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| Posted by: Walter Ang Date posted: Tuesday February 12, 2008 http://guides.clickthecity.com/arts/?p=2764 Bitong gives us an exciting and tight staging, using an edited version of the text that runs only two hours—just the right length for fidgety students who may be required to watch and even for those of us whose attention spans have been severely mottled down by mass media. ...considering this is a Rep production, she’s pushed the envelope a lot already with (and definitely wins points for) her brave choices. She’s already gotten our attention visually, so now all she wants to do is to tell Hamlet’s story... She drives her cast quickly and assuredly through the play’s distilled paces. Niccolo Manahan plays the titular role with an even hand and does not stray into histrionics. If anything, he may have been a tad too reserved, but perhaps it is only to further the idea that his Hamlet is a more cold and calculating strategist the character is usually given credit for. In a way, we realize that he is as cruelly scheming as his uncle. Clearly, Bitong shows us that there are no blacks and whites in the world she has created for Hamlet. A victim of these emotional gray areas and off-kilter morals is Cris Villonco as Ophelia, who takes a decidedly more edgy turn compared to her goody-two-shoes roles from previous Rep productions. No doubt people will say that her character’s meltdown in the second act is moving, but it doesn’t seem like a stretch for her—we kind of expect her to be able to pull that off. What is more impressive is the setup to this scene, when Hamlet rebuffs her and a slew of confusion, anger and fear erupts from her sweet face as she trembles and wields her fan knife at Hamlet. Villonco lets us know that Ophelia, despite that spunky exterior, is a delicate flower tremulously being strangled by all this craziness around her. In short, seeing Villonco acting crazed and kicking ass is a delightful highlight. Rosencratz and Guildenstern are no bumbling, comic-relief idiots in Bitong’s version. They brim with an undercurrent of murderous insanity and we are afraid for Hamlet every time they come near him. Bodjie Pascua (yes, the Kuya Bodjie of our Batibot childhoods and, yes, he speaks excellent English) is engaging as Polonius. Jaime Wilson is a storm of raw anguish and tender loneliness as Laertes... Lots of fun in this production is the sword fight between Hamlet and Laertes. Kudos to weapons designer Lagdameo, whose oddly-shaped weapons provided an immediate, believable and visceral heft, and fight choreographer Paul Morales, for giving us a fully realized, metal-clanging-on-metal duel scene that was thrilling, suspenseful and realistic. Overall, a highly recommended production of Hamlet, both to first-timers of any Shakespearean play and to the Bard’s fans, who are likely to pick up some new insights with this unique staging. Posted by: ERASMUSA, http://erasmusa.blogspot.com Location: ANTIPOLO, PHILIPPINES Date posted: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2008 Wondrous Strange Repertory Philippines' Hamlet is a fresh, nay, an exciting take on one of the Bard's most famous works. (So exciting I can't even sleep without blogging this.) Niccolo Manahan (above) is a worthy Hamlet. Of course, it's hard to top this guy (good luck, Jude Law), but Manahan's clarity of speech and thought make you almost swear he lived in Elizabethan times. Favorite bit: the funeral scene. Great execution, starting with the gravedigger's exchange with Hamlet and highlighted by Hamlet's too-late profession of love. Posted by: GLAIZA, http://dramashit.blogspot.com Location: Manila, Philippines Date posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008 Erase whatever high school English Literature memory you have of Hamlet, because Repertory Philippines first ever take on Shakespeare's tragedy will shock you. As if a storyline of murder, madness, treachery, incest, and vengeance isn't unnerving enough, REP—now in its 71st season—gives the audience something darker, more violent, and raw. The audience will love the maddened Prince Hamlet in dark eyeliner played by Niccolo Manahan. He nailed Hamlet's angst-filled soliloquies and spouting the famous line, "To be or not to be: that is the question." But he remains charming in his melancholy. The wonderfully choreographed fight between Hamlet and the ass-kicking Laertes (Jamie Wilson) with realistic albeit blunted weapons left the audience in awe. Joel Trinidad's robust performance as the new king of Denmark, Claudius, commanded attention. The only ladies on stage, Frances Makil-Ignacio and Cris Villonco, were strong as they were seductive. Frances transformed the weak Gertrude to an attention-hungry and conniving queen, while Cris portrayed a balisong-slinging and passionate Ophelia. It was both amusing and heartbreaking to see Ophelia's downward spiral to madness. Posted by: paopardz, http://paopardz.multiply.com/ Location: Manila, Philippines Date posted: feb 9, '08 11:33 am ...i actually loved the production! props to their director for being true to the play but also adding a twist to it. i loved how they changed the setting and backdrop to represent that of a country in the future. the performances were great especially that of the actor playing hamlet! Niccolo Manahan got the essence of hamlet to the teeth and i give him