Being a fan of the Dulaang Bedista Alumni Productions (DBAP), a
professional theater group consisting of mostly students from various schools
and often directed by their founder Atty. Vincent Tañada, I somehow become a
critic of stage performances. Last Saturday, with an invitation from my best
friend, I was lucky enough to watch the 10th anniversary special presentation
of ‘Magwayen Creative Scholars Guild’, a known theater group composed of
students from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Being used to a
professional group, I can easily compare how Magwayen rate as theater
performers.
Bidasari, among the group’s original masterpieces and first performed in 1999,
was revived ten years later by their writer and director. Since that night was
also the last showing, they first presented us video clips telling what or
where the group has gone so far. Ten years were not a joke and to be able to
reach that age, they have to persevere to show quality acts that will entertain
their viewers. In their clip, popular artists from rival networks namely GMA7
and ABS-CBN2 greeted them while jokingly asking who the hell they are.
The
initial presentation made me laugh and that set my mood that this would be a
good presentation. Also in the opening, the director and writer thanked the
viewers who had always been supporting the group ever since. Among the audience
were the original actors and actresses of the play, the proud parents of the
performers, their friends, relatives and other students from the University.
The stage act was in a genre of fantasy-comedy and about a girl named Bidasari,
who had been cursed by an avaricious Sultanata in the kingdom of Indrapura.
According to the spell, every night, the girl would be dead until the fifth day
when there would be an eclipse during the noon, which would be the reason of
her death. The only means by which she can escape from the cursed is when she
showed up to the Sultanata with her true love. However, the queen brought her
to the middle of the forest and from that point she was lost. During that time,
a rebellion was also going on in the kingdom and to be able to resolve that,
the Sultanata’s son blinded by her mother’s evilness tried to use diplomacy in
talking with the rebel who had been fighting for their rights being trampled by
the queen. Since the Sultanata’s son didn’t know the wicked acts done by her
mother, he tried to confront the rebel but he was wounded and so he ran to the
forest. At the middle of the dark woods, he saw Bidasari lying at the grounds.
Since he was not feeling well, he likewise fell on the ground beside the body
of Bidasari. However, a little fairy took care of the two and from the jungle,
the two immortals tend to know each other until they fell in love. Realizing
what her mother had been doing, the Sultana’s son along with Bidasari joined
the rebel and they all faced the evil queen. When the eclipse finally came,
Bidasari died and the Prince realized that his life has no worth anymore, so he
killed himself. Killing himself, a show of special devotion and of sacrifice as
his love to the girl revived Bidasari’s life. The Sultanata couldn’t take her
only son dying so she likewise made the ultimate sacrifice and offered her life
for the prince. By doing that, Bidasari and the Prince lived happily ever
after.
Just last year, I was able to watch Eks, another play from the Magwayen group
and judging how they have changed; I would say that they had improved a lot
this time. Not minding the noisy viewers, I could say that they have stitched
it well. From the lightings, to the musical scoring, I would say that they were
like professional performers already. The main concept of the story is just
simple but they had been able to present it in a fresh way. The script was also
very well written having natural lines as if they were being performed as
‘improv’ delivery of actions. The acting of all the casts specially the main
characters was also good and I would also like to commend the beautiful voice
of the girl who performed Bidasari. The simplicity of their set design and
props didn’t hinder in the good presentation. Over all, the group surprised me
with their tenth anniversary performance and it is only right to acknowledge
them through this post.
Two thumbs up for the group and I am looking forward for their upcoming
presentations.
By the way, I found out that they have been connected to the two rival networks
earlier mentioned in my article. The networks have been producing commercials using
Magwayen actors as talents. They have also been producing shows and concerts in
and outside of their campus.
Keep up the good work guys…
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