WengOnline

“Art” is a play by Yasmina Reza that was originally written in French. This version being one in Tagalog. This is the first Tagalog full length play that I’ve seen. I admit it is still a challenge for me to watch shows in Tagalog since I’m more used to shows (TV, plays, musicals, movies, etc) which are in other languages. This play was also performed in my university, but I wasn’t able to see it then. I believe that one was in English.

Ticket Price—6/10: Php500(Orchestra, Right Side) c/o Gibbs Cadiz, he shares free tickets which were generously given by the producers or the directors of the shows. This show is really in demand, since a guy was standing near the stairs leading up to the venue and asking for extra tickets. A scalper? Hold on to your manes.

I was seated on last row at the back, 2nd seat from the aisle. I had been so use to theater seats being as comfy like the newer movie houses. The Music Museum’s seats are really due for replacement. They aren’t broken or diry, but they are a tad uncomfy. Also, from the last row in the orchesta, my feet couldn’t reach the floor as the seats were unusually high.

Acoustics—6/10: They seemed to have problems with the positions of the lapel mics. I heard clothing brushing across the microphone on several occasions. At times, the performers’ voices also seem to fade in and out. Maybe its just me, but I didn’t particulary like the sounds for this venue.

Performers—9/10: I had always thought that movie actors were more used to having several takes for a scene. I thought they wouldn’t pull off those long lines and would have to do ad-libs. Btw, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt since I don’t know how the translation went.

Length/Storyline—7/10: The play started around 30 minutes late, so it felt longer than it should have been. There was no intermission and due to nature of the story, the play is really wordy.

This is a comedy about 3 friends and the story begins as one of them, Serge, buys an expensive pure white painting for Php 200,000. One friend, Mar, is appalled by this, and the other, Jun, can’t seem or rather won’t take sides. Conflict begins and strains their friendship even putting Jun’s wedding into peril.

I think I would have enjoyed this play more if it had been set in another venue.