XAVIER University Development Communication department’s series of theater production concluded Malou Leviste Jacob’s “Ang Juan Tamban” at Xavier University’s Little Theater on Saturday evening, October 18.
“Ang Juan Tamban” had been a production of the third year Devcom students.
From the annual tradition of successful theater productions comes Juan Tamban, a 12-year-old boy from the slums.
He is a disgusting spectacle; his home is in the alleys and makes friends with rugby feeding boys. Juan, instead, feeds on rats, cockroaches and lizards.
For the rich, he is a criminal, guilty of robbing a lady’s bag, fit to be put in the detention center and be rehabilitated. For social workers, he is a kid with a special case fit to be a case study, a study assigned to Marina Torres.
Torres is a student – social worker living a comfortable life. She is assigned by her instructor, Mr. De Leon, to unlock Juan Tamban’s nature. Why a kid like him feeds on rats and lizards instead of food. Why he chooses to live alone than with his family.
Through understanding Juan, Marina questioned society’s ways and ideals, her family’s principles and pledged to help Juan and his father to make their life better.
Malou Jacob’s Juam Tamban came to be when she read a news item about a boy in the slum who ate insects and rat – a hot news item back then.
She was moved with the boy’s story, did some research and interviews. Her story was staged in 1979 and recognized for it being well researched and the realistic portrayal of the country’s social problems.
Juan Tamban is just like many other kids on the streets – stripped of their rights to a home, justice and good food.
The Devcom students were able to showcase their talents in acting, singing, scriptwriting, set designing and production.
As a new curriculum is being implemented, this year’s play is the last theater production of the department.
With major roles played by Francis Gascon and Ariel Lacson as Juan Tamban and Marie Antoinette Magallanes and Jeanne Catipay as Marina Torres with the other cast members, directed by Arnel Jade A. Evangelista II under the management of Ray Anthony Lao, Theater class instructor, the students attempted to give life to Juan Tamban’s story in a present setting, using local places, practices to make it more realistic and for the audience to be able to relate.
From Metroman (2011), Lysistrata (2012), and Inspektor Heneral (2013) to Ang Juan Tamban (2014), a picture of the lingering problems in the society that is yet to be solved.