Tired of online trolls? Consider watching Filipino musicals online. It would be an entertaining and informative way to support local artists (and to take a break from the chaotic bardagulan). Remember, the youth vote has the power to change the future by electing the right leaders of the Philippines.
Aside from Areté and Tanghalang Ateneo’s “²Bayani: Isang Rock Operang Alay kay Andres Bonifacio,” here are two other shows you can stream.
‘A Game of Trolls’ by Philippine Educational Theater Association (Peta)
Heck, played by Myke Salomon, works as a keyboard warrior at a “troll center” that runs an online campaign that is promartial law. It’s ironic because his mother, Nanay Tere played, by Upeng Galang-Fernandez, was a martial law activist.
Like the ghosts from “A Christmas Carol,” the ghosts of martial law victims haunt Heck from the Internet Cloud to inform him of history, and remind him to reevaluate his personal and political beliefs.
Cast includes Gold Villar Lim, Vince Lim, Lemuel Silvestre, Joseph Madriaga, Kiki Baento, John Moran, Norbs Portales, Gie Onida, Roi Calilong, Ada Marie Tayao, Lea Espallardo, Icee Po, Dan Cabrera, Jason Barcial, Justin Castillo.
Written by Liza Magtoto and directed by Maribel Legarda (the duo behind the hit musical “Rak of Aegis”), “A Game of Trolls” has lyrics, composition, arrangement and musical direction by Vincent de Jesus.
Peta president Cecilia “CB” Garrucho reminds the audience that the theater company was born in 1972 after martial law was declared: “As young artists then, we witnessed the oppression and terrors of those dark years … It is our role to mirror the times, help shape our people’s consciousness and protect the dignity of our nation’s continuing story.”
Streaming until today, April 23, at ktx.ph/category/ a-game-of-trolls.
‘Doc Resureccion, Gagamutin ang Bayan’ by Tanghalang Pilipino
The one-act play “Doc Resureccion, Gagamutin ang Bayan” is about the rivalry between Dr. Jess Resureccion, played by Marco Viaña, and his slacker cousin, Boy Pogi Resureccion played by Jonathan “Tad” Tadioan.
The young, idealistic Doc Resureccion is running for mayor in a poor fishing village against Boy Pogi, who is manipulated by political backers who want to keep their power in the community by confusing voters with two Resureccions on the ballot. Both candidates genuinely want to help the people, though in their own extreme ways. This social-realist show has a lot of cursing, and tackles prostitution, violence and environment issues.
Lhorvie Nuevo plays Boy Pogi’s wife Elsa, while Fernando “Nanding” Josef plays Papang and veteran actress Sherry Lara stars as Mamang.
Written by Layeta Bucoy, “Doc Resureccion” debuted in the 2009 Virgin Labfest, the annual festival of unpublished works held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and was recently shot onstage by director Dennis Marasigan as Tanghalang Pilipino’s first film project.
Set is by Ohm David, costumes are by Daniel Gregorio and music is by TJ Ramos. Assistant director is Antonette Go and director of photography is Pong Ignacio.
Streaming until April 30 at ticket2me.net/e/34853; email tanghalangpilipinomarketing@gmail.com.