Christine FloresHans EcksteinJeremy DomingoJoy VirataKen Ludwig's The Game's AfootMica PinedaNatalie EverettPaul HolmesPinky AmadorPlay ReviewRepertory Philippines
Repertory Philippines Presents Ken Ludwig's The Game's Afoot
For the past eight months, I have the good opportunity to watch
more plays than I normally do. There is so much excitement in watching live
theater that I find it a difficult task to write a review for it. I mean,
there’s so much thrill involve in just being a spectator and enjoying the
performance before you but to be a critic and analyzing what is going on is
really a bummer for me.
A week ago, I had
the utmost delight of watching Ken
Ludwig’s The Games’s Afoot, performed exquisitely by the pillars of theater
community, actors that you only read about in newspaper because going to a play
and watching it is expensive.
The Game’s Afoot
was performed at the Greenbelt Theater Onstage at Greenbelt 1. As the plays
open, I was immediately awed by the stage setting.
The story begins in December 1936, and Broadway star William Gillette,
admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, is
placed in the middle of a murder mystery. The show opens with the final scene
of a Sherlock Holmes play and as the cast takes their bow, shot rings out from
the audience and Gillette is hit in the shoulder. It seems someone is
attempting to murder him. Gillette recuperates in his new palatial home in
Connecticut under the care of his mother. It being Christmas time, he invites
his fellow cast members to his mansion for a weekend of revelry.
And this where
the excitement of the play finally begins, what ensues during the start of that
Christmas weekend as they learned that a
series of mysterious death has happened lately, most notable is the doorman at
the theater’s. Gillette, played by veteran Paul Holmes, aims to expose the killer
who he has deduced is a cast member and when one of his weekend guests is
stabbed to death, Gillete assumed his beloved Sherlock Holmes role. There are
only eight characters in this play; there is no troupe of actors to take away
your attention, and all of them are a joy to watch.
Each actors is
worth watching, and as you try to guess whodunit, believe me, there’s instances
when you immediately change your mind; is it his best friend Felix Geisel (Jeremy
Domingo)and his wife Madge (Christine Flores), or is it the ex lover Aggie
Wheeler (Mica Pineda) who just got married to another cast member Simon Bright
(Hans Eckstein)? Or is it really his mother Martha (Joy Virata)?and lastly is
it this peculiar female detective, Inspector Goring (Natalie Everett), who had
a desire to act in Shakesperean roles and waste no time in showing this to
Gillette?
The two actors
who stand out in the play are Ms. Joy Virata who played Gillette’s mother and
Ms. Pinky Amador as the controversial columnist. Their comedic timing is so
impeccable and even if Ms. Amador is dead during the play, she could still make
you laugh.
In addition, I
jjust so love the Gillette palatial home. So lovely. I’ve read that the set was designed by no
less than the play’s director Mr. Miguel Faustmann.
Moreover, the
lightning and sound design added to the suspense and drama. And the clothing
costume makes you want to wear that 1930s kind of thing.
I salute Mr.
Faustman as he was able to put together this outstanding ensemble as their
cohesiveness is very much evident. It is certainly both impressive and
admirable.
I’m egging you on
to go see this play. It’s hilarious, wonderful and fun overall. Let’s all
support live theater. This Repertory Philippines’ rendition of The Games Afoot
is something you shouldn’t miss. And this is a one in a lifetime event where
the ensemble of Ms. Joy Virata, Paul Holmes, Ms. Pinky Amador, Jeremy Domingo,
Christine Flores, Mica Pineda, Natalie Everett and Hans Eckstein is seen.
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