Written by Duncan MacMillan, whose "Lungs" and "Every Brilliant Thing" have previously been mounted by The Sandbox Collective, the staged reading of "People, Places and Things" takes place over two days, Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16, at the Black Box of the Proscenium Theater.
The opening scene takes us right into the self-destructing life of stage actress Emma. What follows is her attempt at rehabilitation in a clinic where other addicts of substance abuse are similarly facing their demons.
The title comes from one of the steps to recovery, which has to do with facing head-on the "people, places and things" that trigger your addiction and the need to turn to these substances, whether alcohol or hard drugs.
So yes, it is a staged reading, and one knows that I've always been a believer in having plays be staged and performed as they were meant to be. But as directed by Sab Jose-Gregorio, I have to admit this was the next best thing.
It is a curious hybrid that goes beyond a mere reading, with cast members seated around a table. This production does employ a modicum of movement with book in hand, giving a strong picture of what it would have been like if properly staged. I, for one, would welcome that happening in the near future.
My major reason would be the revelation that is film actress Bela Padilla as Emma.
Bela alternates with Gabby Padilla in the lead role. While Gabby is a proven force in both theater and cinema, this is Bela's first spin on the stage. And what a powerhouse she turns out to be.
Her constant motion, little tics, firm grasp of her lines, and capacity to play Emma as both stubborn and vulnerable, together with her command of her scenes in delivery and in occupying physical space, all point to a great future on stage, if she so chooses.
Her stage presence was through the roof, and the audience watching the TDR (Technical Dress Rehearsal) with me obviously agreed.
Jake Cuenca, Audie Gemora, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Robbie Guevara, Reb Atadero, Brian Sy, Mariella Laurel, Pamela Imperial, Miel Abong, and Salve Van Schoonhoven complete the cast.
As an ensemble, with books in hand, they still go through the motions and prove to be a very tight bunch, given the time they've had to rehearse this drama.
Centered on addiction, deluding oneself, the factors that create the psychological crutch that these substances offer, and the difficult path to recovery, the drama tackles serious subject matter with shafts of dark humor.
But yes, it is a "bleak house" kind of play, and the shadow of mental health looms continuously throughout the running time of close to three hours.
Do make the effort to watch this, and you will be rewarded.
And while I do praise Bela for her work here, I'm now actually curious to watch Gabby, as I've admired her work in the past. In other words, no matter who will be playing Emma when you watch, you'll be coming out a winner, having witnessed a great performance.
Kudos to director Sab Jose-Gregorio, as I believe this is her directorial debut.
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