Gio Potes on Edgar Allan Hemingway - VLF Set B

-
In its mixed bag of subjects on memories, fake news and discourses on truths turning out with some mixed results, VLF 2018 SET B is aptly summed up by the Sisyphian EDGAR ALLAN HEMINGWAY, written by Carlo Vergara and directed by George de Jesus III, with a powerhouse cast led by Guelan Luarca and especially Ricci Chan (who arguably steals the bookends of the play).

It's a fitting metacritic to the writers showcase itself, with a fictional attempt to shade and read the hacks posing as writers and the writers forced to be hacks. Vergara and de Jesus define two characteristics not only of writers but perhaps of all professionals young and old who find their work either a struggle or an easy route to bigger achievements. While the Levi Llorca is an empty vessel on paper and on stage - a mere key to success, without the hard and boring part - Vergara draws the viewers' attention to the struggling individuals George and Barnes as they battle out their differences to unravel the two polar opposite fates of any professional trying to make it big. Vergara suggests that only a broken, corruptible system grants success to the streetsmart and "madiskarte" while ignoring the pure, hard and dirty work... making each profession a race for the working class, in the end churning out the few winners and the sea of trying hard losers - the by-products of a society that favors individual success through that ridiculous Filipino campaign of "magsumikap ka".

Such a premise requires the confines of the one-act's straightforward narrative with its hilarious references to literary figures local and international and an impressive plot twist that sums up its vicious cycle of cheat. EDGAR ALLAN HEMINGWAY easily titillates the mind of a writer but also shows the universality of the working class scenario and their day-to-day struggle of desperate attempts to escape desperation itself. - Gio Potes

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cinema Paradiso Al Fresco at MiraNila: A Concert and Outdoor Film Screening in Manila this February 2026

-
Image
Anyone searching for a unique February 2026 event in Manila will find something remarkable at MiraNila Heritage House . On February 5, 2026 , the historic 1929 home in Cubao opens its gates for Cinema Paradiso Al Fresco , a one-night blend of live music, heritage tours, and an outdoor film screening that feels crafted for those who want culture presented with intimacy and intention. Stepping into MiraNila already feels like entering a preserved chapter of Manila’s past. Guests begin the evening with a guided heritage house tour , moving through rooms that hold nearly a century of stories. This gentle immersion sets up the mood for the night, grounding visitors before the music and film unfold on the front lawn. The concert itself features two celebrated international artists. Violinist Alessio Benvenuti , widely recognized for his national and international impact, performs alongside pianist Mariel Ilusorio , an artist whose work has reached audiences across four continents. Their pro...
Read more

Brickman Wonders of the World Extends in Manila Until March 8, 2026

-
Image
You don’t need to leave Manila to see the world—just a little more time to stay with it. Brickman Wonders of the World , the globally acclaimed LEGO® exhibition presented by GMG Productions , has officially extended its Manila run until March 8, 2026 , at The Space at Solaire . Originally scheduled to close in February, the extension gives families, students, and LEGO fans an extra month to experience a world tour built entirely from imagination, precision, and bricks. It’s not just an extension of dates. It’s an extension of possibility. A World Reimagined Through LEGO Bricks Inside Brickman Wonders of the World , familiar landmarks rise in unexpected ways. More than 45 iconic sites from across the globe —including the Taj Mahal , Leaning Tower of Pisa , and Arc de Triomphe —are recreated in LEGO form, some towering as high as 3.6 meters . Up close, the spectacle softens into detail. Patterns emerge. Techniques reveal themselves. You begin to notice how each structure was assembled br...
Read more

Tones Through Time: A Free Piano Concert at FEU Tracing the History of Western Music

-
Image
Before a single note is played, there is already a journey waiting to unfold, one that moves not through space, but through centuries of sound. On January 21, the Far Eastern University Center for the Arts opens the doors of the FEU Auditorium to that journey with Tones Through Time: A Musical Odyssey , a free admission informational piano concert led by internationally acclaimed pianist and educator Dr. Raffi Kasparian . This is not simply a recital. It is an invitation to listen with context, to hear how Western music grew, shifted, and responded to the world across generations. Through carefully chosen works and thoughtful narration, the concert traces the evolution of musical language from the Baroque period to the 20th century, guiding audiences through Classical balance, Romantic emotion, Impressionistic color, and modern experimentation. The result is an experience designed not only to be heard, but understood. Listening as Learning Tones Through Time: A Musical Odyssey is buil...
Read more