Gantimpala Theater, in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), present the Second Pearl Theater Festival, featuring the re-staging of Rene Villanueva's Hiblang Abo and Dong delos Reyes' Bien Aligtad.
Hiblang Abo (2nd prize, 1980 CCP Playwriting Contest), is about the grief, weariness, fears, and sadness of four men (named Huse, Pedro, Blas and Sotero) who live inside the home for the chronologically advanced.
Tony Espejo directs the drama that stars Lou Veloso (Huse), Dante Balaois (Pedro); Ces Aldaba (Blas) and Bodjie Pascua (Sotero), with support from Molts Meneses (doctor/lawyer), Francis Cruz III (nurse) and April Dolot (Mrs. Salvacion).
Bien Aligtad (1st prize 1985 CCP Playwriting contest), is about the life of a small time criminal that helps his community by sharing with them his loot, thus earning their love and admiration, much to the dismay of the authorities especially now that a movie about his life is forthcoming, solving a problem named Bien is giving them endless headaches and has made them the people's laughing stock.
The cast are Jojit Lorenzo (Bien Aligtad); Hope Matriano (Takyang Bagting); Joey David (Abeng Barbero); Doreen Bernal (Huling Harapipak); Alexis Aubrey Fernandez (Salome/Miriam); John Rhoderey and Joseph Matthew Dizon (Bien's children); Ronnie Bertubin, Paul Sy and Ed Murillo(tres berdugos) plus the GTF Actors' Company as koro.
Roobak Valle is director, choreographer and production designer of this movement drama.
Tony Espejo, artistic director says, "The Second Pearl Theater Festival is a biennial project of Gantimpala Theater. Winners of the CCP Playwriting contests are being re-staged to present to the public the many artistic and production contributions of the company that helped in the development of Philippine dramaturgy."
Members of the artistic and production team are: Joey Nombres, lighting designer and Marianne Sedotes, production designer, Raymond Talavera, stage manager for Hiblang Abo; Dong Calingacion, lights designer; Jun Austria, musical director and Joey de Guzman, assistant musical director and Jhey-Ar Caguimbal, stage manager for Bien. Pamela Hundana and Lailanie Ann Tejuco are the production manager and assistant production manager respectively.
Hiblang Abo is showing on October 22 and 23. Bien Aligtad's performances are on November 6 and 8, 7 pm, Concert at the Park Open Air Auditorium, in Luneta, Manila.
Both performances of Hiblang Abo and Bien Aligtad are free.
For inquiries, please call 528-0603/536-5860 or write to: gantimpalatheater@yahoo.com.ph