props. it not easy to do a play like hamlet and yet he did it with such ease and flair. the rest of the cast also did a splendid job. living and breathing their characters...you guys were really great! Posted by: Karen May S. Regpala Location: Manila, Philippines Occupation: Communication Coach Date posted: 2/4/2008 9:14:57 PM REPERTORY GIVES HAMLET A NEW TWIST …I got to watch "Hamlet" as directed by Ms. Ana Abad Santos-Bitong. The director describes her "Hamlet" as Hamlet "stripped to its core". I'd say the description is pretty accurate… we get a Hamlet that's in rugged clothing living in a land that rings true to my image of Saudi Arabia (sand, baby, sand). "Hamlet" started with a bang. With an emphasis on red lighting, the audience can get the sense of fear that the director surely wanted to establish. Although the scene that succeeded the opening was a bit disappointing, the play picked up and lived up to its grand opening. …This fresh take on the classic Shakespearean tale is indeed a welcome change. The acting was also superb. I felt Hamlet's pain, Ophelia's sorrow, Claudius' repentance, Laertes' hatred, and so much more. I love Shakespeare's plays. But I must admit that most of the time, onstage, I have a hard time understanding his words. But Repertory's rendition of "Hamlet" did not pose that problem. Sure, there were still throw ins of "thou", "thine", "thy", etc. but the language used were fairly understandable. …If you're a big Shakespeare fan, go grab a ticket - Repertory Philippines never disappoint. Posted by: Lauren, http://laurganism.com Location: Manila, Philippines Occupation: grad student, freelance writer, rockstar wannabe, and catalyst for destructive relationships. Date posted: Wednesday February 06th 2008, 05:50 pm Repertory Philippines’ Hamlet was very successful. Despite not being very familiar with Shakespearean English, it wasn’t too difficult for me to follow what was going on thanks to the actors’ fluid acting and distinct body language. Of course, it took some concentration for me to comprehend the nuances and the wordplay in the dialogue. But all you really need to do is pay attention, and you’ll get it. So first timers - you don’t have to be afraid of falling asleep in your chair or being completely lost in translation if you’ve never encountered a word of Shakespeare in your life. The actors will make it easy for you to follow the plot all the way to its tragic conclusion. Posted by: Fritz Tentativa, http://fritzified.com/ Location: Manila, Philippines Date posted: February 6th, 2008 Still Awestruck by Reportory Philippines’ Hamlet Last Thursday, I saw Hamlet, my first Shakespeare stage play. Guess what? I didn’t fall asleep, YAY! Since it’s my first time to even hear Hamlet’s verses, I did not know what to expect off it... In summary: Of the many ways possible to render Hamlet, Director Ana Abad Santos-Bitong opted for something that is neither of this time nor plane. It is refreshing to see that stripping the set, props, and costumes down to get the minimalist and desolate vibe still felt edgy but raw in a good way. Remember Cris Villonco? She plays Ophelia. Niccolo “Nic” Manahan does Hamlet. Usually, I’d hear Shakespeare’s words and go ho-hum because I’ll seldom understand what it means the first try. For actors to be effective, at least for me to understand the story they would wish to put across through their prose, they would have to improvise using body movements, gestures, and facial expressions. The way the Nic delivered his lines was so fresh, I can actually picture his prose-speaking character co-mingling with us now in this 21st century. I mean, he speaks in prose but he says his lines fast enough so it doesn’t sound boring and ancient (words fail me at this time but I hope you get what I mean). Lorna said Nic studied his character and lines well and he commanded how he’d act for specific scenes himself and, unsurprisingly, he delivered. That’s a plus 1 in my list of talented actors to admire locally. If you want to at least see a Shakespeare play in this lifetime and want something that won’t bore you out of your wits, then this show is for you. I’m not Shakespeare savvy but I totally dug this shiz. Posted by: blog.ademagnaye.com/ Location: Manila, Philippines Date posted: February 5th, 2008 As the lights dimmed, I realized that Shakespeare plays are recited in Old English, and I expected the sound of that would make me snore by the second act. Thankfully, the acting delivered, and even though Shakespeare plays were usually filled with dragging monologue and convoluted plots, I was riveted, taking in every detail. Awesome acting. Strip Hamlet down to its bare essentials they did. …the play is fantastic. From the creepy opening up to the end where the poisoned Hamlet looks at the audience, says “The rest is silence” and dies, the play succeeds. |
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What's more, we will mail the tickets to your home at no extra cost to you. What have you got to lose? 
REP maintains two groups of eight singers who are available for special after-dinner entertainment, product launches, or other corporate affairs. One group is composed of veteran, professional solo performers; the other, of talented, young, up-and-coming singers. The program features show-stopping performances of show-tune medleys arranged for solos, duets, and octets with simple choreography.
