VIRGIN LABFEST XXI: Set B - Kapit Tuko

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HARAM - Cris (Jude Hidumdum) has been going steady with his partner Jan (Rey Correjado) for quite some time now but he can’t admit to him that he is muslim, considering how the latter is still traumatized by the death of his older brother at Mamasapano. Ommi (Joann Yap Co) drives her son Caim (Eshei Mesina) out of Iraq hoping for a safe passage to Lebanon where he could live a relatively safer life as a homosexual. Thania (Phil Noble) puts on a strong face, operating his parlor in Marawi where he has been repetitively harassed by the overtly religious to pack up or face violence.

My interest quickly waned when I found out that religion was going to be the topic of HARAM. Watching the three vignettes has been an emotional rollercoaster, though. Such stories definitely have to be told, no matter how uncomfortable it makes one feel. Because, seriously, there are still places on this planet where you can be persecuted for your sexual orientation. But then again, organized religion has always been about control and a minority that you can collectively hate and oppress. My only disappointment was the expectation that the three storylines would converge, but then again maybe that is too much to ask for in a one-act play.

VIRGIN LABFEST XXI: Set A - Tengang Kawali

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PASSWORD123, PILIPINAS321 - Three “technical support representatives” prepare a cyber attack in their cramped office. Jae (Nicole Manlulu) is in her final days, tendering her resignation after securing a tourist visa for her and her family. Nix (Earvin Estioco) is mostly functional, even though yet to fully recover from a nervous breakdown. Gado (Miguel Delos Santos) is still his usual jokey-jokey persona. Their supervisor Bert (Noel Rayos) walks in and introduces the company owner’s son Andre (Gio Gahol) who will be taking over the operations. High profile client Mr. Garcia (Gie Onida) follows later on, eager to witness their operation.

PASSWORD123, PILIPINAS321 tries to be funny but neither delivery nor punchline lands. It starts to make sense after you realize that it is a narrative about scam call centers and troll farms. Surely, not a laughing matter. It is educational, though, supposing the material is grounded on research and insider interviews. I didn’t like how it tried to humanize the agents who carry out the operations. Such people should be in jail. Even so, the play gives you a good overview on how such scam centers operate as well as their links to high profile politicians and businessmen to whom such morally bankrupt practice comes as naturally as having breakfast or taking a dump.

Toy Story 5

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Cowgirl rag doll Jessie (Joan Cusack) is now in charge of all the toys in the household of Bonnie (Scarlett Spears), the little girl to which they all belong and who finds it hard to make friends. When her parents give her a frog-designed tablet named Lilypad (Greta Lee), her toys are faced with the realization that the age of playtime is over now that screens have become children’s primary plaything. Distressed, Jessie asks help from Woody (Tom Hanks) who now spends most of his time outdoors rescuing abandoned toys. As Jessie gets lost and is returned to her original owner’s address, Woody and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) go on a rescue mission to bring her back to Bonnie. But does Bonnie even want her back now that her eyes are constantly glued to Lilypad’s screen? And so begins an existential crisis for toys finding themselves living in the smartphone era.

Disclosure Day

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Cybersecurity analyst turned whistleblower Daniel Kellner (Josh O'Connor) is on the run. In his backpack are thumb drives that contain multiple footage of extraterrestrials on Earth that the company he used to belong to has kept secret for decades. Another rogue co-worker, Hugo Wakefield (Colam Domingo), is instructing him where to go and what to do, sending his men to rescue him every time he gets caught. Wardex has been reverse engineering alien technology and its leader Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth) is against full disclosure, having the same belief as Daniel’s girlfriend, ex-novitiate Jane Blankenship (Eve Hewson), that the truth will be detrimental to the human race. Somewhere in Missouri, weather girl Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) is visited by a cardinal bird during breakfast, after which she spontaneously speaks in Russian, Korean, and in an unrecognized language full of clicks, much to the shock of her musician boyfriend Jackson (Wyatt Russell).

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 4 (PETA)

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Dedicated thespian Eugene Domingo (Eugene Domingo) invites her dear industry friends to a dinner meeting at her house, where she will propose a modernized restaging of Aurelio Tolentino’s Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas. Among the invitees are: producer Melvin Lee (Melvin Lee); director Marlon Rivera (Marlon Rivera); Palanca hall of fame playwright Joshua Lim So (Joshua Lim So); fellow unapologetic actors Andoy Ranay (Andoy Ranay), JC Santos (JC Santos), Stella Cañete-Mendoza (Stella Cañete-Mendoza), and Meann Espinosa (Meann Espinosa). Eugene aims to play the lead role and she has a plethora of visions to execute, most of them going against Melvin’s budget, Joshua’s script, and Marlon’s creative direction. To make matters more complicated, she has adopted a group of street urchins called the “Ugenggengs” whom she plans to rehabilitate through the power of theater. One of her demands is to stage the play on a Philippine navy ship at the West Philippine Sea, as a sign of protest.

VIRGIN LABFEST XXI: Set D - Pusong Mamon

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BUHAGHAG - Phoebe’s (Krystle Valentino) life is in disarray, which also manifests via her hairstyle. Now shaggy and unkempt, her hair has also transformed to represent the voices inside her head, led by their gang leader she christens as Lala (Adrienne Vergara). Lala becomes a fixture in Phoebe’s day-to-day life and even suggests some radical changes and methods, which Phoebe tries hard not to succumb to. As she is constantly stressed out by the perpetual barrage of things to do at work, she also can’t find the time to organize her house. As she drowns in anxiety, Phoebe has to make a choice, once and for all.

