Kanakan's
"Mga Buhay na Apoy" deserve its award in the Don Carlos Palanca
Memorial Awards. A literary masterpiece, every line delivered by the actors is
a portal to the world that is simply Kanakan. Just by simply listening to the
lines delivered while masterfully accompanied by the music of Diwa De Leon, it's like
you are being transported i. the mystical world of Palaw'an. The text was very
rich and colorful. As the director, his vision was made even better by the
wonderful performance of the ensemble and the grade A execution of the
technical and production staff.
I suggest
however that you don't close your eyes, for the set design itself is a marvel
to look at. The giant tree in the middle of the stage is like a gateway waiting
to be opened. The luncheon table was set with different chairs, each chairs
we're like a representation of each of the characters. You get the festive mood
the set is trying to send off, which is a good contrast to the dark secrets the
play holds. The staircase provides a good balance, hearing that the set is
based on real life, makes you realize just how interesting the playwright might
be in real life.
The
lighting design of Dennis Marasigan in this play was awesome. Initially, there we're
moments were you would feel that a little more push on the lights console would
push it even further and make the narration even better, but as the play
progress you would realize the lights were perfect, just enough to highlight
the actors during their moments in the performance. The area lighting of
Marasigan proved to be an invaluable tool to forward the vision of Kanakan.
Irma was
wonderful, it would be no surprise if she would get some awards or recognition
for her performance. Her landmark scene came late in the middle of the second
act. During the moment where she was in a trance. She was ably supported by the
ensemble during this scene. You could see, hear and feel the beautiful
nightmare that was unfolding before your eyes.
However the
performance was quite lengthy. The 1st act, though it was important to lay down
the history of the characters, feels like it could still be made tighter.
Though I would understand if the writer would not edit the scenes to make it
faster, but if the production would like it to be more appealing to the younger
generation (which i believe it should, for the cultural value of the
presentation would make every filipino, not just the Palaw'ans, proud of their
cultural identity).
In closing
the message of the performance that all of us are caretakers of our culture,
that all of us should do our part in preserving our heritage and history is
important. That our past should be accepted even if it is very painful. For it
is only in moving away from the shadows of our past and accepting our truths
will we be able to shine the light that we all hold.
We should
all watch the performance. Kanakan's Mga Buhay na Apoy is what this generations
needs. Reminding all of us that we have that living flame in our hearts and
soul. That we should keep it burning, that we should cultivate that fire and
make it grow, let it engulf us and show the world how bright we all could be.
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| The Cast of Mga Buhay Na Apoy. |
Words by JP Lopez, Contributor.
Photos by Evo Joel Contrivida.
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