After opening its 43rd Theater Season with a play about children, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) adds to its menu, a classic narrative that once again borrows inspiration from a deceptively simple subject.
From an enduring work of one of India's most respected Rennaisance figures, Rabindranath Tagore, comes a poignant adaptation that focuses on the inspiring story of an ailing child, Abel. Innocent, as he is unaware of what the loss of life means, Abel greets the world with loving and consuming passion through the lone window of his room and touches the lives of people passing outside his window.
Like a bittersweet tale cooked to perfection, Ang Post Office renders a contemporary flavor to the originally Bengali narrative The Post Office. Written and adapted by Palanca award-winning writer Rody Vera, the play transposes early 20th century rural Bengal into a modern day Filipino town.
Tagore's characters are also spiced-up and given new life as they are given their own Filipino counterparts: a taho vendor for the dairyman, a PNP chief for the King's watchman and a sampaguita vendor for the rose seller.
For starters, the play is drizzled with an assortment of both theater giants and budding young artists: Bembol Roco, Bodgie Pascua, Lao Rodriguez, Ian Segarra, Jojo Atienza, Jack Yabut, LotLot Bustamante, Abner Delina Jr., Ness Roque, Jason Barcial, Mary Jane Medina, Martin Delos Santos, Josh Tecson, Sweet Ramos and Julia Chua.
Mixed perfectly through the direction of theater artist, Gardy Labad, the play is even richly blended with a live score infused by the Loboc Children's Choir and the Kilyawan Choir. Like a top note to a dish, these young voices echo as each scene is being revealed.
The intimate proscenium stage, like a flawless serving plate, also offers the perfect setting for the play.
Ang Post Office has the perfect ingredients for a succulent play: one that is easy digested because of its simplicity and remembered for its distinctly fine taste. More than being a play about death, it is about affirming and living life and looking at everything beyond their commonness.
Served hot this August at the PETA Theater Center. Showdates are as follows: August 6 (3:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M.), 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, September 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 (10:00 AM and 3:00 PM).
Venue: PETA Theater Center, 5 Eymard Drive (formerly Sunnyside Drive), Brgy. Kristong Hari, New Manila, Quezon City
For inquiries and reservations, contact PETA Marketing and Public Relations at (02) 725-6244, (02), 410-821 or 0917-8044428. Tickets are Php 300 each.