MGA KUWENTO NI LOLA BASYANG

PHIL NOBLE ON DIRECTING LOLA BASYANG
A vision of circus acts and whimsy playgrounds
By Leloi Arcete

Audiences are usually amazed, a bit perplexed and a little lost, upon seeing Phil Noble’s set. For some, it seems like a couple of braced tubes laced together to form a huge box, a playground perhaps, or maybe a fancy package of whimsy, were childhood memories come alive…

Phil Noble’s set for PETA’s Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang is unsurprisingly non-linear, filled with scaffoldings, platforms and pilled boxes, where Phil directs his actors to explore, wander and slip and slide in youthful exuberance. Phil’s direction can easily be dismissed as complex, but his love for drama and movement simply expels a youthful energy to the entire performance.

In an interview with the director himself, Phil gleefully reminisced about his childhood, his fondness of watching dexterous circus players wander up and about during fiestas in his hometown Taal, Batangas and his own playful character that embraced the vivacity of these circus acts. He remarks that his vision for Lola Basyang came from these vivid recollections.

“In directing Lola Basyang, I brought together all my memories of my childhood and used my love for the circus, wishing that the audience will enjoy the circus as much as I do. I want to create a playground with this play. I want the children to know what the circus is all about. I want them to play with Lola Basyang…I want us all to be childlike, to be children again, even for a while…”
-Phil Noble

Children (of all ages) enjoy watching Phil’s masterpiece because it invites us to a place that is unknown to most people—where the enchanted meets the child, and the child meets the enchanted. A visual spectacle on its own, Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang will bring life to a rich memory of each one’s childhood.

Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang will be on tour and shown at the PETA Theater Center on September 19-21, 27, 28 (10:00 am), 26 (10:00 am and 3:00pm), October 3-5, 11, 12 (3:00 pm), October 17 (12:00nn and 3:30 pm), October 18 (3:00 pm) 19 (10:00 am). For ticket inquiries and reservations, please call PETA Marketing at 4100821/ 7256244 or 0927-7031437, or email us at petampro@yahoo.com