This is how I jump-started my year [2017]
Dear Diary,
Everytime I pass thru Greenbelt 1 to ride the bus going home, I always find myself checking out what's showing at Onstage. Back in college, our field trips involved watching theatrical plays. I've only seen one there tho, The Wizard of Oz (2012) performed by Repertory Philippines. Ever since, the song had always been stuck in my head... "so far, so good but where do we go from here?"
After graduating, I might've kind of missed it.
This January, Repertory's 50th anniversary opener is Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, a comedy derived from Anton Chekhov's famous works. I was one of the lucky people who got to attend the opening night in support for Direk Joaquin Valdes who plays the role of Spike.
Opening night was Friday, a day after personally meeting direk Joaquin. Thursday was very educational as a trainee (yes, the dukha has found her way into the industry she's dreamt of). He discussed about art as a medium that day and the next time I saw him, in the first 30 minutes of the play, he was making out with Cherie Gil and stripping off.
The million-dollar question after stepping out of the theatre was 'so, ano nang tingin mo sa direktor natin?' I couldn't look straight in his eyes the following week... but don't get me wrong, my respect for him as an artist is still there. To act and to direct are two different skills he's both very good at.
Watching films and plays are also two different experiences. While watching a mainstream movie has always been the number one date idea, it's always been a fantasy of mine to be surprised with tickets to a play, or even an indie film at the CCP or micro-cinemas like Cinema 76. There are plenty of art in this world that I would like to celebrate and be inspired with. Thus, a quote from the father of modern physics...
"Creativity is contagious, pass it on."
Don't get me wrong again, I am not hating on mainstream films. These are just a breath of fresh air. In fact, my soul is one of those La La Land has touched. Me and my dreams, me and my fear of the unknown, me and the uncertainties of the world. How timely, I thought. Being a dreamer, having had a series of doors shut in my face and still finding a reason to get back up.
Who else haven't seen La La Land? It's a modern musical with the perfect blend of fantasy and reality. Inspiring, yet crushing. On the other hand, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is a comedy full of whining - "I have not lived my life," "my life is over" and "bewaaaaare!"
Different perspectives of reality, these masterpieces jump-started my 2017. This year will be the year to make our dreams come true and it all starts with the decision to grow up.
The decision to accept reality as an adult without losing the optimism of a child.
A dreamer & a realist,
G.
Everytime I pass thru Greenbelt 1 to ride the bus going home, I always find myself checking out what's showing at Onstage. Back in college, our field trips involved watching theatrical plays. I've only seen one there tho, The Wizard of Oz (2012) performed by Repertory Philippines. Ever since, the song had always been stuck in my head... "so far, so good but where do we go from here?"
After graduating, I might've kind of missed it.
This January, Repertory's 50th anniversary opener is Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, a comedy derived from Anton Chekhov's famous works. I was one of the lucky people who got to attend the opening night in support for Direk Joaquin Valdes who plays the role of Spike.
Opening night was Friday, a day after personally meeting direk Joaquin. Thursday was very educational as a trainee (yes, the dukha has found her way into the industry she's dreamt of). He discussed about art as a medium that day and the next time I saw him, in the first 30 minutes of the play, he was making out with Cherie Gil and stripping off.
The million-dollar question after stepping out of the theatre was 'so, ano nang tingin mo sa direktor natin?' I couldn't look straight in his eyes the following week... but don't get me wrong, my respect for him as an artist is still there. To act and to direct are two different skills he's both very good at.
Watching films and plays are also two different experiences. While watching a mainstream movie has always been the number one date idea, it's always been a fantasy of mine to be surprised with tickets to a play, or even an indie film at the CCP or micro-cinemas like Cinema 76. There are plenty of art in this world that I would like to celebrate and be inspired with. Thus, a quote from the father of modern physics...
"Creativity is contagious, pass it on."
Don't get me wrong again, I am not hating on mainstream films. These are just a breath of fresh air. In fact, my soul is one of those La La Land has touched. Me and my dreams, me and my fear of the unknown, me and the uncertainties of the world. How timely, I thought. Being a dreamer, having had a series of doors shut in my face and still finding a reason to get back up.
Different perspectives of reality, these masterpieces jump-started my 2017. This year will be the year to make our dreams come true and it all starts with the decision to grow up.
The decision to accept reality as an adult without losing the optimism of a child.
A dreamer & a realist,
G.
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