Theater review: ‘Maria Isabella’: The crown jewel of Virgin Labfest 2015

'Si Maria Isabella at Ang Guryon ng Mga Tala'

“Si Maria Isabella at Ang Guryon ng Mga Tala,” poetically written by Eljay Castro Deldoc and magnificently directed by Ed Lacson Jr., is the crown jewel of the 2015 Virgin Labfest.

It deserves a bigger stage within, and outside of, the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Although a mere coincidence of scheduling, it is only fitting that this elegant gem of a one-act play closed the Sariwa XI: Virgin Labfest's three-week run.

“Si Maria Isabella at Ang Guryon ng Mga Tala” is a love story and an unflinching journey spanning 60 years in search of materials to build a giant kite. The decades of pilgrimage eventually become a testament and an offering to the cathedral of ardent love, even if unrequited.

Moving the audience to tears, a rare feat for Virgin Labfest plays in the last several years, the odyssey of Maria Isabella and her young male companion is highlighted by magical realism, evoking the imagery of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novels.

It is a love triangle with a cornucopia of contours, colors, and piquancy, topped with meticulous puppet plays and ethereal shadow plays. The live classical guitar musical accompaniment must be praised, too.

While the 16-year-old Maria Isabella is in love with another man, her companion, the 14-year-old son of the owner of the town’s slaughterhouse, is also aching for her.

Adapted from Dean Francis Alfar’s “The Kite of Stars,” Deldoc’s ravishing masterpiece and Lacson’s glittering directorial interpretation hook the audience with the twists and turns of the tumultuous journey and with the treasure of memories being collected along the way. True, it is a love story, but not the everyday type.

Proudly showing that he is from the province that produced the literary giant Francisco de la Cruz Baltazar, Deldoc delicately embroiders his “Maria Isabella” with witty romantic lines, delicious in their rhyme and cadence.

“Maria Isabella” is a splendid, sumptuous celebration of Tagalog literature. Read the following lines said by Melchor Antevadez, the expert kite-maker, to Maria Isabella: “Munting babala, dalagita. Hindi malayong gugulin mo ang habambuhay sa paghahanap.” And Maria Isabella replies with: “Habambuhay lamang ang mayroon ako, Señor.”

The team of Krystle Valentino (Maria Isabella) and Rafael Tibayan (the matadero's son) engage and connect with the audience with their sweet, funny, and yet poignant acting, together with an able and fine ensemble composed of Erica Esteban, Ian Santos, Blanche Buhia, Aje Candelaria, J.R. Sanchez, and Lyon Lopez.
 

'An Expected'

“An Expected,” written by Alvin Molina and directed by Roobak Valle, is a romance-comedy about a same-sex couple arguing in a park corner minutes after enjoying an Italian dinner in an expensive restaurant.

Under Valle's competent guidance, the handsome duo of Acey Aguilar (Victor) and Gio Gahol (Jake) crackle and show off their virility with the right tinge of feminine sensitivity while grappling with the delicate but difficult question: what if one of them is not really gay?

Suddenly, a fairy in the park, wishing to return to her homeland, appears to help the couple untie the complications. The fairy (Chunchi Labasaan) can only cross over to fairyland only after a third wish by mortals is granted. The two strike a deal with the fairy.

Despite the thinness of Molina's script in several scenes, Valle worked with his actors to deliver performances that connect with and cheer up the audience. The actors’ interaction with the audience is awesome.
 

'Talo ang Walang Alam'

“Talo ang Walang Alam,” written by Joe Mari Sanchez and directed by Issa Manalo Lopez, was painful to watch.

The story is anchored on a bag-snatching incident somewhere along the Roxas Boulevard baywalk, and how the different characters populating this particular stretch of the seawall react to the crime.

The entire cast, composed of Ina Azarcon-Bolivar (Nena), Jo Balanon (Rama), and Nikki Pastor (Myrna) together with Edwin Serrano and Patricia Mikaela Dacanay as ensemble, tried to give life to the script.

However, the director needed to infuse a combination of nuclear power and solar energy to move the development and unfolding of the narrative.

There was too much dead air, which made the play all the more excruciatingly dull to watch. A significant rework of the original material and directorial intent is a must for “Talo ang Walang Alam.” — BM, GMA News

Sariwa XI: Virgin Labfest ran until July 12, 2015 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.