International child actor conquers PETA stage

Prior to going to preparatory school, Martin delos Reyes would already read the almanac, fairytales and bible stories and play pretend. When he was 3 years old, he would ask his mother to take him to the mall--not to buy clothes or toys, or watch a movie, but to do an acting stint on top of the mall's empty stage. Now, barely in high school, he has acted in the international film Mammoth (with Gael García Bernal and Michelle Williams). Martin shot his scenes in Sweden for this film and he joined the delegation for the world premiere held during the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival.


He has also acted alongside the biggest names in Philippine Entertainment for the shows Kamandag, Totoy Bato, Encantadia, Asero, Mga Mata ni Anghelita, Super Twins, All My Life, and Magpakailanman.


Many directors have been amazed by his natural talent, his passion and his remarkable memory, which help him learn scripts and cues in a breeze.


At age 10, Martin has the acting credits of a showbiz veteran, but this young actor has not stopped just yet. After conquering the big screen, television shows, commercials and talent searches, he is now into live performance: live theater.


In the Philippine Educational Theater Association's (PETA) adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore's The Post Office, he plays the lead role, Abel, a sick young boy who longs to join the outside world. With touching curiosity, he meets peculiar and inspiring characters that give him a sparkle of hope despite his fatal illness.


The play, Ang Post Office, written in beautiful, poetic verses by Palanca award-winning writer Rody Vera was given life by Martin's heartfelt interpretation of the text.


The young boy would come geared up for rehearsals everyday. After studying math equations for class, he would study his lines and cues."He would fall asleep with the script on his chest," shares his mother.


Although he has done a lot of local television shows and has gone international, the young boy admits he is quite anxious to perform live.
"Ang theater, hindi po katulad ng TV na pwede i-cut," says Martin.


Although slightly apprehensive, he easily won the hearts of those who watched during the play's critic's night. The audience members were amazed at his focus, his wittiness and his ease to act for an hour--pretty awesome for a boy who's never tried performing live.


The play's director, Gardy Labad, reveals: "Martin is a now the wonder boy of theater. It's his first try at live drama but he copes with it like a real pro. I have been continuously mesmerized by his unflagging desire and openness to explore his role. He's very intuitive and spontaneous, alive and imaginative--traits that fit the role as if Tagore originally wrote it for him."


Ang Post Office show dates are as follows:


August 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29 (3:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M.) September 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 (10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M.)


Venue: PETA Theater Center: No 5 Eymard Drive New Manila, Quezon City.


For inquiries and reservations, contact PETA Marketing and Public Relations at (02) 725-6244, (02), 410-821 or 0917-8044428, petatheater@gmail.com.