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By Joey B. Ting, Contributor
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The cast
of Karaoke Dreams
onstage at the Peta Theater Center |
Working in other countries is a dream for many
Filipinos. Despite family separation, prejudice and maltreatment,
Filipinos persist working abroad to earn better pay. In an
archipelagic nation peopled by seafarers such as the Philippines,
working overseas is part of one’s heritage—a quintessential
Filipino experience. Some are successful but others fail. The lesson
is simple—make sure one’s working documents are authentic.
The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)
recently premiered Karaoke Dreams, a musical comedy with full-blast
humor. The play uses Filipinos’ incorrigible penchant for
minus-one singing as a vehicle for witty social commentaries on the
travails of wannabe overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Award-winning
playwright-composer Vincent de Jesus takes us to a higher level of
consciousness with the use of sharp comic devices. PETA, in
collaboration with the European Union, the Philippine Border
Management Project and International Organization for Migration,
will tour Karaoke Dreams nationwide to create awareness among
aspiring OFWs.
With the usual clichés about fake passports and
visas, fixers and bogus travel agents, the play has presented
unexpectedly apt staging. The ensemble cast—led by Julienne
Mendoza as Rudy Natsugi, Joan Bugcat as Julie Nahuli and Paolo
Rodriguez as Isko Nabisto—has masterfully woven the lives of their
characters’ families, relatives and friends set in Aling
Pising’s Carinderia and Karaoke. Other standout performances were
Mary Ann Espinosa as Aling Doray and Carlon John Matobato as Bayaw.
Though the musical needs tightening-up, director
Maribel Legarda explores un-theatrical possibilities, notably in
blocking an all-cast stage appearance. It may be deliberate, but
regardless, the ‘firing squad’ blocking is a “no-no” and a
“lazy chore” in the theater. Boni Juan, production designer,
devises a very effective set despite the flat lights design of Ian
Torqueza. Some choreographic patterns are quite interesting. The
“Factory” dance is one of the highlights.
Overall, the message is crystal clear. The
Department of Foreign Affairs headed by Secretary Alberto Romulo
should celebrate as Peta successfully delivers information campaign
against using fake passports, visa and human trafficking of aspiring
Filipino migrant workers in an entertaining and compelling Filipino
musical comedy that upholds the artistic integrity of Filipino
theater.
Karaoke Dreams opened at the PETA-Phinma Theater
of The PETA Theater Center in Quezon City on June 20. Other upcoming
performances include: Pasay Sports Complex on July 2 at 3 p.m. and 7
p.m.; Parañaque on July 5; and Starmall Las Piñas on July 12 at 4
p.m. and 7 p.m. The play will tour other major cities and
municipalities including Caloocan, San Juan and Manila as well as in
Cebu, Davao, Zamboanga and La Union this year. Admission to all
performances is free.
For details, call IOM at (+632) 848-1260 or PETA
at (+632) 410-0822 or 7256244.
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