#TheaterPH - 3 Major Reasons Why You Should Watch Martin Mcdonagh’s The Pillowman

I am giving you 3 major reasons why you should watch Martin Mcdonagh's The Pillowman translated in Filipino brought to you be Egg Theater Company!

Perks! :) Thank you ETC for these.

1. It is a FILIPINO translation! 

We entered the theater and this welcomed us.

Egg Theater Company positioned itself with its vision to produce straight plays with a contemporary setting in the Filipino language using original materials, translations or adaptations of both modern and classic works geared to showcase the Filipino actor. It’s rare nowadays to watch a play in our native tounge. Listening to the actors converse in Filipino make the audiences more engaged and intact. George de Jesus III, member of Egg Theater Company, actor, director and Palanca award winning playwright, beautifully translated Martin Mcdonagh’s The Pillowman which will make one crave for more as the play goes by.

2. Emotionally and Psychologically Challenging 

Acey as Ariel is intensely angry and pissed off in this shot.

At the door, there’s a warning note that says “The show has live gun shot SFX, fire and cigarette smoke.” This note actually triggered the excitement on me.  Having a run time of 2 hours and 40 minutes, this play can be compared to a full length commercial film.  It has one (1) intermission. The Pillowman is a roller coaster ride of emotions. It will provoke your imaginations with the sound design and visual projections that made the experience more appealing. I was teary eyed on distinct parts of the play. Bravo!

3. Powerful and Effective Ensemble

The cast is composed of brilliant theater actors. Acey Aguilar plays Ariel, a brutal and violent detective who has a vendetta against anyone who commits crimes against children because of abuse in his own past. Acey Aguilar, a graduate of Theater Arts in the Philippine High School for the Arts, worked with Dulaang UP, Tanghalang Pilipino, Tanghalang Ateneo and Sipat Lawin Ensemble. His theater credits include Orosman at Zafira,  Sala Sa Pito, Batang Pro, Pragres, Shock Value, Lulu, Kafatiran, Waiting for Godot and Ang Goldfish ni Professor Dimaandal.Aside from television and theater, he has also appeared in several indie films including Rekrut, Colossal, Lugaw, Kawal, Melodrama Negra, Islands, among others and most recently, the CineFilipino entry Star na si Van Damme Stallone.

Torture!

Renante Bustamante plays the role of Tupolski, lead detective and the "good cop" in the interrogation. Renante was among the select students of Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York from 2006 to 2008. He played Omar in John Patrick Stanley’s The Big Funk at the Stella Adler Studio marking his New York stage debut. He also played Wes in Ryoji Kajiwara’sHome. He is the founding Artistic Director of Tanghalang Tatsulok, an active community theater in Bataan and has appeared in PETA’s production of Haring Lear and Noli/Fili Dekada 2000.

Renan as Tupolski showing his authority as he commanded Ariel to stop.

MICHAL, Katurian's brother in the play, who is "slow to get things" following his years of abuse at the hands of his parents is played alternately by Paulo O’Hara and Paul Jake Paule. Paolo, a graduate of BS Mathematics, is a former member of Tanghalang Pilipino’s Actors’ Company. His theater credits include Ang Mga Huwad, Bakaretta, Godot: Wer Is U?, Magno Rubio, Merchant of Venice, Orfeo sa Impyerno, Rhythm Method, Crime and Punishment, Ang Sinungaling, Ang Ulo ni Pancho Villa, Insiang, Carmen, Makbet among others. Paolo also acts for movies and television and teaches in colleges, workshops and networks. Other productions include Dulaang UP’s Amphitryon and just recently, Tisoy Brown: Hari ng Wala, both directed by Jose Estrella.

Scene in Motion: Paul Jake as Michal ignoring his older brother Katurian pretending he's asleep.

Paul Jake on the other hand, is an actor, director and workshop facilitator. He was a former member and training director of PUP Sining-Lahi Polyrepertory. For Film, He appeared in KAPATIRAN directed by Pepe Diokno, Mula Sa Kung Ano Ang Noon(From What is Before), HELE SA HIWAGANG HAPIS a film of Lav Diaz, THE GIFTED directed by Chris Martinez REquieme directed by Loy Arcenas and Ang Lagda entry to CINEBERDE 2015 wherein he won Best Actor. He has also performed for Dulaang UP, Dulaang Laboratoryo, HeroesSquare Intramuros,Young Artists Production, Teatro Expedicion de Filipinas, Pro.Pro., Dulaang Kalay, Treehouse Theater Company,   Theater Artists Organization, and UP Theater Council wherein he won “Best Actor” for the play Room 4 Rent during the 2007 Curtain Call Play Festival.

Gabs as Kanturian reading one of his stories.

Gabs Santos portrays the character of Katurian, a writer of gruesome short stories often involving children. Gabs’ theater credits include I Love You Because, Mulan, Fiddler on the Roof, Love’s Labour’s Lost for Repertory Philippines; N.O.A.H. (No Ordinary Aquatic Habitat)and The Little Mermaid for Trumpets, Lulu and Orosman at Zafira for Dulaang UP, and Bona for PETA.

Cast and crew of The Pillowman!

Over all, The Pillowman is a kind of play that stays with you in a long time. It will surely hunt you in your dreams from the bizarre child murders to gruesome story telling of the geniuses, Martin Mcdonagh and George de Jesus III.  

Here's an excerpt:

The play will run from April 8-10 and 22-24, 2016, 8:00 PM at Pineapple Lab, 6071 R. Palma Street, Poblacion, Makati City. For tickets and inquiries, visit Egg Theater Company’s FB Page or contact 0917-844-0520.

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