Philippine Drama Company Sala Theater’s (PDCST) 27th season will celebrate the 90th birthday of its founder and artistic director Natividad “Naty” Crame- Rogers.
The season opens with “kaSALAn,” a twin-bill of comedies “Panhik Ligaw” and “Dahil sa Anak” on July 7-8.
“Panhik Ligaw,” directed by Gaby Castillo, is D. Habito’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “The Marriage Proposal.” It features Entang, the comic maid of the wealthy Don Sebio, whose tough spinster daughter Talia is being wooed by Kadio, a sickly bachelor who has asthma.
“Dahil sa Anak,” by Julian Cruz Balmaceda and directed by Kenn Cayunda, is about the wealthy Don Arkimedes who is against his son Manuel’s marriage with Rita, a laundry woman’s daughter, despite them already having a child together. Manuel seeks help from his wise uncle Don Cristobal to sway his father’s decision, and from Rita’s strong-willed aunt, Aling Sidora.
The twinbill will be staged at Aming Tahanan Sala Theater, Rogers’ living room transformed into an informal performance area during productions.
In October, the group will stage National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin’s “Portrait of an Artist as Filipino,” about a pair of spinster sisters dealing with the changes in Old Manila just before World War II.
In December, the group will stage “Naty @ Ninety” to commemorate Rogers’ continuing legacy to Philippine theater.
Rogers has been creating and teaching theater since her college days under National Artist for Theater Wilfrido Guerrero at University of the Philippines. She taught at the Philippine Normal College (now Philippine Normal University) where she was part of National Artist for Theater Severino Montano’s Arena Theater. She founded PDCST after retiring from teaching.
Rogers has performed for National Artist for Theater Rolando Tinio’s Teatro Filipino and National Artist for Film Lamberto Avellana’s Barangay Theater Guild.
Rogers wrote “Classical Forms of Theater in Asia,” published by UST Publishing House.
“kaSALAn” runs July 7-8, with shows at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the Aming Tahanan Sala Theater, 40 Stella Maris St., Bo. Kapitolyo, Pasig. Call 0917-5691439.
