What’s on stage this weekend
Theater fans are definitely spoilt for choice as shows run simultaneously across venues all over the metro this weekend. If you’re looking for a Broadway spectacle or are in search of a story that will tug at your heart, these productions may be worth a spot in your weekend plans.
“A Chorus Line”
Theatre Group Asia
Runs until March 29
Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Circuit Makati
One of the longest-running productions in Broadway history, “A Chorus Line” is a spectacular musical that gives a glimpse into the lives, influences, and aspirations of performers—specifically, dancers. It is set on a bare theater stage, taking place during an audition.
Theatre Group Asia’s staging puts a Filipino heart front and center in this piece, especially through its cast—led by Tony nominee Conrad Ricamora as Zach and Filipino American Broadway star Lissa de Guzman as Cassie, alongside some of Manila’s best, up-and-coming theater artists. While there are some standout singers in this cast, what truly shines in this production is, expectedly, the company’s impeccable dancing.
Under the helm of director and choreographer Karla Puno Garcia, the Manila staging of “A Chorus Line” becomes a celebration of both individuality and the beauty that is born when artists unite for a common passion. The staging gives the time-tested material a modern touch, turning the “audition room” into a dazzling space. And this timeless story of passion, the pursuit of dreams, and deep love for one’s craft would be a perfect pick-me-up for anyone looking to get their creative juices reenergized.
“Anthropology”
Barefoot Theatre Collaborative
Runs until March 29
Doreen Black Box Theater, Arete, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City
Anthropology is the study of what makes us human—it looks into our social structures, our behaviors, our cultures, and how we’ve evolved over the course of history. It is, in a sense, a story of who we are—and this play by American playwright Lauren Gunderson provides a glimpse of what humanity, in grief, and in the so-called “golden age” of artificial intelligence (AI), is like.
The story is presented with so much care and depth by a tight all-female cast led by Jenny Jamora as Merril, an AI programmer navigating her grief after losing her sister, Angie (Maronne Cruz). Honoring the title of the piece, each character aptly represents varying human states and characteristics—each one with their own unique set of behaviors, coping mechanisms, and beliefs.
The story is set in motion when Merril’s programmed AI chatbot—made out of the data left behind by Angie—comes to “life” with precise accuracy. Merril’s conversations with the AI bot (done live every night by Cruz, delivered via live feed through the screens set up around the stage) lead to an investigation of possibilities. This investigation also digs up Merril’s and Angie’s past relationships—with her ex-girlfriend Raquel (Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante), and their mother Brin (Jackie Lou Blanco).
But more than just reexamining the characters’ relationships through this unfolding mystery, “Anthropology” also plants important questions about our relationship with technology, and how technology and humans mutually influence and shape each other. (As much as we want to believe that we are still the masters of technology… the way we’re practically attached to our smartphones, or can’t function without our apps, makes you wonder how true that is now.)
If there’s only one show you can watch this weekend, make it this.
“Mabining Mandirigma”
Tanghalang Pilipino
Runs until March 29
Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, CCP Complex, Pasay City
Closing off Tanghalang Pilipino’s season of power-packed historical musicals is a restaging of “Mabining Mandirigma: A Steampunk Musical.” Here, the focus is on Apolinario Mabini, known as the brains of the revolution.
The musical takes us through his life, particularly through the political drama that ensues between Mabini as Emilio Aguinaldo’s advisor, versus the self-serving interests of the upper class as the government navigates a transitory period between Spanish and American rule. All this is told through a steampunk aesthetic, with a sound that mixes traditional Filipino and modern styles.
A word of warning for first-time audiences: there may be a lot to take in, both in historical detail and in theatrical presentation. But once you hurdle through what may be an overstimulating introduction, you’re rewarded with a dynamic lens through which to remember our history (and understand why, unfortunately, our society and government are the way they are).
Having seen this musical multiple times in its earlier runs, I think the material might benefit from an update in its storytelling—not just in its punchlines. Its second act drags on a bit, and the message only truly becomes impactful at the end, especially when the cast members relate present issues to what Mabini would have stood for.
Nevertheless, “Mabining Mandirigma” remains a brave undertaking, blending history with unexpected genres both musically and visually.
