Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Journey to enlightenment By Jenara Regis Newman
Cebu is going places.
Siddharta, the made-in-Cebu musical based on the life of Gautama Buddha, is subtitled The Musical Journey to Enlightenment. For the cast and crew, and people behind the play, the “journey” part may just mean that: bringing the musical play to places beyond Cebu’s shores.
First shown at the Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino, it had its second performance at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Early this month, the group of 10 had very successful performances in Taipei and Kaoshiong: eight scheduled and two others — a press preview and a performance at Fo Guang Shan.
The play is the first dance-drama musical written in English about Buddha, based on the poetry of Venerable Master Hsing Yuan, founder and head of Buddha’s Light International.
Jude Gitamondoc is over- all musical director; he also composed some of the original songs for the play; the other songs being winners (from Cebu) in past Taiwan- based song writting contest based on the poetry of Hsing Yuan. The musical employs not just music and songs to tell the story of Siddharta, but also dance, which effectively takes the place of narration or dialogue in order to interpret Siddharta’s journey to enlightenment.
Dance director is Marijo Cypril Jamora with Michael Lowell Dohig and Ian Ed Jamelarin as dance masters. Over-all artistic director is Daisy Ba-ad while Michelle Simtoco is production manager. Costume designer is Jed Sevilla.
Portraying the role of Siddharta is very talented Benjie Layos. One has to be very talented to be in the play because everyone has to sing, dance and emote, sometimes all the same time. Others in the cast are Marie Antoinette Gorgonia/Johanna Lavajo as Princess Yasodhara; Darren Romano/Adrian Calderon as King Suddhodana.
Also in the dance-drama are Rhea May Sadaya/Mae Ann Araneta as Queen Maya; Levin Inez as Little Siddharta; John Delo Salgado/Kurt Fick as Rahula; Darren Romano/Edison Saynes as the Prophet Assita; Don Nelu Eguna as Channa; Edison Saynes, Karl Samontañez, Les Paul Pineda, Ralph Nicolaus Jordan and Masrc Raymond Bolongon as The Five Attendants.
Rounding up the list are Edison Saynes/Adrian Sencil as the Monk; Lezyl Borres as the Wedding Singer; Rhea May Sadaya and Mae Ann Araneta as Conscience, plus a company of 21 dancers. The children are members of the Colegio del Sto. Niño Himig Agustino Choir.
The play, remarked Daisy Ba-ad, has been “enlightenment” for the Christian members of the cast, which is another first: Christians playing Buddhists.
It has made them appreciate a different religion, a different culture but which actually speaks of the Christian ideal: a culture of world peace, harmony and love. For those who watch the play – and it will be re-staged in Cebu on May 25 with invitational shows at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the SM Theater 1 – it will not just be entertainment. It will also be “enlightenment,” something truly not to be missed, especially if you appreciate Cebu/Filipino art and culture, and the culture of love, peace and harmony.
The Cebu Siddharta, the Musical Journey to Enlightenment performance is part of the month-long Buddhist birthday celebration of Buddha. And it might just be a prelude to still another journey— this time to Shanghai and Beijing?
