By Eva C. Visperas

 

IT was Father’s Day last Sunday, June 18, when we, a group of Pangasinan reporters, headed to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) to catch SandboxFest2023 featuring Duncan Macmillan’s plays “Lungs” and “Every Brilliant Thing”.

We had more than eight-hours roundtrip to-and fro BGC in our van ride, interspersed with merienda break and an early mall tour along the way. We were excited when we arrived earlier than the mall opening. It felt great for us to bond, albeit short, in the middle of our tiring work schedule. We created lovely and happy memories one more time, even for just a day.

It felt rewarding for a rare chance to treat ourselves (myself, Yoly of Inquirer, Susan and Liway of DWIZ, Liezle of Bulletin, Minnie of DWPR, Jonathan of DWJE, Framy of Bombo and Cesar of Star) to watch a stage play and see what’s the world like outside our comfort areas.

One commented, “First time kong manood ng play. Ganun pala yun. Iba’ng experience!”

And to watch these award-winning one act plays, back-to-back, for a good cause to further boost the creatives through different programs particularly in Pangasinan conceptualized by no less than Cong Toff de Venecia himself, who is leading the country’s creative renaissance, was my best decision to escape browsing social media posts on a lazy Sunday, or watching movies on Netflix. Since there was no home companion on Father’s Day, to watch with some media colleagues another showcase of Cong. Toff’s love for the creatives produced by his own The Sandbox Collective production company, was a timely treat for myself.

To those who may not be aware, Cong. Toff started his creative career as a writer, actor, model, director and theatrical producer before entering politics.

Watching the cast of the back-to-back plays up-close and personal, with only a step or two away from my seat for such an intimate small setting at the Maybank Theatre in BGC, the intensity of the awesome and brilliant performance of the cast radiates to the audience. We watched Justine Peña and Brian Sy in ‘Lungs’ and Teresa Herrera in ‘Every Brilliant Thing’.

I was awed by the snappy pace in the exchange of dialogue in ‘Lungs’, between a couple about their anxieties of having a child, the thought of raising him in an environment faced with issues like global warming, plus eventually losing a baby, break-up and ultimately a happy reunion, among other concerns. They were amazing and so natural!

In ‘Every Brilliant Thing’, I was mesmerized by the play’s messages in today’s world. That despite the depression, anxiety, uncertainty of living, there are still 101 reasons to be happy about. We just have to see the brighter side of these happenings every day in our life even in just ordinary settings. A good friend often tells me whenever things turn upside down that it’s PMA—Positive Mental Attitude that is the key to overcoming the negativity in life.

No classical nor pop music or anything was played but I never felt bored, not even for a second watching the 80-minute-long ‘Lungs’ and the 70-minute ‘Every Brilliant Thing’. I internalized every word delivered by the characters and let my imagination work, as the messages delved into real and reel-life situations now and the agonies and anxieties felt, like mental health concerns that are sometimes overlooked in today’s world.

I must say that the twin bill presentation successfully hooked their audience and loved it. Filipinos are, indeed, creative. Congratulations is in order, too, to our dear Cong Toff!

Catch their next shows as these will run up to July 15, 2023 at the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall, Maybank Performing Arts Theater in BGC. Log on to their Instagram account at @thesandboxco or Ticketworld or call 09171525560.

Let’s support a good theatrical production with a noble cause and let’s help the creatives continue to march on!

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