Filipino.”
The cast includes Lorenz Martinez, OJ Mariano, Juliene Mendoza, Sheila Valderrama, Mayen Estañero, Terence Guillermo and Camille Lopez-Molina.
Show dates are Sept. 5 to 7 and 12 to 14, 1 and 6 p.m., at DLSU-College of St. Benilde in Manila.
For tickets, contact Crissi Laumond at 0917-5514378.
