On Monday, many Filipinos will be thinking of one of the greatest human beings the Philippines has ever known, Fr. James B. Reuter, SJ. It will be his first death anniversary.
Much has been said of Fr. Reuter’s humanitarianism, spirituality and saintliness. But let me share with you another side of him: He was a great teacher and a master in the theater arts.
He was my professor in English drama at the Ateneo de Manila, located at that time in Ermita, Manila. It was in the summer of 1962 or ’63, on the first day of our class, that I first met him.
Hands-on training
His words to us were something like, “This is what I’m offering you: hands-on training with no lecture.” And the surprise of all surprises: “The classes will be rehearsals of three Broadway musicals to be presented in three different colleges: one at St. Paul’s College, Manila, and the others in Bacolod and Iloilo.”
The two musicals? “Camelot” and “Finian’s Rainbow.” (The title of the first play, a lesser known one, has skipped my mind.) We have to work very hard, he said, since the plays’ successes will depend on us.
We looked at each other. How? We can’t do that. Do you trust us? (In today’s lingo: No way!) We simply expected lectures and some role-playing to impart to our own classes when we returned to where we came from: as far as Davao, Bacolod, Cagayan, Pampanga, Ilocos, and nearby cities and towns.
What he was offering was beyond our expectations or imagination.
Props
But we felt excited. Everybody thought that, even without a role in the plays, just being part of the stage crew or just being props would be good enough!
This class of about 14 students turned out to be one of our best. It was hard work, a challenge and a joy. We rehearsed every day, one musical and sometimes two plays in one day. “Multitasker” was an unknown word then, but Fr. Reuter was one, and a good one.
Amazingly, that summer he was able to produce and direct three Broadway musicals in less than three months, and presented them with some success in Manila, Iloilo and Bacolod. More amazing was that, with the exception of three major roles in the plays, the cast consisted mainly of his inexperienced English drama students.
Fr. Reuter was assisted and supported by his loyal stage crew volunteers from Ateneo de Manila (who later took the roles of our classmates who couldn’t join the tours) and by his recruited volunteers/aspiring actresses, one of whom was the late Zeneida Amador.
Amador, who played King Arthur in “Camelot” and Finian in “Finian’s Rainbow,” eventually became a famous and respected actress and director in theater and television.
I was cast as one of the dancers in “Finian’s Rainbow,” and a knight in “Camelot.” Wow, a dancer in one play and then a knight in another! Me? A quiet, laid-back student who couldn’t carry a tune and was just beginning her career in teaching?
Yes, I wanted to gain some confidence in speaking before a class and an assembly and learn something about theatrical arts, but not so bad as to be exposed and be part of such big productions.
I had two left feet and was too lady-like, friends said, to be a knight. When I told Fr. Reuter that I couldn’t do the “knight” part, he asked if I had brothers. Yes, I replied, four brothers.
“Then you can do it!” he said. That was how I became Sir Sagramore in “Camelot.”
Patient
How I got to be one of the dancers in “Finian’s Rainbow” is another story. Many of my classmates were cast in unexpected and dual roles because our class was small, and we were all females.
Fr. Reuter saw the potential in each student and challenged her. He was very patient with us. No outbursts of anger, no recriminations or blaming for mistakes and missed cues. Instead, there were assurances given, especially to those who shed some tears of stress.
He must have grown gray hairs transforming these ugly, awkward and frustrating ducklings into potential Oscar/Famas awards contenders!
More than the knowledge and skills of theater arts, Fr. Reuter taught us self-confidence, determination, self-esteem and humility. In the face of some seemingly impending disaster in a play and amid chaotic situations, we learned to believe.
Before each class and each matinee, we would see him kneel and pray.
We all rose to the occasion. We returned home from our tours enriched by this priceless experience and gifted with “A” grades, a prize more precious, for us “simple folks,” than any Oscar and Famas awards.
How do I remember all these after 50 years and having lived in the United States since 1968?
Sometimes, on my visits to the Philippines, I would come across a touching article of his, and I would remember. With the onset of computers and the Internet, I would read news from the Philippines and see his column, and I would remember.
Once in a great while, when I would be packing and relocating to another city, I would come across my scrapbook of that summer, with all the photos of the class, the crew and Fr. Reuter. Then I would remember.
Role models
But most of all, I would remember because he was one of my role models in my work as a teacher, and later as a clinical social worker in California. I would remember him sometimes and breathe a prayer of thanks after giving successful presentations and training in my workplace.
I would remember because the values of self-confidence, determination, hard work, patience, and above all, trust in the potentials of each student and client had been instilled in me.
These seeds, sown during drama classes of Fr. Reuter, were more firmly rooted during my studies abroad, and became my mantra in my work and personal life.
Fr. Reuter’s goodness has touched the lives of many. Its ripple effects are still being felt, and will continue to be felt in the years to come.