For fools

Been neck-deep doing dramaturge work (among other things) for Tanghalang Pilipino’s Kleptomaniacs, a rap musical with libretto by Layeta Bucoy, compositions by Jose Carlo Frio and Nina Virgin, and directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio. It has been overwhelming, to say the least, as the years I’ve spent writing theater reviews—it turns out—was no preparation for being part of a production’s unfolding. And at this point when much of it is fine-tuning and tweaking, watching this cast doing the full run reminds me of how this particular subject matter got me to say yes.

It is what has made me a fan of Layeta’s work, and I say that with the admission that she has become a friend: she dares do the absurdity of the real that we all live with in this country, where the poor become poorer, and the rich and powerful … well. They are in government, and just don’t care.