August 28, 2008
A web of lies and deceit
The student theater group Tanghalang Ateneo is currently staging William Shakespeare's "Othello," beautifully translated into Tagalog by Rogelio Sicat and Luna Sicat-Cleto. Because the theater group is celebrating its 30th anniversary, this production of "Otelo: Ang Moro ng Venecia" features professional actors in the main roles. Though the students may have been relegated to the minor roles, they still did all of the production and marketing work. Philippine National Artist for Theater Design Salvador F. Bernal, who happens to be an instructor at the Ateneo de Manila University, designed the simple and inexpensive but very versatile stage. Just before the play started, a student announced the house rules, one of which is that photographs are prohibited without the permission of the house. Oops, too late!
Hahaha... Oops! Still lucky you got one before they caught you. Sounds like you had a wonderful time last night (this was taken last night?)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful set! Glad you took the picture before the annoucement! :-)
ReplyDeleteI like their creativity. Great set doesn't necessarily have to be expensive. Creativity is what it takes to make great set like this.
ReplyDeleteExcellent eye-catching photo, Hilda.
ReplyDeleteI snapped a another creative set of a Shakespear stage at Botanical Gardens (before the announcement) earlier this month. Hope the play was just well done as their set.
Fascinating! "Louis" would like to see this!
ReplyDeleteRe your comment about etymology - YES! "Louis," too, finds word history to be very interesting.
those are great colors. You can feel the intensity. -Frankie!
ReplyDeleteOh, you sneaky girl!
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a wonderful time. I always wondered how Shakespeare translated into different languages. The iambic pentameter would be lost, right? Once a Spanish friend told me that I didn't really love Neruda because I had only read the English translations and I was missing the rhythym that the poetry had in Spanish. (Well, I don't speak Spanish!) He proceeded to read one in Spanish and I was blown away with the meter of the poem that didn't exist in my English version.
Sorry, I got off on a tangent again. :-)
Thanks for another great shot -- even though you broke a rule to get it!
Good thing the announcer didn't claim you would be shot, arrested, and then shot again! You are a brave blogger, even though you weren't being brave when you were being, uh, brave. Cool set.
ReplyDeleteHilda, that's a beautiful set. I would love to see how this play was staged and directed, also to hear in in Tagalog.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a really outstanding set - I'd have loved to have seen it.
ReplyDeleteYears ago I played in an orchestra for a pro/amateur opera production of Cavaleria Rusticana. Like this, the main parts were taken by professionals, with the chorus and us, the lowly orchestra, enthusiastic amateurs. It was an amazing experience.
Jackie
What a creative stage set. Its always best to find out the rules once you've taken the photo. At least you didn't get thrown out. That would have been embarrasing! Lol :)
ReplyDeleteWow! That is such a vibrant set. Good for you rule breaking to get such a fabulous image.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad for your sake the Tagalog version was effective. So often translation ruins original productions, stage and film. Beautiful photo! Don't they say that ignorance of the law is no excuse? Ah, c'mon, you can't possibly hurt anyone with this photo!
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning set - glad you managed to get a photo!!!!
ReplyDeleteLol, good thing you got one before they announced the restriction! The colors of the stage was very well made!
ReplyDeleteI admire Sicat for his writing skills, one of which I remember well is "Impeng Negro" then I was amazed to find out that he wrote for UST's Varsitarian along with my other fave Filipino literati and I was motivated to write well during my college days for the same paper...
wow! Stunning set.
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