REP Unplugged Opens REP’s 89th Season with Staged Readings of ‘Private Lives’ and ‘Sole Survivor’
Repertory Philippines (REP) opens its 89th Season with the debut of REP Unplugged. Designed to bring audiences closer to the actors, this series offers reimagined staged readings, stripping away grand sets to let audiences focus on the performance and the text.
“Our goal is to create a more intimate and immersive theatrical experience, where the boundaries between performer and audience are softened,” says Mindy Perez-Rubio, REP President and CEO. “By inviting some guests to be seated onstage, incorporating interactive elements, and fostering dialogue through post-performance discussions, we aim to cultivate a sense of inclusivity and reaffirm our commitment to exploring innovative theatrical forms.”
REP said its 89th Season is anchored on the theme “By love, transformed,” and REP Unplugged will open with two plays positioned as contrasting in period and style. REP Artistic Director Jeremy Domingo said, “It is a deliberate choice to do two radically different pieces divided by an entire century.” Domingo added that the pairing offers both “nostalgia – a familiar taste of ‘old Rep’ drawing-room comedies – and a surge forward with thoughtful, contemporary modern-day satire.”
First up is Private Lives, scheduled for March 21 and 22. The staged reading casts Missy Maramara as Amanda and Alfredo Reyes as Elyot, a divorced couple who meet again by chance when they end up in adjoining hotel suites during honeymoons with their respective new spouses. Karylle Tatlonghari and Hans Eckstein play the new spouses, Sibyl and Victor, with Sevee Eslabra as Louise, the maid. Private Lives is written by Noël Coward and is directed by Domingo.
REP Unplugged will follow on March 28 and 29 with Sole Survivor, a new play by Patricia Manuel Go, presented as its Philippine debut. The cast includes Giannina Ocampo Van Hoven, Markki Stroem, Naths Everett, Ring Antonio, Chesko Rodriguez, and Becca Coates. The play follows Filipino-Brit twins Nina and Anton Wilde on a journey from Makati to Manhattan, centered on an obsession with a single designer shoe. Sole Survivor is directed by Cara Barredo.
Go said of the production, “Bursting with excitement doesn’t quite cover it. The REP stage is the perfect place to debut Sole Survivor because I write in English and have a sensibility very similar to REP’s. I grew up watching all their productions.” Go added, “I’d like them [the audience] to start thinking about the fact that our actions show what we believe and value more than our words. Especially in this time of corruption, what do we believe about how the world’s resources should be shared?”
Barredo said she was drawn to how specific the story is. “It’s funny on the surface, but underneath, it’s asking real questions about ambition, survival, and value.” On directing the play for the first time, she said, “It’s exciting because there’s no blueprint yet. We’re discovering who the characters are in real time, discovering them before anyone else has seen them and that kind of first exploration is always special.”
Both staged readings will be presented at 7:00 PM at the REP Eastwood Theater in Eastwood CityWalk 2, Quezon City. REP said audiences can expect on-stage seating for select guests, interactive elements, and a Q&A talkback after the performance. Wine and refreshments will also be made available to guests.
Ticket options listed by REP include: Two-Show Bundle (P3,000), Single Show (P1,500), Student Price Two-Show Bundle (P1,000), and Student Price Single Show (P500). Tickets are available via Ticketworld and Ticket2Me. To access student pricing, students may present an ID at the REP Box Office or purchase through REP’s social media channels.
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