Choreographed entrances, fast-paced skirmishes, an epic battle between warring Christians and Moors, and a romance that blooms, blossoms and endures despite the uncertainty of times—all these and more comes alive on stage as Gantimpala Theater ushers the beginning of its 31st year with Francisco Balagtas' Florante at Laura, re-created as a modern day komedya.
Florante at Laura is a Filipino awit,
a love story that happens in the kingdom of Albania. Florante is the
son of Duke Briseo, betrothed to Laura, daughter of Haring Linceo. This Tagalog epic describes the many hardships that the relationship of the two lovers faced and how their love
withstood the onslaught of tragedies. It also presents their unusual
kinship with Flerida and Aladin, who are of Moorish lineage.
This
awit is dedicated to Balagtas' sweetheart Maria Asuncion Rivera or
Selya, who married Balagtas' rival Mario Capule. Despite
being a love story, Florante at Laura had underlying nationalistic
tones that escaped the eyes of the Spanish censorship permitting it to
be shown in theatres and plays.
Gantimpala Theater reincarnates the classic awit as a komedya, considered as an authentic Filipino theater form.
This Roobak Valle-directed production stars Arkin Da Silva (Florante); Nelia Aguado (Laura); Ronald
Concepcion (Adolfo); Dong Aturong (Duke Briseo); Pamela Hundana (Reyna
Floresca); Abel Napuran (Haring Linceo); Abner Delina Jr. (Batang
Florante/Taga-Pagsalaysay); Christian Parado (Menandro); Billy Parjan
(Antenor); Jerald Napoles (Sultan Ali-Adab); Yutaka Yamakawa (Aladin);
Lailanie Ann Tejuco (Flerida) and Julius Empredo (Osmalik).
Assisting
Valle realize the world of Florante at Laura are Andy Villareal (Lights
Designer); Sergio Anlocotan Jr. (Choreographer); Charyl Chan-de Guzman
(Production Manager); Lailanie Ann Tejuco (Assistant Production
Manager); Joey David (Stage Manager) and Tony S. Espejo (Artistic
Director).
Tony
Espejo, Gantimpala's artistic director says, "Our season once more
focuses on the educational role that live theater provides to our
student audiences and the general public. Our performances bring flesh
and blood to the famous characters of the stories we dramatize, making
them more believable and accessible to the audience. We
also emphasize the values inherent in the stories and underscore such
virtues as love for country, caring for environment and honesty, truth
and justice. Watching Gantimpala's Florante at Laura is a lesson in
Philippine literature and theater history. I guarantee our audiences
that this historical dramatization of the exploits of Florante and his
romance with Laura will make them appreciate our country's rich
literary heritage."
Florante at Laura is fully supported by the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC).
For
information, bookings and ticket reservations please call: the
Gantimpala Theater Marketing Office, 899-5745/896-3503/474-5198 or
email: gantimpalaproduction@yahoo.com.ph
Performance dates:
July 27, 6 pm, Concert at the Park Open Air Auditorium in
Luneta, Manila
August 1, 2, 3, 15 & 16, 10 am/2 pm, AFP Theater in
EDSA, Quezon City
August 8, 9 & 10, 10 am/2 pm, SM South Mall in
Las Piñas City
Venue: Concert at the Park Open Air Auditorium, Rizal Park, Manila