Get ready to watch, or re-watch, the witty and side-splitting musical ‘Walang Aray’ as it returns to the stage for a limited three-weekend run this October.
And joining us are its director Ian Segarra and cast members John Moran (Padre Alfaro) and Kiks Baento (Monica).
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00:00 Well, we asked and they definitely delivered.
00:03 So get ready to watch or re-watch the witty and side-splitting musical Walang Aray
00:07 as it returns to the stage for a limited 3-weekend run that's happening this October.
00:13 And of course, we don't need any more convincing.
00:15 We are so sold on this show.
00:18 So joining us this morning, we do have director Ian Seguera and cast members John Moran and Kix Mayento.
00:24 Good morning, Walang Aray!
00:26 Good morning!
00:29 You guys are so good! You came back and came back again!
00:33 We don't have a comeback.
00:35 I mean, for you, after all of this pandemic,
00:37 Ian, this Walang Aray has received, I mean, sold out shows, 21 Gawad Buhay citations.
00:45 What is it about Walang Aray that is so special and, you know, enough for it to garner so many awards?
00:53 Well, I think because the audience's reaction was really genuine and also because we're in the middle of a pandemic,
01:02 after the pandemic, it's really a good time for us to laugh and enjoy ourselves in the theater.
01:09 And also because it is something that's very, we feel that it's something very important that we are saying in this performance.
01:18 And also because the actors are very engaged and they are very happy on stage.
01:23 So being inside the theater is really, it's like you can feel the joy, the love that you feel inside.
01:31 For John and Kix, what is it that you like most or best about this Walang Aray?
01:36 Is it the costume? Is it the music? Is it the...
01:39 Well, for me, family.
01:44 Family!
01:46 It is, though. I mean, PETA is such a family.
01:48 Yes, exactly. Because on some work, on and off stage, it's very bonded.
01:54 So you can't fake that. So when you watch the show, you feel it as the audience.
02:00 That's why, that's why.
02:02 For me, what I like about the show is we're given the opportunity to tell this tale of Walang Aray since it came from Walang Sugat of Severina Reyes.
02:11 So to retell that story in a very modern way, mixing the old and the new to the young audience, to the new audience, I think that's really exciting.
02:21 I mean, it must have been fun for you guys, you know, like, you know, trying to do that.
02:25 Direk, how did you do that? And how does one transform something that happened or written in 1902 or so and make it so relevant now?
02:35 Well, Kuya Roddy wrote a very wonderful script. Roddy Vera wrote a very wonderful script. It's full of references.
02:42 During rehearsals, I just allowed the actors to explore it. We just had fun with it.
02:47 For lack of a better term, we just went through our choices.
02:53 And eventually, we tried to trim it down and make it what it is right now.
02:58 So they're very free to explore and develop the characters, the jokes, and the situations.
03:05 Okay. So for those that haven't seen it yet and are planning to watch it, tell us about the story. What is Walang Aray about?
03:12 John?
03:13 Well, Walang Aray was based on Walang Sugat by Severina Reyes.
03:18 Yes.
03:19 So it's about two lovers. So one is a Sarswela star and then the other is this guy who joins the revolution.
03:27 So it's about their love for each other, like star-crossed lovers, set in this Philippine revolution during the time of the Spaniards.
03:35 Okay. And we can make that funny?
03:37 Yes!
03:38 Because all I read, it's so witty, it's so hilarious. I mean, you know, the reviews keep coming out as such.
03:45 Because, of course, the take is modern in the story of Walang Sugat.
03:51 Yes.
03:52 And you incorporated some now jokes.
03:55 Now jokes and then the music as well.
03:58 Yes, yes.
03:59 It's original music, but it has a pop flavor, a rap, a hip-hop flavor, a ballad, a rock.
04:06 It's mixed. It's really a different genre in itself.
04:10 Wonderful. Something that everybody can enjoy. Okay, a bit about your character's kicks. You are the house help?
04:16 Yes, of the Sarswela star Julia. Apparently, Monica's role is comedy, but I'm a serious actor.
04:27 You are? Okay, so that is your role and you are?
04:32 I play Padre Alfaro, the villain of the story. In my eyes, I'm not a villain.
04:37 You don't look like a villain. How can you be a villain?
04:40 They have to watch the show to see my transformation.
04:43 So, any changes? This was seven years in Dabao, finally came out, and then you did a lab, and then you staged it earlier this year,
04:55 and then now you're going to have a limited run. Anything that you have seen that you said, "Okay, we might have to tweak this a little bit"?
05:02 There are things that we might have to rethink, to fine-tune, but because a lot is happening in our country now,
05:10 we are thinking of how to incorporate it in our jokes. So, our current situations, whether it's political or social or whatever,
05:20 we're trying to incorporate it. We'll see in the rehearsal how fluid it is.
05:25 Yes, you guys are going to start your rehearsal soon. So, with that, do invite our viewers to come re-watch it or to come watch it again for the very first time.
05:32 Yes, we're inviting you to watch PETAS Walang Aray for this limited three-weekend comeback.
05:41 Yes. So, we run from October 6 to 22, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at the PETA Theater Center.
05:47 And for tickets, please go to ticketworld.com.ph or follow us @petatheater on all social media platforms.
05:56 All right. So, thank you so much for bringing Walang Aray once again. Back to PETA, we had Ian, John, and Kix. Thank you so much for joining us this morning.
