The drama behind the drama, by Betty.

Betty wrote an article about our Nemesis experience and posted it on Facebook. Thought I'd re-post it here in my blog.

The drama behind the drama
Dedicated to Mimay Maog, Hogi Cadlum and Opaline Rae Santos
By Betty Uy-Regala

She had gone missing for two days when, after losing Alan, she lost Margaret. She sent disturbing text messages to me prompting calls she wouldn’t answer which led me to send text messages to Ayn and Carme. Carme, a replacement for Margaret, replied: She’s okay. Carme was our classmate in a 2006 acting workshop in CCP. Ayn followed suit: She’s here. Ayn is her long-time friend and her house Villa Dimaya, as she called it, was our rehearsal venue. Knowing she was safe and to give her that proverbial space to sort things out on her own, I stopped the texts and the calls.

Mimay, my young friend who went AWOL on us, chose to stage Nemesis, Peter Wilson’s one-act play, to complete the requirements for her directing class under Jose Estrella. The time was summer of 2007, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and whole days on weekends. The place was Villa Dimaya. The music was Korn (MTV Unplugged) or at least that’s what I was listening to en route to the rehearsal venue.

Alan and Margaret are characters in Nemesis. Margaret was played by Hogi whose mom tore up to pieces the Nemesis script in a fit of fury, which I only discovered recently. Hogi abstractly explained that her mom is anti-theater. I guess Mrs. Cadlum only wants a stable career for her daughter by acquiring that much delayed college diploma once and for all and land a 9 to 5 job. Barbara is another character which I played.

During that time, I was waiting if I made it to the Actor’s Company having been short listed after the audition with a panel composed of Sir Dennis Marasigan, Paolo O’ Hara and Mayen Estanero. I participated in the required three-week intermediate acting workshop. I think it was Dandy who remarked in class that although we didn’t want to compete, it felt like a competition. There were only six or eight slots available and there were 20 or so of us who wanted to get in.

Since it was a workshop intended for AC apprenticeship, the participants were all good. Some of my former classmates here in Facebook include Uleb Nieto, Dandy Duane Ramos, Ron Jansen Solis, Sheenly Gener, Kathlyn Castillo, Joan C. Palisoc, Hazel Orencio, Riki Benedicto, and, ehem, Chrome Cosio.

I also had my own share of drama at work. I was preparing for events in the former office for its 10th anniversary and dragged another friend to help me build a second exhibition space. While Deo and the other workmates were meeting downstairs, I was up in my office sitting very comfortably and laughing my ass off while talking to a friend over the phone. When my officemate told me what happened during their meeting, I apologized to Deo on behalf of the people who did him wrong.

I don’t recall the specifics but I do remember that Deo and Kleng walked in on me crying. Not knowing what to do with a female in tears, Deo left after muttering, “Ano wag na natin tuloy?”. It was Kleng who stayed and gave me a hug. I was hesitant to tell Mimay this particular drama saying she would not understand a complicated thing called office politics or maybe she would since its synonym is high school anyway. Understand she did and even related a similar circumstance regarding some relations.

This was after Nemesis 2007 fell through. I wasn’t chosen for AC. I chose to stay at the former office. We did not talk about Nemesis though I mentioned it once to Mimay. She said she wasn’t ready to delve into it until the play became a taboo topic.

Many outings later, – our videoke date where Mimay confided her fears of failing while waiting for Mervyn and his friend; my dropping by the hotel room of Mimay and her family a few hours before they left for the US and; others which I don’t recall now – 2008 came upon us.

When Mimay returned sometime in March, Hogi and I just enrolled for the rehearsal techniques workshop under Sir Dennis. In May, after the workshop, Mimay told us that she had decided to do Nemesis for her directing class notwithstanding what she had been through for the play the previous year. I was surprised and glad at the same time.

Tad, Hogi’s boyfriend, was to play Alan’s part. Since he had rehearsals for another show, I only caught him once during our rehearsals. Tad, the third actor for Alan, eventually bailed on Nemesis. After three or four days of desperately searching for an Alan, Mimay finally found Alan in Alvin Castro. Alvin, a high school teacher in La Salle Greenhills, was Mimay's classmate in CCP's 2005 musical theater workshop.

