The panel were asked, When you where told to do a ‘Checkov’, what was your first questions? The veteran movie actress Cherry Gil exploded with a big What???
All of the stage play actors have one common answer, they were both excited and astounded. It wasn’t a surprise to hear that for it was a Chekov we are referring to.
(side story) I like watching theatre play, and there is even a time in my life where I had a chance to be on the stage, I was casted and got the leading role, but that was just a one-time stint. The exposure I had didn’t gave me still enough information that one should know to be called someone who knows all about theater plays.
Going back to the first question, I guess playing a Chekovian play is really something of an achievement for any stage play actors. Now I wonder why? and who is Chekov?
Anton Chekhov
Anton Chekhov or Chekov is a Russian dramatist and short-story writer. His plays include The Seagull (1896), Uncle Vanya (1900), The Three Sisters (1901), and The Cherry Orchard (1904). And a checovian is a characteristic of Anton Chekhov or his writings,especially as they are evocative of a mood of introspection and frustration.
His a big name in the theatre industry and to what i understand, playing a Chekov character is one is quite difficult to do, challenging.
Chekov’s Cherry Orchard now PETA‘s ‘Arbol de Fuego’
Capping the Philippine Educational Theater Association’s 47th season is ‘Arbol de Fuego’, Rody Vera and Loy Arcenas reimagining of Anton Checkov’s classic film Cherry Orchard.
Arbol de Fuego is a tragicomedy about middle-aged matriarch Enriquetta Jardeleza-Sofronio, played by the veteran actress Cherie Gil, who comes home after having squandered the family fortune on a long stay in Madrid. Buried in debt, she and younger brother Adjie (essayed by Jake Macapagal) is advised to sell the flourishing rows of fire trees that frame the estate. The Jardelezas instead, throw party after lavish party, reminiscing their opulent past in an effort to forget their depleting wealth.
Set in the late ’70’s when Marcos made Roberto Benedicto his sugar czar, which brought about the downfall of the sugar industry in Negros Occidental and the gilded lifestyle of the Negrense sugar barons.
Writer Rody Vera shares that this Chekhovian classic is told with underlying sarcasm and humor. Arbol de Fuego (firetrees) laughs at the habits and tendencies of the diminishing aristocratic class.
Arbol de Fuego opens this February 20, 2015 with shows from Fridays to Sundays, 3:00pm and 8:00pm at the PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila Quezon City. (How to commute to PETA Theater)
For show buying and ticket information, contact PETA at 725-6244 or 0917-5765400 or contact Ticket World at ticketworld.com.ph / 891 9999.
Something to look forward to
A short script reading was held on the event for us to have that feel on what to expect on the actual date of the performance. Arbol de Fuego is still on an early stage of the production and there are still lots of ideas to explore.
I like Ms. Cherry Gil as an actress, and I’m looking forward on seeing here in this play. As to what she said, she will be doing all the 24 plays (without an alternate) and its a challenge for her not just because its a Chekhovian but also because she will be doing the role in straight tagalog.
The music scoring which was played at the start already took us down to a setting that I could imagine in the late 70’s. Direk Loy did a great job fitting and choosing the right actors for each of the character.
Thou I haven’t seen any play or film made by Direk Loy, yet I can feel on how I observe him at the set that his strict, straightforward and a kind of person who believes in ones capability specially if he found something special on you.
Can’t wait to see the final play! You can check out the show schedules and list of characters here.
