Nick Joaquin’s ‘Portrait’ Returns in ‘Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati’ this August
A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, a play written in English in 1950 by Filipino National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, returns to the stage this August in a new Filipino translation.
Entitled Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati, the new translation is written by Jerry Respeto and Guelan Varela-Luarca, with the latter also serving as director.
Areté Ateneo, who produces the play, says “Ang dulang ito ay isang lamentasyon na dumadaloy sa pagitan ng alaala at ngayon, ng panitikan at pagkamakabansa. Quemodo Desolata Es? — isang tanong ng pananabik, ng kawalang-katiyakan, ng pagkalugmok — na sinasagot sa pamamagitan ng isang dalamhati na puno ng dignidad, paninindigan, at pagmamahal sa bayan at sining.”
Set in 1941 Intramuros, just before the onset of World War II, Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati tells the story of two sisters, Paula and Candida Marasigan. Once affluent, they now navigate the hardships of life alongside their father, Don Lorenzo Marasigan—a reclusive painter who has withdrawn into isolation.
The show stars Gab Pangilinan as Paula Marasigan and Delphine Buencamino as Candida Marasigan. Joining them in the cast are Omar Uddin as Bitoy; Vino Mabalot and John Sanchez, who alternate as Tony Javier; and Brian Sy, Maita Ponce, Mikaela Regis, Jethro Tenorio, Meyanne Plamenio Cortezano, JJ Ignacio, and Rafael Jimenez, who take on multiple roles. Roldine Ebrada and Chantei Cortez serve as the male and female swings, respectively.
Joining Respeto and Varela-Luarca in the artistic team are Ronelson Yadao (choreography), Giancarlo Abrahan (dramaturgy), D Cortezano (set and props), Jethro Nibaten (lighting design), Ali Figueroa (costume design), John Robert Yam (sound design), Matthew Chang (music), Missy Maramara (intimacy direction), and Jed Descutido (graphic design).
A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino was first staged in 1955 by the Barangay Theater Guild at the Aurora Gardens, Intramuros. It has since seen several Filipino translations: a 1969 version by Krip Yuson and Franklin Osorio, a 1989 translation by Bienvenido Lumbera entitled Larawan, and a 1997 Filipino musical adaptation entitled Ang Larawan: The Musical by Rolando Tinio and Ryan Cayabyab, on which the 2017 film adaptation Ang Larawan was based.
Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati runs on August 8, 14, and 15 at 7:30 PM, and on August 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM, at the Hyundai Hall, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University. Tickets are priced at P1,499 (Premium) and P999 (Regular) and are available via Helixpay.
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