Philippine Zarzuela Premiers at off-Broadway La Mama Theater
“Something to Crow About," a modern zarzuela by Philippine National Artist for Literature Dr. Alejandro R. Roces will be staged in New York by La Mama E.T.C. at its Annex Theater at 66 Easy 4th St., NYC on June 21, 22, 23 & 24. Performances are at 7:30 p.m.. June 24 has a matinee at 2:30 p.m.
The full-length modern zarzuela (a traditional Philippine stage play set in song and dance and popular at the turn of the twentieth century) earlier won the 2006 Aliw Awards for best musical & best musical direction when it was premiered in Manila in May 2006. The occasion was the 31st UNESCO International Theater World Congress with delegates coming from 179 countries. The awards were received by Cecile Guidote-Alvarez as executive director of NCAA (National Commission on Arts and Culture) and founder of PETA / Philippine National Theater Institute and recipient of the UNESCO Artist for Peace Award.
The libretto of "Something to Crow About" is based on the classic short story "My Brother Kiko's Peculiar Chicken" which won an award at the University of Arizona when the author was a student. Dr. Alejandro R. Roces expanded the plot by incorporating other short stories from his first collection of short stories published later.
The story is about a "sabungero" (cockfight enthusiast) who was so enamoured with his cocks that he neglected his wife and his duties as a father and as family provider. The town's locql priest exhorts him to change his habits -- but to no avail.
The story of the modern zarzuela is a microcosm of Philippine society, taking place in a small rural town. Dennis Labaw in his revision said that the author and humorist reveals in the story much of the Filipino psyche and culture. In the modern zarzuela the "peculiar chicken" has a "dubious sexuality" and did not want to fight in the cockpit, hence the theme "make love, not war."
Music was composed by Ferdie Dimatura; orchestration by Nonoy Diestro and choreography by Joji Felix-Velarde and Enrico Labayen. A reprise of the cockfighting dance was by National Artist for Dance Leonor Orosa-Goquingco.
The lavish costumes were designed by the Dean of Philippine Couturier Ben Farrales and other younger fashion designers. For information on tickets, call the La Mama Theater , 212-475-7710 or visit www.lamama.org. Tickets are $25.00 with 10% discount for groups of at least 10.
************
NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR
Dr. Alejandro R. Roces
“Something to Crow About”
During the Spanish times, chickens had a religious connotation. In every church, there was a weathercock that told the direction of the wind and reminded the faithful of the Biblical phrase “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me thrice.” The only mass that was allowed during midnight was the one celebrated at the very start of Christmas. It was called “Misa de Gallo”, meaning the “Mass of the Rooster”. The legend was that it was so-called because a rooster was the first creature to announce the birth of Christ by crowing “Christus Natus Est”. When the Americans came, the cock’s image deteriorated into a vulgar phallic symbol, so much so that the Americans had to invent another word for cock. It is only in American dictionaries where you find the word “rooster”, meaning the male chicken. It is a very inappropriate name because the hen also roosts. In fact, all birds roost. Wallace Stegner expressed well the Filipino cocker’s relation with his fighting rooster. He said “…You don’t know Filipinos until you have seen some little fellow who has trained a chicken for months put it into the ring against another’s rooster. He bets everything he owns, steals his wife’s savings, sells his children’s shirts to raise a peso. If he wins, glorious; If in one pass his rooster gets its throat cut, then you will see how a philosopher takes disaster…You should come along and meet this philosopher.” The presentation of “Something To Crow About” is the first Filipino modern zarzuela with music by Ferdinand Dimadura to be performed in New York City and takes me one step closer towards the realization of my “Impossible Dream”. This is made possible through the invitation of US theater doyenne Ellen Stewart, founder of La Mama Experimental Theater Club, the launching stage of many world-renowned artists; and Cecil Guidote-Alvarez, the show’s director, whose perseverance and creative genius made possible this Filipino zarzuela to be performed off-Broadway. The classic choreography on cockfighting by National Artist for Dance, Leonor Orosa Goquingco is reprised by his son Benjie Goquingco.
The American premiere of Somthing to Crow About is an integral part of the President’s policy to address the Diaspora issue through meaningful exchange and cultural services to Pinoys overseas. Thus the production is also a unique occasion for participatory involvement of Filipino ethnic theatre communities for them to be highlighted in cameo roles like Kinding Sindaw and Bernardo Bernardo.
As the curtain rise, lights brighten up the stage and music fills the air, the cock is crowing to a warm welcome to all our kababayans in America in the World renowned La Mama Theatre by the UST Liturgikon Chaoir and the Earthsavers DREAMS Ensemle, UNESCO Artists for Peace to manifest a celebration of cultural diversity for social change and a culture of peace.
Bringing a 45 member cast and production staff in America was a mammoth task, almost an impossible dream to wave the Philippine Flag with pride of habitat, heritage and history on the occasion on the Philippine Independence Day and Rizal Day Obserance. Only faith in our mission and conviction sustained us in this sojourn with prayers. It is something to crow about that the zarzuela was honored by Aliw Awards (equivalent of Tony in the U.S) with Best Musicale and Best Musical Direction in 2006. We are grateful to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who sent us off to provide cultural services to Pinoys overseas, joined by the PMS Office led by Secretary Cerge Remonde and Education Secretary Jesli Lapus. The Earthsavers DREAMS Ensemble once again recognizes Speaker Jose de Venecia for giving them the Congressional Medal of Achievement in 2003. We would also like to acknowledge the Department of Tourism headed by Secretary Ace Durano, PCSO, PAGCOR, Supreme Master Ching Hai International Foundation, McDonald’s Philippines and Mary Kay Cosmetics. We deeply appreciate the Asian Cultural Council sponsorship headed by Ralph Samuelson and the assistance of a former PETAL Artist reared at La Mama, Lily Gamboa O’Boyle with Consul General Cecile Rebong and Deputy Consul General Millie Tomeczec, The Filipino American Service Group (FASGI) headed by Ms. Susan Dilkes with Zen Lopez, Arts and Culture Commissioner of Glendale and Ted Benito, founder of TDRZ Production with Consul General Mary Jo Aragon who organized our 1 day performance in L.A at the Alex Theater, June 28, 2007 at 8pm; the Kaisahan Dance troupe in the San Francisco Bay Area headed by Helen Pastor-Moreno and Mr. Raphael Hermoso with Consul General Rowena Sanchez arranged for the performance at the Santa Clara University, July 1 at 3pm serviced by the American section of our government led by Asec. Rey Carandang and Executive Director Leoncio Cardenas with the Filipino- American leaders we have related through the years.
To our media friends who gave the kind coverage and helped draw attention and support of audiences for this diplomatic initiative of showcasing the wealth of artistic talents and cultural traditions in the service of the nation, our profound thank you.
CECILE GUIDOTE ALVAREZ
PA on Culture/ NCCA Executive Director
Artistic Training/Communications Director
Earthsavers DREAMS Academy
UNESCO International Theatre Institute
Manila, Republic of the Philippines
