THERE is an interesting play going on at the University of the Philippines Diliman until early December. You can catch William Wycherley’s The Country Wife in both English and Filipino versions, adapted locally and directed by Tony Mabesa, with Filipino translation by Nicholas Pichay.
Playing important characters in this rare local staging of a ‘“restoration comedy” (defined as a style of drama that flourished in London after the restoration in 1660, typically having a complicated plot marked by comedy, wit and licentiousness) are two of the most hardworking actors we know: Jay Gonzaga and RS Francisco.
We saw RS the first time in 1990 when he played Song Liling in a local staging of David Henry Hwang’s M. Buttefly. We still remember his two most memorable scenes in the play. First, when RS stripped naked in front of the late Behn Cervantes (who played French diplomat Rene Gallimard to prove that Song Liling is a man); and, second, in the heart-wrenching finale where Song Liling, elaborately dressed as a geisha, commits ritual seppuku (suicide). In our book, the performance of the then-young RS was seamless, memorable and, certainly, most brave.
Through the years, while RS was busy working for advertising and production houses, he continued his romance with theater. And, although he has become a very successful businessman in the last few years, the 40-something actor has also spread his wings and dabbled in acting for television and film.
He had a wonderful supporting role in Magkaribal with Angel Aquino, and played Gretchen Barretto’s right-hand guy in Princess and I. On film, his most recent outing was with Bea Alonzo in She’s The One.
By the time this comes out, RS will already be in Tokyo as part of the Philippine delegation to the 15th Tokyo FilMEX International Film Festival. He will be with award-winning actress Angeli Bayani and filmmaker Francis Xavier Pasion to represent their film Bwaya, which is one of the 15 films in competition. RS is both actor and co-producer for the competing film.
Before leaving for Japan, RS finished all his
scenes in the Star Cinema movie Past Tense, giving strong support to the Kim Chiu-Xian Lim romantic screen tandem.
FIRST LOVE
THE dapper Jay Gonzaga is enjoying his time with his co-actors in The Country Wife before he takes on another role in a local soap opera.
“Theater has always been my first love. Although I enjoy working in films, television and commercials, I make it a point to always go back to theater because it is where I’m most fulfilled as an actor.”
He added, “In every production I take part of, I’m always observant and I make it a point to learn more about acting from my director and the really good actors. For this production, I’m lucky to be cast alongside brilliant actors, like Shamaine Buencamino, Neil Ryan Sese and RS Francisco, and I also get the chance to work with fresh, new actors like Ian Ignacio.”
Before taking on this challenging role, Jay Gonzaga had the chance to perform in Taiwan, where he in the cast of the much raved-about production of Haring Lear.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
STANDING oh-so-tall at 6 feet 3 inches, Ian Ignacio considers himself lucky for the many opportunities that have been given to him in the acting business.
“With countless people dreaming to become actors, here I am even without much experience, actually working on good projects,” the new actor enthused.
The doors that have opened for Ian are not small ones, we must say. First, he has been tapped by a group of foreign producers to play the lead role of a young warrior from the Mountain Province in the film Cordillera sa Dulo ng Panahon.
“It was a big surprise when I was told I had bagged the lead role. The producers might have seen something in me. Now the hard work begins. I need to do a lot of research about the warriors and the tribes. We have gone to Baguio for a preliminary photo shoot and the team is in the preproduction phase at the moment,” Ian shared.
For his big break, we learned from screenwriter Maria Urduja Osit that Ian will have actors Yul Servo and Monsour del Rosario to support him.
Ian knows that he has to be physically fit when shooting starts, so the martial arts black belter (yes, he is certified!) works out regularly and watches what he eats.
Ian is also in the cast of The Country Wife and he is thankful that he was chosen by director Tony Mabesa to be included in the cast. “I appreciate the mentoring that he does for us. Yes, he is strict but in a good sort of way, so that the actors, especially those without much experience like me, will learn. This early, I’m beginning to fall in love with theater and I hope it gets to love me back, too,” he said.