Art Events in Manila and Beyond

"GANTIMPALA THEATER STAGES ROLANDO TINIO'S A LIFE IN THE SLUMS!"

Gantimpala Theater closes its 31st Season with A Life in the Slums,
written by Rolando S. Tinio, National Artist for Theater, which was
awarded first prize, in the English division of the 1975 Don Carlos
Palanca Memorial Awards. This announcement came from Tony Espejo,
artistic director, who also directs the play.

A Life in the Slums is a comedy of manners in nine scenes with
musical numbers that presents the intertwining lives of Henny, a
truck diver; the twins Millie and Annie; the neighbor Salud, Jay-R,
the neighborhood hunk and Roger, every body's lover.

One afternoon, Millie (Kimberly Diaz) gets a surprise visit from her
sister Annie (Monica Llamas), in the squatters' area where she
resides. The two share pleasantries and discuss the many happenings
in their respective lives.

Millie reveals the wonders of being part of the "real world," in the
slums, with her truck driver husband Henny (alternately portrayed by
Xeno Alejandro and Francis Cruz III), and children. For Millie,
despite the squalor, stench, confusion, fistfights, rumormongers,
and the people's search for their daily existence, being in the
slums is her version of "heaven on earth."

Annie, on the other hand, laments the sorry state of her affluence.
She feels "filthy" because of the many transgressions of the people
surrounding her – their mother's accidental death due to gluttony,
their father's extra-marital affairs, her marriage on the rocks with
Roger (Jojo Riguerra) who happens to be Millie's former lover and
her incapacity to become a mother.

In the end, the two sisters agree to reverse their roles, both
hoping that they will discover true happiness in their newly
acquired neighborhood and personas.

Espejo says, "I am directing the play as a theatre of the absurd
production because obviously, National Artist Rolando Tinio wrote it
so that it can be performed as such. It is very funny; biting at
some points, and will definitely open the eyes of people on the
ridiculousness and hypocrisy of the rich and their ambivalent
attitude towards the poor. One day they embrace them, the next day,
they loathe them."

A Life in the Slums is the fifth season of Gantimpala Theater's
National Artist Production Series. Yearly, the company stage plays
written by national artists for theater and literature to give its
audiences the opportunity to appreciate and understand the artistic
contributions made by these masters of the dramatic and literary
arts.

Helping Espejo create the impoverished world of Millie and Annie are
Andy Villareal (lights designer); Marianne Sedotes (set designer);
Albert Figueras (costume designer); Joey de Guzman (musical
composer); Jorge Cabullo (production manager) and Michael King
Urieta (stage manager).

A Life in the Slums is fully supported by the National Parks
Development Committee.

Performances are on December 5-6, (10am/2pm), at the AFP Theater, in
Quezon City, December 12-14, (10am/2pm) SM South mall in Las Piñas
City.

Shows will resume next year with play dates on January 23-25,
(10am/2pm) at the AFP Theater, and February 6-7, at the SM South
mall in Las Piñas City.

For information, tickets, and booking information, please call the
Gantimpala Theater Marketing Office at 899-5745/896- 3503 or 474-5198
or write to: gantimpalatheater. multiply. com or
gantimpalatheater@ yahoo.com. ph