The Necessary Theatre presents ‘Blackbird’ this September
The Necessary Theatre, a performing group under Actor’s Actors, Inc., will present this September its adaptation of “Blackbird,” which was written by Scottish playwright David Harrower.
“Blackbird” revolves around 27-year-old Una and Rey, who is 55. Their paths first crossed 15 years prior when Rey seduced and had sex with Una, taking advantage of his friendship with her father. Rey went to prison for several years for statutory rape, while Una inexplicably became ostracized in her community because of her victimhood.
The intervening years left a lot of unanswered questions and unsettled emotions between the two. Rey tried his best to forget everything that happened, and almost succeeds when he assumed a new name and had a successful career. However, his attempts to bury the past came to a grinding halt when Una managed to track him and confront him in his office.
The two bickered over whatever feelings they had for each other before and what their relationship should be going forward. What makes the play relevant in today’s society is its discussion of sexual assault and the shaming that countless victims all over the world go through.
“It courts ethical dangers, in daring to characterize the bond between abuser and abused as a kind of perverse love story, though that is doubtless how some survivors and aggressors will choose to view their experience,” Alexis Soloski wrote in his review of the play for The Guardian.
The “Blackbird” most notably won the 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for best new play. Meanwhile, its Broadway revival earned three nominations during the 2016 Tony Awards.
Actor’s Actors, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit corporation that thrives on the support of people “who refuse to be content with the entertainment options that the market dishes out to the public constantly.” The organization “seeks to combine the youthful freshness of brave ideas” with the “cumulative professionalism of its members. The main personalities behind Actor’s Actors, Inc. include Roselyn Perez, Dodo Lim, Jaime del Mundo, Cita Astals, Bart Guingona, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, and Wylin Gervacio.
The Necessary Theatre’s adaptation of “Blackbird” features Bart Guingona as Rey and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante as Una. It will be directed by Topper Fabregas backed up by a solid creative team: Joey Mendoza for set design, John Batalla for lighting design, Jethro Joaquin for sound design, Paul Lao for photography, and Steven Tansiongco for poster design.
“Blackbird” will have its theatrical run at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of RCBC Plaza, Makati City during the schedules below:
First Week:
September 1 (Friday) – 8PM
September 2 (Saturday) – 8PM
September 3 (Sunday) – 3PM
Second Week:
September 8 (Friday) – 8PM
September 9 (Saturday) – 8PM
September 10 (Sunday) – 3PM
Ticket Price:
PhP 1,200.00 Orchestra center
PhP 1,000.00 Orchestra sides and orchestra back
PhP 800.00 Loge
PhP 500 Balcony
Please contact TicketWorld at 891-9999 or The Necessary Theatre at 5365844 and 0928-5072924 to buy your tickets. Interested parties may also check the group’s official Facebook page.
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