Pre-recital post.

On the first day of Rehearsal and Performance Techniques workshop, we were given two monologues (one for females and another for males) to read, unitize and memorize. We were told that those two monologues are from R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) by Karel Capek, which will be our recital piece at the end of the workshop. We delivered our monologues, infusing action verbs of our choice. When we were given the entire script, we then performed site-specific scenes around CCP.

When we first read the script together, we all had the same impression, especially about the ending. But eventually, as we kept reading it again and again, we realized that the play had so many levels. Holy kamote.

At first, I was amused at the role(s) given to me, as I was grateful not to get the female lead. But when it started sinking in, my goodness, how will I be able to pull it off? Every rehearsal day was a challenge, especially because I was still trying to find truth in the character(s).

As the show day gets closer, to our relief, our notes got fewer and fewer. Yet the learning and unlearning never ends, and I'm glad it never does. Every time we rehearse, every time we go back to our scripts, we always find something new. Kumbaga, laging may dalang baon sa bawat rehearsal. Tama nga naman. Dapat naman talaga eh. That's why you rehearse. Hindi pwede ang pwede na. Kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit ang dami pa ring mga aktor ang masyadong kampante sa mediocre performance na nakikita ng tao. Nakaka-insulto. "Acting lang naman eh," ang sasabihin pa iba. Sorry po para sa mga nag-iisip ng ganun, dahil para sa mga ibang tao, ang pag-arte at teatro ay ang bumubuhay sa kanila.

Anyway. So after 20 workshop days, after-class pig-outs, sing-alongs, walkathons and crazy quips, it's time to finally show what we've been cooking inside the MKP practically every evening.

(So now it's time for my last minute plug, hahaha.)

Please watch Karel Capek's R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), the Rehearsal and Performance Techniques workshop recital under Tanghalang Pilipino, tomorrow (May 2), at 3pm at the CCP Little Theater stage. Directed by Tess Jamias and JK Anicoche. Tickets are only P100. Hope to see you there!