unSAULicited

20th Century Fox just dropped the official trailer and latest poster of “X-Men: Dark Phoenix” unleashing Jean Grey’s aka Phoenix (played by Sophie Turner) mammoth of power that threatens the existence of the rest of the X-Men force. In “X-Men: Dark Phoenix”, the X-Men face their most formidable and powerful foe: one of their own, Jean Grey. During a rescue mission in space, Jean is nearly killed when she is hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. Wrestling with this entity inside her, Jean unleashes her powers in ways she can neither comprehend nor contain. With Jean spiraling out of control, and hurting the ones she loves most, she begins to unravel the very fabric that holds the X-Men together. Now, with this family falling apart, they must find a way to unite — not only to save Jean’s soul, but to save our very planet from aliens who wish to weaponize this force and rule the gala...

“I felt as if I’m the one being raped” – said one of the audience during the respite after the first act on the original play written by Rody Vera. I could not agree more. “Nana Rosa”, is not an ease-comfort-in-your-seat-to-watch story. It portrays the testimonies of the first Filipino comfort woman to go on public in 1992. A scandalous time to shed light to the shadowed war crimes committed by imperial Japanese soldiers during their occupation in the country; since four decades has passed and Japanese-Philippine relations has been greeted with favor, especially the booming of Pinoy entertainers working in Japan, Nana Rosa’s coming out is both an eye-opener and a target of speculative gaze. Maria Rosa Luna Henson, (played by Peewee O’hara) was a Pampanga born, Pasay raised lass who along with her mother lived far-away from the peering eyes of his father’s legitimate family and town in Pampanga. A cast-away child of the rich and famous Kapampangan Henson clan. The play starts w...

Poster from Tanghalang Pilipino's Facebook Page by Gerone Baladhay I don’t have any clue on why William Shakespeare wrote “Coriolanus” during the peak of Elizabethan monarchy in his days, but the message of the seldom staged but consistent thought-provoking tragedy still cries out-loud to this very day and its truths are eternal. Tanghalang Pilipino’s final offering for their season— Coriolano, suitably translated by Guelan Luarca, conveyed the said truths and reached out to Filipino cognition the perpetual struggle of social classes, in the guise of Plebians (commoners) vs Patricians (elite), specifically to Cayo Marcio (played by Marco Viana) whose military leadership and war skills that gave the Roman Empire victories after victories in battle have earned him the exalted yet accursed moniker “Coriolano”. Afflicted by hubris – the bugbear to almost all Greek tragedies – and with the urging of Menenio Agripa (Jonathan Tadioan) and zealot war brethren Cominio (Aldo Venc...

Reimagining period films for today’s audience, the multi-awarded “The Favourite” directed by Yorgos Lanthimos breaks the tropes in the genre as it introduces the audience into Queen Anne’s (Olivia Colman) unusual reign, England’s least known ruler who has suffered from health problems throughout her life. By the time she became Queen in 1702, she was already stricken with gout, leading to a largely sedentary lifestyle and subsequent overall decline in her health. Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) and Abigail Masham (Emma Stone) are the two women who made their way deep into Anne's inner sanctum that created a triumvirate of female power-players uncommon for any time period, let alone in the so-called days of pre-Enlightenment. Churchill is a legendarily sharp and alluring Duchess of Marlborough, Anne's BFF since childhood who, once Anne took the throne, became a primary political adviser and perhaps (according to rumors that have swirled for centuries) her lover. The...

Manila, Philippines--The Philippines' first full-length opera, National Artists Guillermo Tolentino and Felipe Padilla De Leon's most beloved 1957 opera, “Noli Me Tangere” (Huwag Mo Salangin/Touch Me Not) returns to the Cultural Center of the Philippines' (CCP) main theatre, Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, from March 8-10, 2019. In partnership with the CCP, in time for its 50th anniversary, with support from the Honorable Senator Loren Legarda, the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines, and E. Zobel Foundation Inc., J&S Productions Inc., the producers behind the opera's acclaimed performances at the Kaye Playhouse in New York City (2013), the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. (2014), the Newport Performing Arts Theatre at Resorts World Manila (2014), and the CCP (2017), which commemorated the opera's 60 th anniversary, fulfills its commitment anew to keep this masterpiece alive for the young Filipino audiences to experience...

by Gerone Baladhay Issues that are of national significance should be taken seriously - that is often the dogma. Yet, the Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (PETA) latest offering: CHAROT, gracefully and wittingly sewn together a story that would not only entertain the audience but transcended humor into reflective comicality that will make any citizen question their political stand, awaken shied social responsibility and ultimately bring out the voice of the people. Set on the year 2020 in the parodic city of “Matila”, a group of voters find themselves not only caught in a grueling carmageddon but also caught in weighing out the truths behind politicians they support or detest and the impact of the government’s initiative to change the country’s constitution which includes the adaptation of CHAROT or Charter of Togetherness that will succumb the whole nation into a federal form of government. CHAROT is not simply a show, it’s a social phenomenon, it’s a movement....

Setting standards anew notches higher in (big-screen) cinematic experience, James Cameron and Jon Landau (producers) along with director Robert Rodriguez blend the bleeding edge of digital tools with the art of epic, human storytelling in “Alita: Battle Angel.” The mesmerizing adventure of Alita begins as cyberphysician Dr. Ido (Christoph Waltz) makes a scrapyard find that will change his life and Iron City forever: the discarded “cyber-core” of a girl whose body may be broken but her human brain is still barely pulsing with life. Ido cannot abandon her. He begins to restore this mysterious cyborg and discovers a second chance at fatherhood—a chance to watch her learn, grow and taste the wondrous pleasures of life for the first time with wide-eyed excitement. But the sweet, curious girl Ido names Alita (Rosa Salazar) hides many secrets. When Alita inadvertently reveals she possesses unique long lost fighting skills, it becomes clear she must carve out her own destiny. For even if t...

The M. BUTTERFLY National Tour 2019 is all set to spread its wings even wider to reach major cities namely Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cebu, Davao, Manila and Baguio. Presented by Tony and Grammy award winning producer Jhett Tolentino and FRONTROW Entertainment (producer of highly-acclaimed independent films Bhoy Intsik and Bwaya), the M. BUTTERFLY National Tour 2019 was decided upon by the producers to bring this world-class masterpiece to those who did not have the opportunity to catch its 2018 Manila run. After all, location should not limit one’s exposure to the arts and culture. Most theater companies in our country whose successful productions in Manila are often hindered from bringing their projects to other key cities because of the many challenges and technical details involved. And this is why Jhett Tolentino and FRONTROW Entertainment are taking this bolder step to carry on their mission and advocacy in the performing arts and to further enhance audience development throughout ...