Review: LA FAMILIA PERATEDES, Based on Lorca's 'The House of Bernarda Alba'

By Jared Echevarria

Manila, Philippines--Family is a serious matter for Filipinos; it's something personal, sensitive, and private. To have it as a central theme for a play is seldom traversed, and if so, it's done with prudence. In the current restaging of Victorio Concepcion's LA FAMILIA PERATEDES, a play in Tagalog based on Federico Garcia Lorca's "La Casa de Bernarda Alba," the production is worth a visit simply because of its familial theme that's seldom tackled. It also proves to be a timely work that exposes its audiences to domestic lives normally concealed because of destructive personal pride.

Set against the backdrop of the Martial Law in the Philippines, PERATEDES tells the story of Erik (Harry David, Fort Sarmiento), the prodigal son of the upper-middle-class family Peratedes. Erik returns for the wake of his youngest brother, Alfredo. Dolores (Mosang), the family matriarch, blames Erik for Alfredo's death. Over time, the absence of the family's youngest member becomes the strong force that pulls the family secrets out of the bag.

The stage at the AFP Theatre Function Hall is set theatre-in-the-round, which, typically, has this tendency to block the audiences' view. However, in this production, the actors are able to use the performance space very naturally and efficiently. What makes this production different is that it's not performed on an actual proscenium stage but in a function hall dressed and customized as a "theatre." This tells a lot about the Philippine theater industry: it's creative; it thinks out of the box.

The lighting design and the props are all simple but not bland. The production boldly screams what a great play is all about: substance over form.

The casts also own their roles. Although some of the lines are deliberately blurted out to the point of stuttering, they become irrelevant in contrast to the genuine emotions poured on stage. The casts are intense, but they let you breathe enough air until the next outburst, which is, most of the time, equally forceful.

PERATEDES sends a shiver up your spine because of its no holds barred storytelling.

PERATEDES, produced by Teatro Kaligatan Foundation Inc. and directed by Ricardo Magno, plays AFP Theatre Function Hall until today, 6 p.m.

The show stars Mosang (Dolores), May Bayot (Salve), Neil Tolentino (Balthazar), Pau Benitez (Lana), KL Dizon, Coleen Perez and Che Talavera (Diana), Chic San Agustin and Natasha Cabrera (Carla), Harry David and Fort Sarmiento (Erik), Fatima Cadiz (Josefina), and Ronah Rostata (Erlinda). Also, in the cast are Nel Estuya, Jackie Milleza, Nel Gumalog, Espie Salvador, and Ren Medina (Testigos).

For tickets, call or text Nel Gumalog (63915-3076167) or JC Salud (63998-5377579).

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