MANILA, Philippines — University theater company Tanghalang Ateneo is set to formally restage its Filipino adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" after over a decade, the first of a season-long tribute to the late veteran of the stage Ricardo "Ricky" Abad.
In partnership with Areté, the creativity and innovation hub of the Ateneo de Manila University where Ricky served as Artistic Director, the show will be the first full-length Filipino non- musical production to be staged in the university's 840-seater Hyundai Hall. "The biggest change is not having Sir Ricky around, but his spirit is still with us," said returning choreographer Matthew Santamaria during a press preview in Ateneo. "'Romeo and Juliet' is supposed to be a tragedy, but you will see a lot of joy because that's the kind of interpretation he gave 'Sintang Dalisay'.
The director described "Sintang Dalisay" as a post-colonial work given a Filipino theater company really took over a Western material.