Gantimpala Theater's "Kanser" ("Noli Me Tangere") Aug. 26-Sept. 16, 2012

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Gantimpala Theater
presents

35th theater season

Jomar Fleras'
“Kanser”
Based on Jose Rizal's novel “Noli Me Tangere”

Directed by Adriana Agcaoili and Jheyar Caguimbal

“Kanser” was first staged in 1980 at the CCP. 
Why an adaptation of “Noli”? Because, says Agcaoili, “As live theater, it makes for an entertaining two hours of watching. And as a historical record, it is a powerful and very real testament to the sacrifice that Rizal--and all the revolutionary Eliases, the victimized Sisas and Crispins and the broken idealists like Ibarra--made for our motherland. The lost dreams and the blood they have shed have bought us the freedom we enjoy but sometimes take for granted.”

Kapuso actor Jay Gonzaga and Kapamilya actress Cris Pastor reprise their roles as Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara, respectively. They first performed the roles in GT's 2011 run of "Kanser."

“Ibarra is a very difficult role since he is the center of the novel’s universe,” says Gonzaga. “He starts as an idealistic ilustrado who just came from Europe, whose main reason for coming home is to rekindle his affair with Maria Clara. But as the play progresses, his discoveries and battles become all gut-wrenching and heartbreaking, consuming him in the end.”

Pastor says of her Maria Clara: “I have a better appreciation of her person because of this production. To many, she is emotionally weak. But I've realized she is a brave and strong woman. She sacrificed so much to protect the purity of her love for Crisostomo.”

Philstage Best Actress Marj Lorico, meanwhile, is playing Sisa. “I am also a mother, so I know how she feels... Giving life to such a larger-than-life character is my way of telling today’s generation to read our literary classics. What I like about this play is that each of the major characters are highlighted, thus audiences get to know them better.”

Model/actor Patrick Patawaran is Padre Salvi, the young priest who secretly covets Maria Clara.

Artistic collaborators include Benjie Cayetano (lighting designer), Norman Peñaflorida (set designer), Roobak Valle (choreographer), Charyl De Guzman (production manager) and Wilmark Oliver Tabio (stage manager).

The National Parks Development Committee and Everbilena fully support Gantimpala Theater’s production of “Kanser”.

August 26, (7 p.m.), Concert at the Park Open Air Auditorium, Luneta, Manila;
August 31, September 1-2 (9 a.m./12nn/3 p.m.), AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City;
September 7-9 (9 a.m./12nn/3 p.m.), Star Theater, Star City Compound, Pasay City;
September 14-16 (11 a.m./2 p.m.), Cinema 3, SM Southmall, Las Piñas City.

For tickets, call 9985622. Facebook: gantimpala.

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