“GLADIOLAS” is a brilliant play, if I say so myself.
But it is also transgressive, if I say so myself.
I have yet to see a performance of my play Gladiolas.
It is not easy finding brave people to stage it.
I am sure there is also a little difficulty finding the audience to see it with love and understanding.
***
There have only been two stagings of Gladiolas that I know.
Both are student productions.
As I said, I have not seen any production.
But I’ve seen the posters.
And by the posters, I can judge them.
***
Gladiolas won the Palanca Awards, first prize in dulang may isang yugto in 2014.
The first staging was in 2015 somewhere in Davao.
The latest, on July 8 this year, is by UP Dulaang Laboratoryo in Diliman, at Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan.
Theatre student Juge Kyle Tagle directed.
Starring Vinzar Percia Rubi, Matthew Gador, and Sol Eugenio.
***
The Dulaang Laboratoryo production is for a class under Prof. Josefina Estrella—Theatre 143: Theatre Studies in Theatre Directing.
“Gladiolas” was billed for the evening alongside an adaptation of Ricky Lee’s “Brutal”, and Karen Velasco’s “Ondoy: Ang Buhay sa Bubong”.
Ondoy is also a Palanca winner, I think.
***
For now, I am a rather sad playwright.
I’m writing award-winning plays, but they very seldom get staged.
Except perhaps for my “Tic-tac-toe”, which is a riotous comedy that is getting generous staging even in Iloilo courtesy of Iloilo Prima Galaw.
***
“The Wide Ionian Sea”, another of my Palanca-winning shorter plays, is featured in some Creative Non-Fiction textbook.
How it got there, I am not sure.
But it is there; at least, as an excerpt.
I’m not sure now if I have the actual copy of the book, or if I just saw photos of its pages featuring the play.
(Update: I have the copy of the textbook.)
***
Gladiolas is researchable in Wikipedia at least.
Oh, and so is The Wide Ionian Sea, I see!
(When in doubt, just Google it!)
And googling still, so is Tic-tac-toe!
Anyway, all the three plays are in my book, “Funny, Sad, and Dangerous: Three Award-Winning Short Plays”.
***
I do not remember what I was thinking when I wrote the book title.
But “funny” is definitely describing Tic-tac-toe.
The Wide Ionian Sea can be “sad”. I can see that.
But Gladiolas as “dangerous”?
Well, what did I say in the first paragraph?
***
There is a joy in me when my play is being produced.
But greater is the joy when a transgressive, a “dangerous” play gets a staging, and is seen by an audience.
I like to provoke thought.
In the end, I want my ideas to change the world.
***
I could be in Australia as you read this piece.
This early, I am thinking that while traveling, I should also be fleshing out the storyline for my next play.
Although I am really leaning towards musical theatre.
Like I want to write the book and lyrics to a musical play.
If I can influence the music, so much the better.
But composition is not really my forte, so I’m okay with “lyrics and libretto by”.
***
Because I am older, I try to refrain from stalking people online.
But I just had to get in touch with the people behind UP Dulaang Laboratoryo’s Gladiolas.
Actor Sol Eugenio, who played Federico, said: “It was challenging to alternate the macho fourth wall persona of Federico, at the same time playing his paralyzed state. I had so much fun last night.
“Thank you po sa inyong napakagandang panulat at nakilala ko si Federico, Dennis at Raymond. Nakakaiyak lang kapag naiisip ko si Federico, medyo may tusok siya sa puso ko. Maraming salamat po uli.”
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Director Juge Tagle sent me this: “Omg, hello po, Sir Nery! Ngayon ko lang po nakita ‘yong chat ninyo. Still up on Cloud 9 from how the show went last night po.
“It went so well po. Full house po last night ‘yong play. Ibang-iba po ‘yong ingay ng audience after the show. Halatang nag-enjoy po sila. Maraming salamat po ulit for lending us your piece.”
Which actor Matthew Gador confirmed with “Hello po! Thank you din po. It went well! It was well-received by the audience, too.”
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This particular production sings (and stings) with “Dahan-dalan nating ipapaunawa sa kanila na hindi sumpa ang pagiging bakla.”
Google, please translate!/PN
