With the comeback of live theater shows at CCP, I was able to experience what we've been missing these past two years. In the list of things we took for granted prior to pandemic crisis, it includes the beauty of art in the form of live storytelling.
It feels nostalgic as I enter the studio theater, the cold-air from the full-blast aircon welcomes and embraces its' guests. And the excitement seeing familiar faces from the theater industry, even with our facemasks on. I can tell that many misses and still supports the festival, and they are ready to announce that the live theater shows are back and the industry is very much alive.
I felt a pinch on my chest when I saw the white-markers on the bleachers seats. It simply indicates the physical distancing in seating arrangement. I guess, no brushing-elbows "literally" with other audience this time. But what is Virgin Labfest without the jeepney-ride feels? Especially, when the all tickets were sold out. Will there be a chance for those who are hoping for stand-by tickets outside the Box Office?
The contagious vibe of excitement is pretty obvious within the black box during the Technical Dress Rehearsal. There's the shift of moods from genuine laughters with every punchlines, to bitterness reaction when the gloomy atmosphere kicks in during the dark plot scenes and the their sighs on heartbreaking parts. The applause with every curtain call shows the mixture of emotions and messages - the support to the production and to being able to watch live theater again. Indeed, these are the experiences that we missed with its' two year absence. I can't even remember that it felt like this before pandemic.
With this year's Virgin Labfest, they put a them with each set. “Life is Strange Fiction” is for Set B and it triggers the rollercoaster of emotions with the combination of plays it consist. First, is a much-disturbing piece by Jerry o’Hara, entitled “Liberation” which was set in a Japanese occupation; then “Absurdo Events Day” by BJ Crisostomo, wherein the events coordinators still doing their jobs as the world ends and where everyone burst-out-laughing in aone-scene loop with a multi-genre play “Nay, May Dala Akong Pansit” by Juan Ekis.
Set A has “Life is Full of Surprises” theme and offers an unsettling reality-bites type of stories. From “Mga Balo” by Maki Dela Rosa which tackles the struggle of a writer, writing about the widows of EJK victims; followed by “Bituing Marikit” by Bibet Orteza that unravels the secrets of a family members of men including their mother; up to “Walang Bago sa Dulang Ito” by Eljay Castro Deldoc that tells a story of a millipede researcher, when she finally fought for justice, life shows her how rotten the system is.
With its' 17th year, the Virgin Labfest Hinga featured 12 one-act plays divided into four sets. It will run from June 16, 2022 until June 26, 2022, with sold-out seats, live at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute. After the live theater week, there will be online show at ticket2me.net from June 30, 2022 until July 10, 2022.
