The Egg Theater Co together with the
PARC Foundation and Pineapple Lab presents Moliere PMS, a fusion of three Moliere
play adaptations: Praning (The Imaginary Invalid), Maniacal (The Learned Ladies), and
Schism
(The Misanthrope) on October 1 & 2 at PARC Foundation, 494 Lt.
Artiaga St., San Juan City and at Pineapple Lab, 6071 Palma Street, Rockwell on
October 7-9 and October 14-16.
Transporting Moliere’s French Society
to an imagined theater world that serves as a microcosm of Philippine society,
the fusion of the three plays is a satirical comedy that pokes a searing look
at the foibles and travails of theater artists divided and polarized by the ills
of hypocrisy and pretentiousness.
Adapted and directed by Palanca
award-winning playwright, George de Jesus III, the three plays have all been
separately staged before: Praning in 2012 as a thesis
production of Technical Theater and Production Design Program of the School for
Design and Arts of the DLSU College of Saint Benilde, Maniacal and Schism
by the Egg Theater Co as part of the Fringe Manila Festival in 2015 and
2016 respectively.
Moliere PMS centers on Alex,
a playwright whose anger at the pretentiousness of the people around him, compels
him to consider quitting theater. Helen, an actress and Alex’s best friend,
tries to dissuade him by making him remember why he fell in love with theater
in the first place. As they argue and discuss while waiting for a show (an
adaptation of Moliere’s The Misanthrope
directed by upcoming director, Don) they are watching a second time to begin,
Alex’s thoughts manifest on stage as a reenactment of his own adaptations of
Moliere’s The Learned Ladies (Maniacal) and The Imaginary Invalid (Praning).
Don entreats Alex to give notes about
his adaptation. Refusing to be polite, Alex tells his honest opinion. As a
reaction to Alex mercilessly lambasting Don’s artistry, Don makes a vilifying
post about Alex on Facebook. Hilarity ensues as the manifestation of Alex’s exasperation
on stage gets tangled as the actors, characters, and plots mix and merge. The
jumble results in a hysterically intricate foray into the mind of someone peeling
away the mask of hypocrisy and coming to terms with what one values and loves.
Thus, Moliere PMS desires to give emphasis to an aspect of Moliere’s
work that is greatly admired: “his
intellectual penetration in distinguishing the parts of a man from the whole
man. Montaigne, the 16th-century essayist who deeply influenced Molière,
divided qualities that are acquired, such as learning or politeness or skills,
from those that are natural, such as humanity or animality, what might be
called “human nature” without other attributes. Molière delighted in opposing
his characters in this way; often in his plays a social veneer peels off,
revealing a real man.” (Will G. Moore,
Encyclopedia Britannica)
Moliere PMS is the closing
production of the Egg Theater Co for its 2016 season and features the following
new and veteran theater actors: Tuxqs Rutaquio and Renante Bustamante alternate in the role of Alex. Angeli Bayani and Mayen Estanero take turns in playing the roles of Helen, Belinda
and Philippa. Via Antonio and Meann Espinosa alternate as Casey,
Mandy and Direk Ugo. Paolo O’Hara
and Joel Saracho play Chris. Mara Paulina Marasigan and Martha Comia alternate as Rita and
Angelique with Mara also alternating with Ross
Pesigan as Aries and Toni. Migs
Almendras will play Jim and Tom Toledo. Sky Abundo will play Clint and Andre. Sari Estrada plays Drea and Elise. And RS Francisco plays Tristan. Lights design by Joseph Mattheu, stage
and production management by John Mark Yap and Arma Bonilla.
For ticket
inquiries and details please send a message to www.facebook/theeggtheaterco or
call 0917-8040762 or 0917-8440520.