After early dinner, we would discuss the play in Ayn’s dining room with me occupying the same chair throughout the rehearsal period. Dinner was an assortment of KFC and Jollibee takeouts, Mimay’s carbonara, Lucky Me Pancit Canton, chips, bread, Nutella, and coffee for me after. Mimay with the help of Ate Tess graciously tended to us.

Discussions of the script had been serious. “Why would they (Alan and Margaret) fuck in my house?,” I asked, “that’s the height of kakupalan.” “Alan has a low level middle management position, he is a marketing manager. He has a sense of humor which attracts the ladies,” we decided. “Margaret had a two-year secretarial course bent on becoming rich by hooking up with a well-off guy,” Hogi offered.

Bantering punctuated our script analysis sessions. Because Opa was initially quiet, she naturally became the target of our teasing from her coming in late to pairing her romantically with Leo, another friend of Mimay’s from film school. Leo was also the art director of our pictorial. It did not take long for Opa to open up to us telling on other people’s dreams complete with facial reactions which drew rounds of guffaw.

Hogi met Opa in 2007 when they were both stage managers at the Virgin Labfest, a showcase of new plays performed at Huseng Batute. Opa was the SM for Nemesis. She was our savior for forgotten lines and blocking, and I frequently needed redemption.

I did the homework, I made a research on the playwright, read two of his essays on religion, and read No Exit aside from the usual character sketch for Barbara’s profile. Yes Mimay, I applied what I learned from the workshops.

We breezed through the rehearsals and the pictorial for the poster and program although we crammed in producing these printed materials. I did the copy for the program until 4 a.m. and had to prepare for work two hours later, a day or two days before the actual show. Every rehearsal day, Hogi and I would engage in a screaming match to the consternation of carpenters working late in Ayn's garage.

I felt Mimay deserved a little something for pouring her heart on the play so I bought flowers primarily for her, and the rest of us. On show day, Hogi and I goofed around while the lighting and design people were at work. I was calm enough during the DTR and actual show, and had that performance high after. I read Mimay’s blog the following month relating belatedly how much Nemesis meant to her.

Nemesis meant a lot to us too Mimay. I was with friends and we had fun – the dramas in our respective lives temporarily muted while rehearsing at Villa Dimaya. It made the three of us closer, and I gained a new friend in Opa who now attends art exhibit openings with me, whether she likes it or not.

I am grateful to acting for a lot of things. Acting sharpens the instincts, it deepens empathy, and cultivates fearlessness. Acting helps me navigate through life. More importantly, I am grateful to acting because I developed/am developing friendships with people involved in it who are mostly more open and less judgmental of other people and situations.

In a conversation with Boss Hermie, Literary Arts Division chief at the CCP where I helped produce the CCP Gawad Para sa Sining folio, I told him I am more of a writer than I am an actor. In retrospect, maybe I am neither, maybe I am just an office person who appreciates the arts. Whatever the label, I am just happy to be part of a community of creators.

When Mimay uploaded the recording of Nemesis on YouTube, I was ready for some serious notes-taking. Watching with a critical pair of eyes, I still found myself enjoying it. Although there were notes, Hogi, Opa and I agreed that it was actually a good show worthy of a commercial run. I sent an email to Mimay about our collective view two weeks ago. She has not replied yet.

While waiting for her reply, I am enjoying the increasing number of views Nemesis is getting on YouTube since it was uploaded three weeks ago, and Peter Wilson’s providing a link to the videos on his web recently.

Thank you again Mimay for Nemesis.

Yes, Mimay, thank you indeed.

I'm itching to write a separate blog on my complete Nemesis experience, but I haven't found the time yet. And I want it well written as well for Mimay, Betty and Opa.

Anyway.

The bruise on my left knee has turned purple and blue, and it's as big as my hand. Yes, you read that right. HAND. As in hindi lang palm of my hand or fist. An entire hand. Waaah.

My brother and his fiancee arrived from Canada last night, yay. Lots of things to do before their wedding next month, my oh my. Haha, first thing my brother and I did this morning was set up the router so he can go online anywhere with his laptop.

Congrats to Tad for his Gawad Buhay Citation! Darn proud of you for that. I love you! Mwah! =)