Photo Flash: EQUUS In Manila - First Look!

BroadwayWorld Philippines joined first-time straight play director Audie Gemora ("High School Musical On Stage") open Repertory Philippines' 73^rd season ender "Equus" Friday evening, July 9, 2010 at the OnStage Theatre in Greenbelt One, Ayala Malls, Makati City. With seasoned Repertory Philippines actors Miguel Faustmann, who plays middle-aged psychiatrist-narrator Martin Dysart, and Red Concepcion, who portrays seventeen-year-old dangerously atypical Alan Strang, up the marquee, Mr. Gemora has showed  his own firm grip of Peter Shaffer's material  before his curious audience.

Shaffer's 37-year-old Tony award-winning masterpiece, which delves into the anti-psychiatry movement in the 1960s and a bizarre news story around a troubled young stable boy who blinded six horses in his care, may be a tad too dated when tackled in the age of cyberspace, tweets, and facebook shout-outs.  But this new production of "Equus" at Repertory Philippines is an emotionally urgent one: told with strong performances (but with uneven fake British accent) from the lead and supporting cast, clear storytelling, and a smooth stage direction and technical transitions from one event to another.

"Equus" is a sensory experience that could either be too bothersome in several ways to some or simultaneously liberating and daunting to others. 

It commands you to think over your own normalcy values at home, religion, and sensuality.

It's definitely not your staple family theatre.

Mr. Concepcion alternates with Marco Manalac as Alan; Jaime del Mundo and Tami Monsod play Alan's conventional parents; Roselyn Perez and Phoena Baranda essay the roles of the magistrate Hesther Salomon and Jill Mason respectively; Katsi Flores plays Dr. Dysart's nurse; Dido dela Paz portrays the stable owner Harry Dalton; and James Stacey leads a ranch with five other horses (Jerald Napoles, Xeno Alejandro, Ronnie Golpeo, Joms Ortega, and Ronnie Cruz).

Mr. del Mundo is assistant director.  Jethro Joaquin is sound designer.  Denis Lagdameo is costume and set designer. John Batalla is lighting designer. Dingdong Rosales is stage manager. 

Manila theatre goers can still catch "Equus" until Sunday, July 25, 2010 at OnStage.  Call Ticketworld for tickets at (632) 819-9999 or visit web sites www.ticketworld.com.ph or http://repertory.ph.

Photos by Raul Montesa