It was Saturday
I’m sure I looked like a haggard shopper that night when I got off from the cab, with plastic bags full of books on both hands. But I’m also sure I looked proud with those bags.
As usual, going inside the CCP premises was a breath of fresh air – whatever that means. My friend Anna says her artistry is revived every time she comes inside CCP. I guess I share the same feeling too. Mine is more of nostalgia and inspiration though. The building’s interior has this familiar feel of calmness.
And the foods in the canteen always give delight to us. Eating with artists and performers is never intimidating. It’s, in fact, exciting. One time, a friend related to us Regine Velasquez was beside the table he was occupying and he couldn’t concentrate. I said I wouldn’t care much if I was there that time. I easily get “starstruck” with thespians but not with movie stars.
Anyway, prior to meeting Anna, I spent one fourth of my salary buying books at the International Book Fair at the Word Trade Center. Being an obsessive compulsive buyer that I am, I ended up buying titles by Jack Kerouac (On the Road), Ian McEwan (Atonement), Henry James (What Massie Knows), Roy (The God of Small Things) and local ones by Tony Perez, Jessica Zafra, Carlos Bulosan and an anthology of Palanca winning one act plays. Anna helped me calculate the total amount I spent for those books – me, somewhat regretful and she, beaming.
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While I was busy looking at the receipts to sum up my loss and Anna browsing some of the books, we overheard from an adjacent table remarks about the play we’re about to watch. It sounded as though they didn’t like the play because of the director. I made a meaningful glance at Anna but she missed it.
Pilipinas Circa 1907 is a landmark sarswela by Nicanor Tiongson revived by Tanghalang Pilipino. The first play of the season, the production, set prior to the national election in 1907, tells about political conflict and family relations getting in the way of two pairs of star-crossed lovers when America was more in the heart.
I admit I was not that excited to watch the play because the subject is not at all interesting. I guess I was not the only soul in the audience who felt like sleeping when the characters turned into divas and singers. I understand perfectly that it’s a musical so those scenes were inevitable: they’re just boring or not outstanding.
As usual, Dido de La Paz, who played Pardo, was exceptional. He was great in Ang Mga Huwad too. Roeder Camanag, the American lad, was believable. His American accent and twang would make him a great call center agent. Nazer Salcedo whose powerful voice brought the audience to life deserves a standing ovation.
I’m not sure what’s wrong with the play but it didn’t work too well.