There is always a weird entry every year. I believe BUHAGHAG is shaping up to be THAT entry this year. It is strange and you really don’t know what you are watching at first, but the general theme uniting all three plays in this set does give you a hint. Mental Health. Using that as an anchor, my interpretation is that the giant humanoid hairballs represent the stress and pent-up emotions that Phoebe has “collected” through years of neglect. Again, the visual is kind of weird but creative. Best Costume, I’d give them that. Moral lesson: taking care of your mental health is not optional; it requires constant care. Luckily, this play ends on a good note.

VIRGIN LABFEST XXI: Set C - Balat Kalabaw

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ELEHIYA - The Narrator (Yan Yuzon) introduces a play about what it means to be a Filipino male. He introduces two fathers and two sons, both with recurring issues affecting their relationship. Ed (John Sanchez) is raised by his father, security guard Mang Gardo (Dennis Marasigan), to base his masculinity on force, giving him some serious childhood trauma concerning violence. Gardo’s boss, Nick (Carlos Siguion-Reyna) finds it hard to relate to his son Kulas (Rafa Siguion-Reyna), the latter thinking that their relationship as father and son will always be damaged because his mother died giving birth to him and believing his dad still blames him for it.

Whether ELEHIYA is autobiographical or not, it just feels so personal, to the point that I felt as though I were intruding in somebody else’s daddy issues. Daddy Issues. Toxic Masculinity. Those could’ve been appropriate titles but I love how they settled for Elegy. After all, we live in an ever changing world that now frowns upon beliefs and practices that were once universally embraced. I also love the closing remarks where the narrator suggests that whoever has daddy issues should just watch this play together with their dad, and that understanding and recognition would come automatically afterward, perhaps better accompanied by a few bottles of beer. Overall, a poignant tribute and a beautiful ode to failed father-and-son relationships.

Man of La Mancha (Repertory Philippines)

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Miguel de Cervantes (Nonie Buencamino) is detained at a deportation facility along with his trusted assistant Sancho Panza (Marvin Ong). Tugging a huge suitcase with them, they can’t help but be noticed and picked on by the other detainees. Before their luggage is ransacked and his manuscript destroyed, he pleads to tell the story through a makeshift play with everyone there as his co-actors. The fellow detainee they call the Governor (Tarek El Tayech) agrees, and so begins the story of Alonso Quijano who believes himself to be the frustrated knight Don Quixote de la Mancha, played by de Cervantes himself. He arrives at an inn believing it to be a castle. The owner rides along noticing his cognitive impairment. There he meets the town whore Aldonza (Katrine Sunga) whom he christens as Dulcinea and treats as if she were a high born noble lady. As the play unfolds, they dread the prospect of another detainee being condemned by the inquisition.

Obsession

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Music store employee Baron "Bear" Bailey (Michael Johnston) has always had feelings for co-worker Nikki Freeman (Inde Navarrette), but he doesn’t have the guts to admit it. While their friend Ian (Cooper Tomlinson) wants to be supportive, he believes that such an admission might affect their friendship and result in awkwardness among their group. Their other co-worker Sarah Harper (Megan Lawless) has the same dilemma because she has feelings for Bear but is not sure how to handle it. Looking for a necklace he can give to Nikki at a crystal shop, Bear finds a shelf of One Wish Willows, which is advertised as an effective wish fulfillment charm. Just say your wish, snap the willow, and voila! As Bear screws up his one chance with Nikki when he takes her home one night, the One Wish Willow is his last resort, wishing for the best but not convinced that it’ll work.

Scary Movie

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Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) now lives as a recluse in her heavily fortified home as protection from Ghostface but her daughters will become the reason for her to come out of retirement. Tuesday Campbell (Savannah Lee Nassif) is stabbed and hospitalized, causing her prescription drug addicted sister Sara (Olivia Rose Keegan) to seek out their estranged mother for help. Sara’s sus boyfriend Jack (Cameron Scott Roberts) also suggests they find Doofy Gilmore (Dave Sheridan) because he might know how to deal with the killer. Ghostface’s return to town brings the original gang back together at Brenda Meek’s (Regina Hall) house, along with reformed homosexual Ray (Shawn Wayans) and forever high Shorty (Marlon Wayans), as their children try to hatch a plan to get rid of Ghostface for good. What they don’t know is that the killer is actually one of them. Will they figure out who before it is too late?

Backrooms

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Failed architect Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is forced to operate a furniture shop to make ends meet. He blames his wife for their dire financial situation, citing her midlife law school decision for their money woes and their reluctance to have a baby. All of this, he channels through role playing every time he visits his shrink for therapy. Psychologist Dr. Mary Kline (Renate Reinsve) has ghosts of her own, what with an agoraphobic mother who ended up in a mental institution when she was still a kid. Her profession is her way of processing her own grief and trauma while helping her patients deal with their own. When Clark finds a strange portal to a series of backrooms at the basement of his store, he recruits his employee Kat (Lukita Maxwell) and her boyfriend Bobby (Finn Bennett) to go back and investigate with him, but things do not go according to plan…

Masters of the Universe

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When disfigured warlock Skeletor (Jared Leto) attacks Eternia, its king Randor (James Purefoy) and queen Marlena (Charlotte Riley) are taken hostage, but their young son is ushered into a portal by the Sorceress (Morena Baccarin) guardian of Castle Grayskull. 15 years later, Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) is a disgruntled employee who is obsessed with finding the Sword of Power he lost when he crashed on Earth. While he is good at his job, the threat of being fired looms as HR takes wind of his strange sword fetish. An anonymous tip leads him to his sword at a toy store. He gets hold of it and is arrested for theft but is ambushed by an alien creature along the way. He is saved by his childhood friend Teela (Camila Mendes), who takes him back to Eternia on her ship, but they arrive in a home that he no longer recognizes to meet the remaining underground resistance that will fight the enemy.