He laid there on the tiny wooden bed with faded sheets and old pillows inside a jailhouse cell. You could feel his pain as he held tightly his aching stomach. The soft texture of his skin was so visible. So soft, brownish, young-looking skin…
He exposed himself there half-naked. His chest was full and the soft muscles on it would attract you to lay upon and hug…
He breathed-in, and his upper torso expanded more and laid there like a perfect sculpture of a ‘man-god’…
His moves were boyish, but his eyes were deep. Penetrating, soulful…
Yet, the feeling of rebellion was deep within him… the pain, the anger.
A young man whose political ideas were chained upon by the “authorities”…
And, as he shared his life and kindness to a gay cellmate, he felt tangled and caught-upon by the WEB of a beautiful “half-man,half-woman” entity…
This was VALENTIN, as performed and acted-out by a new actor in person of JOVIC MONSOD- during the press visit of the play “Halik Ng Tarantula” to be staged soon.
Jovic’s acting was so natural, not so ‘theatrical’- but with compassion and a youthful “kilig” factor. You could almost imagine a young and radical ’U.P. Diliman student’ being jailed for his political beliefs in Jovic’s fresh and compulsive personality-type. Almost as real. And that was an effective tool to portray a straight male character out of the books and a classic Hollywood film.
Jovic’s side view whenever he looked and stared at his co-actor- Ms. Bebe Gandanghari, in the sneak preview of the play- reminded us of Piolo Pascual. They had the same kind of pious eyes. Kind and stimulating.
Yes, you could almost see Mr. Piolo Pascual as the one performing onstage- but no, it was Jovic, a new actor who was a part of “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Clash” in the year 2010. Currently studying from a prestigious school- the College of San Benilde, and also a ramp model on the side. He came from a political clan in real life.
Quite impressive, though. For a newcomer who just turned twenty years old this year, the demands of his role in this stageplay were elaborately “risky”. The character was apparently very demanding. But Jovic lightly took it and the result was powerful.
The sneak preview of the play “Halik Ng Tarantula” was a success. The performers delivered what the press people wanted. It sounded more exciting.
CUT TO:
MS. BEBE GANDANGHARI…
There was something graphically beautiful with the way she delivered her lines. There was something in it that you couldn’t see, but greatly feel. Like a deep ocean, like a vast infinity, like a puzzling woman…
The hairs upon the skin of one blogger stood-up in one scene when Ms. Bebe was shouting in pain because of her cramping stomach. Oh, my! She’s superb! She had the right aching emotions but trying to suppress it, like her feelings of love to the man- her cellmate- who was comforting her…
And as she cleaned the “loose bowels” of her great love in one very delicate scene of the play- the way she touched the skin of her ‘man’ and her ‘great love’, you could almost cry. It was so poignant. Bebe’s movements were ‘invisibly’ gentle, very woman-like, very tender…
THE EMOTIONS ON HER FACE WERE REAL.
And that what made one blogger be greatly amazed of how great an actress was Ms. Bebe Gandanghari.
FADE TO:
DIRECTOR SOXIE TOPACIO, PRODUCTION DESIGNER EDEL TEMPLENUEVO, with JOVIC, BEBE and MR. JETT ALCANTARA.
Jovic Monsod’s co-alternate in the character of Valentin was no less than Jett Alcantara. A more mature, deeply-experienced-looking young man.
Jett’s acting was also intense, straight, provoking…
It was “at par” with Jovic’s style of acting.
But Jett lacked one thing: “the kilig factor”, though he also looked quite sexy and “animalistic”…
The sneak preview still lacked the proper lighting, music, and other technicalities. But you’d already see its profound beauty.
Director Soxie Topacio motivated his actors precisely well, with great blockings and proper timings, calming scene texture and simplicity.
The production design was almost as bare, but production designer Edel Templenuevo captured the soulful look of the play.
Jovic is the new actor to watch. After this play, people would start to notice him as a real, good one. His path could be different somehow- not the usual “matinee idol” path -direction- but, lasting.
And Bebe, yes, Bebe… She’s one fine theater actress that’s out to steal the show.
(words by robert manuguid silverio)
(“Halik Ng Tarantula” is going to be staged this coming month of March 7, 8 & 9, 2013 at the TEATRINO in Promenade, Greenhills, S.J.)
nice…..ur so hot and sexy bb gandanghari…