‘Walang Aray’ Returns With Sharper Laughs and Deeper Cuts

‘Walang Aray’ Returns With Sharper Laughs and Deeper Cuts

Walang Aray, PETA’s irreverent reimagining of Severino Reyes’ classic zarzuela Walang Sugat, returns this August with new and returning cast members. 

Why bring the show back now?

For the creative team, a rerun is more than just a repeat—it’s a privilege, especially in the context of Philippine theater. It’s a rare opportunity to revisit the material, sharpen its messages, and deepen its emotional impact.

Norbs Portales, who previously played Don Tadeo and now serves as the production’s associate artistic director, shares that one of their goals this time is to better balance the humor with the text’s underlying commentary.

“Marami ng kuwento at tema doon sa dula. Ang gusto lang namin ay i-manage iyung mga tawa. Sa una naming run, na-realize namin na tawang-tawa naman iyung mga tao, pero baka nalulunod sa tawa iyung mga dapat na patalasin; iyung mga bagay na importanteng makasugat at importanteng maghilom na sugat. So [this time, we’re] reviewing the dramaturgy of the play, text analysis, scene work; iyun iyung tututukan namin.”

 

He adds that the team is also returning to the original Walang Sugat source material to strengthen historical references across the production—from props and costumes to acting choices.

“Babalikan namin iyung source material: ‘Ah ito kailangan, hindi ito ma-overpower ng joke. Ito importanteng ma-underline ito. Tapos dito, okay lang, matawa tayo at pagtawanan natin ‘to dahil masyado nang masakit; importante yatang tumawa tayo.’ At minsan, pagtawanan talaga natin dahil nakakatawa ang bayang ito. So iyun iyung mga ire-refine at patatalasin natin doon sa pagre-retell natin this time.”

Comedy as Resistance

J-mee Katanyag, PETA’s newly appointed artistic director, says that this rerun is part of her broader commitment to curating art “with, by, through, and for care and change.” In her words:

 

“We are choosing to care. We are choosing to continue telling these kinds of stories. For PETA, to care is to resist. To laugh is to survive. To perform stories is to reclaim. Walang Aray reminds us na kahit may sugat, may saya. Kahit may aray, may pagmamahal. At kapag tumindi at umibig ka pa more, may pag-asa, may paghihilom.”

New Faces, New Energy

Director Ian Segarra returns to helm the production and teases the addition of new material.

“Una, meron kaming bagong cast. Maraming mga bagong cast na nakasama namin ngayong taong ito. Merong possible na mga bagong kanta na hindi narinig noong original run ng Walang Aray,” he says.

 

He adds that some of the show’s contemporary references have also been refreshed to reflect current trends. 

“Dahil nire-rerun namin ito, at marami sa version noon ng Walang Aray are contemporary references, we have to reinvent, be aware of those contemporary references—ano iyung mga bagong mga trending things ngayon sa ating bayan. At the same time, galing siya sa isang lumang materyal, iyung Walang Sugat ni Severino Reyes. Binalikan namin iyung materyal at naghanap kami ng historical references para rin maayos na ma-bridge ng materyal ng Walang Aray iyung past at saka iyung future.”

For Segarra, the show’s strength continues to lie in its ability to blend humor and critique:

“Iyung paggamit niya ng comedy as a tool for social commentary, I think naging matagumpay ang Walang Aray sa aspeto na iyun—and iyun iyung gusto pa naming paigtingin pa sa version na ito.”

Dream Roles and Representation

Among the new cast members is Lance Reblando, who joins Marynor Madamesila and Shaira Opsimar in alternating as Julia. Ice Seguerra also joins the company, alternating as Lucas with Carlon Matobato, while Jolina Magdangal makes her theater debut as Doña Juana, alternating with Neomi Gonzales and Gold Villar-Lim, who joins the cast for the first time. Other fresh additions to the cast include Rendell Sanchez as Miguel, Divine Aucina as Monica, and Roi Calilong as Padre Alfaro.

For Reblando, landing the role of Julia is a personal milestone.

“Sobrang saya talaga. Sobrang thankful ako sa PETA kasi hindi ko akalain na pwede siyang mangyari, na dati delulu ko lang na, ‘parang ang saya maging leading lady.’ Tapos ngayon, andiyan na siya! It-try ko po iyung best ko para umabot at pumantay sa kanila kasi sobrang galing po ng lahat. At thank you sa PETA, sa pagiging matapang kasi hindi sumagi ever sa utak ko na mangyayari ‘to. It is a dream come true.” 

 

Katanyag shares that casting for the production was open to all identities, and that decisions were based on performance, not labels.

“When we cast Lance or Ice, it was because they fit the role, and they were really great when they auditioned. That’s why we cast them.”

This open approach, she adds, is also grounded in historical awareness.

“When we were discussing with Rody Vera, our playwright, nasabi rin niya na, from being non-binary ang Pilipinas, ‘nung sumakop iyung ating mga mananakop na Espanyol, ginawa nilang binary ang lahat. So naging opportunity din itong rerun na ito para maipakita namin na hindi lang sa gender, pati sa identities, pati sa pagmamahal, ay non-binary ang sanang pagtingin nating mga Pilipino sa mga issues ‘tsaka rin nung mga pinaglalaban natin.”

Walang Aray runs from August 29 to October 12, 2025, at the PETA Theater Center. Tickets are available via Ticket2Me.