SALINLAHI

Salinlahi (Live Puppet Show 2024)

Written & Directed by: Kyle Confessor

Presented by: DLSU-CSB Balay Tamawo

Parking lot ang napiling venue ng student play na ito. Pagkadating namin duon, nadatnan namin ang breathing exercises ng mga theater actors. Panay ang inhale exhale nila dahil magiging puppets na sila. Magiging sunod-sunuran kumbaga.

Merong narrator kung saan sasabihin niya ang mga dapat na mangyari. Kung sasabihin niya na maging puno ang mga theater actors, dapat maging puno sila agad agad. Anything the puppeteer says, the puppets will follow.

Pinili ng puppeteer ang kwento tungkol sa isang soon-to-be aswang na ayaw maging aswang. Duon iikot ang istorya.

Maganda ang concept tungkol sa puppets. Maganda rin ang istoryang napili tungkol sa aswang. Parehas na may kinalaman sa paksang freedom. Okay yung simula hanggang gitna, pero pagdating sa dulo, nawala sila.

May parte duon na nagbahagi ng real-life personal experience ang theater actor tungkol sa paksang freedom. Mabigat man o magaan ang kanyang ibabahagi, makakatulong na maglagay ng “trigger warning” para maging handa ang audience sa kanilang posibleng marinig. Hindi lahat ay handang makatanggap ng sensitibong impormasyon. But with or without the sharing of personal experience part, the play could stand on its own. Medyo nalihis ang kanilang landas simula sa parteng ito.

Embodying the puppeteer concept, the versality of theater actors can easily be seen. Although some of them lack focus. Some movements are not sharp. Yung iba ay halatang umaarte lamang, habang yung iba ay natural sa kanilang kilos at pananalita. Nahahati ang ensemble sa magaling, sakto lang, at hindi magaling. Kung lahat sana sila ay magaling at alisto, mas magiging maganda ang play na ito.

The actors do not know which character they will play until the puppeteer announces it. This vital information should have been included and mentioned within the play because it adds layers to the show’s theme.

The narrator always says “go” every after instruction. Oftentimes, they would stutter and even pause unintentionally. All of these are distracting especially when your mind is already inside the story. Nawawala bigla ang train of thought mo.

The open space in the parking lot complements the freedom concept of this puppet show, but a theater box would be more ideal for a proper production design. The voice of the narration could’ve been supported by a sound effect to achieve the ‘dictatorship’ vibe. The lights and stage design could’ve also helped in taking us through different locations. Iba pa rin ang ganda at kilabot kapag pinagsabay ang galing ng mga aktor sa ganda ng mga ilaw at tunog.

Nonetheless, watching this play is still a refreshing experience. Probably, one of the better plays that a student organization has to offer mainly because of its contemporary experimental approach on how a theater play can be done.

So keep it up, Balay Tamawo! Looking forward to your future puppeteer shows.