| | Eula Valdez an accidental stage actress Author: Boy Villasanta, Abs-cbnNEWS.com
Column: Entertainment MANILA - Eula Valdez, the bitchy villainess, if not the martyr other woman, in most television soap operas, is an accidental stage actress.
"I didn't know that I would love theater this much," she said in a casual talk recently.
She was, according to her, in the middle of a shoot of a television drama when a friend approached and convinced her to audition for a role in the hilarious musical play "Zsazsa Zaturnah."
"I wasn't ready at that time but after all my takes were done, we proceeded to the audition. I read the script, which was an impromptu reading, according to what's the role was. It was comedic and I had to stylize my voice acting," she recalled.
To make the long story short, she passed the test with flying colors.
"During rehearsals, my co-stars and I were so inspired by the play because it was fun and at the same time educational," shared Valdez.
Primetime TV series cut short her budding theater career though. She had to fulfill contracts with major networks and take on practically perennial roles assigned to character actresses like her-mom of the lead character with a shady past, scheming woman, parochial wife and many more colorful personas.
But it seemed like Valdez still wanted more.
"Pare-pareho na lang ang roles na ibinibigay sa akin. Nakakasawa na but I have to do them just the same," she admitted.
When "Flores Para Los Muertos" was offered to her by Tanghalang Pilipino, the Cultural Center of the Philippines' resident theater company, Valdez couldn't say no. "Flores Para Los Muertos" is a Filipino play translated by the late prolific writer Orlando R. Nadres. It is based from Tennessee Williams' 1947 masterpiece "A Streetcar Named Desire" (immortalized in the film version by Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh).
Firstly, Valdez would play Blanche Dubios, a strong woman yet living in a world of illusion. The role was originally tackled by versatile actress Laurice Guillen in the early 1980s.
"Nang malaman ko na si Laurice ang unang gumanap sa role, lalo akong na-excite," informed Valdez.
Secondly, she couldn't afford to lose a theater career because "I am fulfilled when I act on stage. Iba ang fulfillment. Iba ang pakiramdam."
"Flores Para Los Muertos" is directed by Floy Quintos featuring other artists like Anna Abad Santos, Mailes Kanapi, Neil Ryan Sese and Mario Magalona.
The play will run from October 2-4; 9-11; 16-18; 23-25 at the CCP Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater). - Boy Villasanta, ABS-CBNNEWS.com Source: ABS-CBN News |
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