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By Willie Nepomuceno
Impersonation, impression, mimicry. Whatever you
call it, it is one of the most popular forms of comedy regularly
seen in the entertainment capitals of the world. Actors doing
impressions are a regular act in comedy clubs, stage, radio and TV
around the world.
Impersonations vary in form and style, from
theatrical to political and social satire, to pure entertainment. It
has always been synonymous with freedom of expression and speech.
Jay Leno and David Letterman will have a lot of “standing up” to
do when they hear about the anti-mimicking bill in Congress.
The most popular in this genre are the great
American impressionists Frank Gorshin, Rich Little, Dana Carvey,
Danny Gans and Vaughn Meader.
An impressionist or impersonator uses his body
and voice to capture the essence of a person or a character in a
skit or a monologue. Changing his voice, putting on an accent or
using body mannerisms, he tells a story or a joke in a situation
involving his subject. Vocal mimicry is important to replicate or
simulate the voice, accent, vocal intonation or speech mannerism of
the subject. Costumes and props could help.
All for fun. All of the above become illegal
only when used to commit a crime, such as impersonating a police
officer or mimicking a voice in the commission of a criminal
activity. There is a law against this criminal act.
An impressionist apes celebrities to entertain.
A lot of training, research, technique and discipline go into the
process. It is not a skill that anyone can simply learn in school
but calls for a special gift and a special talent. It is an art
form. No wonder, someone said that mimicry is the sincerest form of
flattery.
When you see me do an impression of former
President Estrada, I do not mean to ridicule Erap or his mannerisms
or way of speaking. I am doing the mimicry to comment on an issue or
recall an event that involves his past, particularly the more
interesting parts.
An actor portraying a subject uses all the
elements of acting, including speech pattern, manner of dressing,
mannerisms, etc., to complete the characterization. It helps when
the subject has certain physical attributes, such as a mustache, a
beer belly or enormous ears. If the subject wears eyeglasses or is a
smoker, the impressionist will surely capitalize on these elements.
So that when an actor doing Sergio Apostol
approaches the stand to cross- examine “your wetness” or Ben
Abalos endorsing his delicious “burjer” or Boy Herrera lobbying
for “Es-Is-Eys” (SSS) benefits, it doesn’t mean that he is
ridiculing a regional accent but is simply recalling the verbal
gaffe associated with the subject. Didn’t they sound funny, if not
confusing, the first time you heard them?
I have nothing against the other provisions of
the bill filed by Rep. Faysah-Racman Dumarpa. Racial slur and
discrimination, indeed, should not be tolerated in a civil society.
We should even go further to protest the discriminatory portrayal on
TV, radio and movies of gays, the elderly, the disabled, the poor
and “illegitimate” offsprings.
However, the provision criminalizing mimicry
presents a multitude of gray areas very similar to the libel law.
I feel the congresswoman is barking up the wrong
tree. I’d rather that the “cultural and religious
discrepancies” be addressed by the Department of Education to
create greater respect for religion and culture. The students should
be made aware of the diversity and significance of different
religious beliefs and traditions in a society.
A law will not solve the perceived
discrimination. We know that in this country, there’s usually
nothing wrong with the spirit of a law but how it is interpreted and
implemented. Many Philippine laws are simply punitive. For example,
when a crime occurs in a subdivision, the homeowners are the ones
subjected to searches at the checkpoint and are forced to buy
stickers for their “safety.”
I’m afraid if the Dumarpa bill becomes a
law, it may just be another vehicle for suppression similar to the
anti-subversion act and similar laws.
A law should not scare people but protect them.
Sure, we all need discipline. Of course, ignorance of the law
excuses no one. But punishment alone will not reduce crime if there
are no serious efforts to educate the citizenry (actually, make them
understand and appreciate) on the social impact of discrimination.
We need laws to have peace and order. But this
should not be interpreted like one of my characters who has a funny
idea of achieving peace and order—“because of my ORDER, the
criminals are now in PEACE.” Fairness and justice are still the
essence of a law.
Willie Nepomuceno is the best impressionist
in the business. A multi-awarded performer, he is a Fine Arts
graduate of the University of the Philippines, a four-term board
member of the UP Fine Arts Alumni Foundation and a former board
member of the Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation, a community theater
group. He has traveled all over the Philippines and the world to
entertain audiences with his gift for mimicry. Willie Nep is so good
at doing impressions that President Marcos reportedly told
associates and friends to be on guard against callers that sounded
like him because “it could be that guy Willie Nepomuceno!”
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