Gantimpala Theater continues its homage to the 150th birthday celebration of Dr. Jose Rizal with El
Filibusterismo, directed by Jose Jeffrey Camañag and Andre Tiangco.
As its second offering for its thirty-fourth theater season El Filibusterismo, whose alternate title is The Reign of Greed, is a very dark novel, set during the dark days of the Spanish tyranny.
“The themes’ progression is wheeled by an unseen force that is so powerful that it controls even the characters trivial actions and choices that often lead to nothing but tragic endings. This unseen and destructive force is greed,” relates director Camañag.
“It is the intention of this production to reconstruct the face of greed as painted by the great Jose Rizal in this novel and to resonate Rizal’s definition of greed as the key evil that chains and enslaves the mind, heart and soul of a society away from the real path towards genuine freedom,” he added.
“Through creative staging, powerful visuals, clear storytelling and moving music, we hope to usher and challenge the audience especially the students who will be watching this show as an aid to their curriculum, to look beyond the entertaining value of our production and try to listen to the remarkable messages embedded in Don Simoun’s confessions to Padre Florentino.”
Giving life to the immortal character of El Filibusterismo are Roeder Camañag (Don
Simoun/Mr. Leeds); Joe Gruta (Padre Florentino); Paolo ‘O Hara (Kabesang Tales); Ku Aquino (Padre Camorra); Mondrian Sampang (Padre Salvi); Dante Balois (Tata Selo/ Don Custodio); Alfred Urieta and Francis Cruz III (alternately portraying Basilio); Hazel Orencio (Juli/Pepay); Kristian Chua (Isagani); Flerida Capiral (Donya Victorina); Anna Deroca (Paulita Gomez); Jun-Jun Quintana (Juanito Pelaez); and Noel Escondo and Raymond Talavera (alternately playing Placido Penitente/Imuthis).
Providing artistic and technical assistance to directors Camañag and Tiangco are Jomar
Fleras (playwright), Andy Villareal (light designer), Charyl Chan-de Guzman (production
manager), Mae Bueta-Chavez (stage Manager) and Tony S. Espejo (artistic director).
Gantimpala Theater’s El Filibusterismo is supported by the National Parks Development
Committee (NPDC), Jimm’s 7-in-1 Coffee, and Everbilena.
Performances are on August 26 and August 27, September 2 and September 3, 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, at the AFP Theater in Quezon City, and on September 9 and September 10 at the Cinema 3, SM Southmall, Las Piñas City.
For tickets, please call the Gantimpala Marketing Office, 899-5911 and 998-5622. Visit:
www.gantimpalatheater.multiply.com and www.facebook.com/gantimpala.
