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OHaras winning play inspires todays hopeful romantics

Author: Malaya

What better way to open the new home of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) than with a story of love and passion? Beginning September 15, Mario OHaras award-winning Ang Palasyo ni Valentin will be on stage as the inaugural presentation of the new PETA Theater Center located at 5 Sunnyside Drive, Barangay Kristong Hari, Quezon City.

For almost 38 years, PETA had been staging performances at the Rajah Soliman Theater in Fort Santiago. While it had been a beautiful performance space and an inspiring venue, performances can only be done in the evenings, when the weather allows them. The rest of the time, PETA had to find other venues that would suit its works. And for more than three decades, PETA had nurtured a dream of having its own home where it could carry on with its pioneering works in both theater and education.

The home was finally built. And it will open with the play that had in itself been waiting for the perfect time and place to happen.

Mario O Hara first gave PETA the right to stage "Ang Palasyo ni Valentin" after winning the1998 Centennial Literary Competition grand prize. Since then, director Soxie Topacio and the artistic staff had been trying to find a venue to stage the play. After almost eight years, the search ends here.

"Ang Palasyo ni Valentin" is a love story on zarzuela. The setting is a place called Palacio where each night, Valentins drunken stupor brings him back to his colorful memories of the past Valentin as the brilliant pianist of the Palacios orchestra, bringing life and music to every performance; the beautiful singer Diding, who was the love of his life; and Seor Alfonso, the obsessive don who wanted Diding for his own. Theirs was an ill-fated love affair which met a tragic end. But theirs was also a love so great that it transcended time and revolutions, even death.

Not a lot people believe in true love anymore, says O Hara. They say that romance had long since died.

As he cites, "Dahil ba sa hindi mo nadama ang ganitong klase ng pag-ibig, iispin mo na ito ay gasgas, luma, at hindi totoo? Buksan mo ang iyong mga mata at habulin mo ng tingin ang mga Florante at mga Laurabago sila maglaho at magiging totoo sa iyo ang kuwento ng pag-ibig ni Valentin at Diding" ("Just because you havent felt this kind of love, does it mean its trite, old, and unreal? Open your eyes and look at the Florantes and Lauras around youand youll see that Valentins love for Diding still exists").

The story of Valentin and Diding will awaken the romantic in all of us. It will make us believe that love can be endless.

Nonie Buencamino plays Valentin. This is his first time to join a PETA production. This is a difficult role for the play spans 50 years in the life of Valentin from his childhood, his early twenties in 1896 up to 1941 when the play begins.

"Nonie brought to life my dream of Valentin," said Soxie Topacio. Joining Buencamino is a powerhouse cast of stage veterans. The young ingnue, Diding is played by Cynthia Culig-Guico and She Maala. Chinggoy Alonzo and Chiqui Xerez-Burgos alternates as Don Alfonso, Cris Gonzales is Toto, the young ward who tells the story of Valentin. Gigette Reyes plays Carlota the fading vaudeville star.

"Ang Palasyo ni Valentin" is directed by Soxie Topacio, with music by Minda Azarcon and Vince de Jesus. It will run at the Tanghalang PETA-Phinma, PETA Theater Center on September 15 to 17, 22 to 25, October 6 to 9 and 13 to 16. Shows are at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for only P300. For reservations, call PETA at 410-0822 /724-9637or email through peta@petatheater.com.

Source: Malaya