"Atang is a play of memory, simple and accessible. And the staging is evocative of the feeling." I copied that straight from the Director's Notes in the souvenir program.
What is Atang? Who is Atang?
I bet that 60-70% of my online contacts here in Multiply do not know her. I have to admit though that I didn't know Atang (1902-1991) until, well, tonight. Atang de la Rama is a national artist described as "reyna ng kundiman, ang paraluman ng mga makata, ang panguna at nag-iisang tala ng Dulaang Tagalog sa Pilipinas..." She is the queen of Philippine kundiman and zarzuela.
As early as 12 years old, she had already been considered a veteran Filipino artist. You can just imagine how prestigious that is given the time period when mass media wasn't even around in the country.
Anyway, you'll never really appreciate the information I just typed there unless you've seen the play by Floy Quintos.
...
I got in Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater without any expectation of sort; I didn't even know that the play was in Filipino. But since I've always loved plays, theater, and Broadway musicals, I knew that I was still going to enjoy the experience.
And I was right.
Filipino talents never cease to amaze me. When Ayen hit the first note in "Nabasag ang Banga," I was in awe. It is semi-operatic and in Filipino; and the song is a kundiman. Goosebumps. I have seen Cinderella and West Side Story and they both startled me; but, Atang definitely made a much different impact. It brought me to a rather different sphere. Seeing Atang kindled the proud Filipino spirit in me in a rather new and unexpected way, through Balagtasan, Dula, and Kundimans.
The music was exquisite. The poems were remarkably romantic. Most of the time though I got lost in words like "lugasin", "huwaring", "samyuin", etc.; and although there were moments when I just couldn't understand an entire phrase or two, surprisingly enough, I was still moved by them. Because somehow I knew the puissant of passion behind every word and every phrase recited. I didn't realize how beautiful and romantic Filipino words can be. I've never been so proud of our own: language, culture, theater.
The play definitely appeals to the Filipina spirit and womanhood: dedicated, sacrificing, romantic, daring, and mysterious.
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If you plan to see the show (which runs until Feb 08, 2009), watch out for:
(1) Kitang Dalawa
(2) Ang Bayan Ko
(3) Nasaan ka Irog
(4) Pakiusap
I especially loved these parts of the production.
Bituin was part of the cast, too. She's superb in Mamang Gusting.
For pictures, check out Franco Laurel's gallery @:
http://fjlaurel.multiply.com/photos/album/67/Atang_-_Isang_Dulang_May_Musika#
http://fjlaurel.multiply.com/photos/album/65/Atang_-_The_Pictorial
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