Kultura stages Oscar Wilde’s

The Importance of Being Earnest
&
Ang Kahalagahan ng Pagiging Seryo

On the heels of its successful staging of Yazmina Reza’s Tony Award-winning play Art, Kultura presents another ground-breaking theatrical experience: a double production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. The original play in English will be presented alongside a new Filipino “transplantation” of the same play, entitled Ang Kahalagahan ng Pagiging Seryo. “Earnest” will have a 10-show run from Feb. 10 to 17, while “Seryo” will have a 10-show run from Feb. 21 to 28. Both plays are co-presented by JVC Everio Hard Disk Camcorder G Series.

Subtitled “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” The Importance of Being Earnest is Wilde’s most popular and successful work. It became an instant hit when it opened in London in 1895, and went to be generally acknowledged as one of the greatest comedies of all time. The play tells the story of two wealthy young gentlemen who escape responsibility whenever possible. Both masquerading under the name of “Ernest” (or “Sergio” in the Filipino version), they manage to win the love of their respective sweethearts, who both claim they could only love a man with that particular name. As expected, chaos breaks out when the truth is revealed, and the characters become entangled in a series of uproarious mistaken identities.

The Importance of Being Earnest marks the return of alumnus Niccolo Manahan to the UA&P stage after several years of appearing in professional plays with Repertory Philippines (“Taming of the Shrew”, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”, “The Man of La Mancha”) and Atlantis Productions (“Doubt”). He and Joel Parcon alternate in the role of Jack Worthing, while Javi Coromina and Timito de los Reyes alternate in the role of Algernon Moncrieff. Gabrielle Reyes plays Gwendolen, Jack’s would-be fiancee, and Athena Tibi and Anna Bernal alternate as Cecily, Jack’s young and excessively pretty ward. Lady Bracknell will be played alternately by Marie Puyat and Kit Palabyab, and Miss Prism will be played by Jam Mancenido. Rounding out the cast are Mikey Dosdos as Dr. Chasuble, Ralph Buiser as Lane, David Bendal as Merriman, and John Montoya as the footman.
— RUNS FROM FEB. 10-17 —

Ang Kahalagahan ng Pagiging Seryo transplants Wilde’s masterpiece from Victorian-era England to 1930s Manila and Baguio, and gives it a distinctly Filipino flavor that is equally hilarious. The cast includes Ronie Balberian as Johnny Legazpi, Matt Belen as Felix Fortun, Lyka Alarilla as Luz Rubio, Bea Abalajon as Cecilia Fortaleza, Yammie Tolentino as Doña Augusta Piel and Jox Petiza as Leticia Alegre. Christian Vallez and Sam Macagba alternate as Pastor Frederick, JR Magboo and David Bendal alternate as Pedro, and Lorenz Visco and John Montoya take on the roles of the remaining servants.
— RUNS FROM FEB. 21-28 —

The Importance of Being Earnest and Ang Kahalagahan ng Pagiging Seryo are the 14th and 15th major theatrical productions of Kultura, an arts center based in the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Office of Student Affairs. Tinette Villanueva, whose varied directorial credits include Yasmina Reza’s “Art”, Moliere’s “Tartuffe”, “Ang Inspektor” ni Nikolai Gogol, Agatha Christie’s “Ten Little Indians”, “Clytemnestra” ni Juan Ekis, Eugene Ionesco’s “How to Get Rid of It” and “The Lesson”, and William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors”, directs this exciting production.

“EARNEST” PLAYDATES
Feb. 10, 2007 (Sat) 4:00 p.m. (opening)
Feb. 10, 2007 (Sat) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 14, 2007 (Wed) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 14, 2007 (Wed) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 15, 2007 (Thu) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 15, 2007 (Thu) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 16, 2007 (Fri) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 16, 2007 (Fri) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 17, 2007 (Sat) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 17, 2007 (Sat) 8:00 p.m. (last show)

“SERYO” PLAYDATES
Feb. 21, 2007 (Wed) 4:00 p.m. (opening)
Feb. 21, 2007 (Wed) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 22, 2007 (Thu) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 22, 2007 (Thu) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 23, 2007 (Fri) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 23, 2007 (Fri) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 24, 2007 (Sat) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 24, 2007 (Sat) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 28, 2007 (Wed) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 28, 2007 (Wed) 8:00 p.m. (last show)

VENUE
Telengtan Hall
5th Floor, APEC Communications Bldg.
University of Asia and the Pacific
Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City

(Free parking along Pearl Drive; pay parking entrance along Escriva Drive)

TICKET INFORMATION
- Free admission for UA&P students, faculty and staff (w/ UA&P I.D.)
- Regular tickets at P250
- Discounted tickets for non-UA&P students and teachers at P200 (w/ valid school I.D.)
- UA&P alumni discount - P200 w/ alumni I.D. (to apply, contact alumni@uap.edu.ph)

SEAT RESERVATIONS
Contact Ms. Marie Puyat at 637-0912 loc. 380, (917) 8334564 or mpuyat@uap.edu.ph.

SPONSORED BY
JVC Everio Hard Disk Camcorder G Series

Royal Caribbean Jamaican Patties

Samuel & Kevin

Al-Atlas International Forwarders, Inc.
+63 (2) 829-3605, 829-9632, 825-3646

DesignHub: out of the box ideas
+63 (2) 910-4218

OneRoof Events & Management
+63 (918) 906-5349

Tags: Kultura, Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, Ang Kahalagahan ng Pagiging Seryo, Niccolo Manahan, Joel Parcon, Javi Coromina, Timito de los Reyes, Gabrielle Reyes, Athena Tibi, Anna Bernal, Marie Puyat, Kit Palabyab, Jam Mancenido, Mikey Dosdos, Ralph Buiser, David Bendal, John Montoya, Ronie Balberian, Matt Belen, Lyka Alarilla, Bea Abalajon, Yammie Tolentino, Jox Petiza, Christian Vallez, Sam Macagba, JR Magboo, Lorenz Visco, John Montoya, University of Asia and the Pacific, Tinette Villanueva, JVC Everio Hard Disk Camcorder G Series, Royal Caribbean Jamaican Patties, Samuel & Kevin, Al-Atlas International Forwarders, DesignHub, OneRoof Events & Management