After the success of Caredivas, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) in its 45th Theater Season brings a theater adaptation of Lino Brocka’s film classic entitled Bona. It was Brocka’s second appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in 1981 while at the same year it gives Nora Aunor who plays the role of Bona a Gawad Urian Award for Best Actress title. And this year, PETA will awarding this role to the multi-awarded actress Eugene Domingo and will be staging it the PETA Theater in Quezon City on August 24-26 and 31 and September 2, 7-9, 14-16 and 21-23. It will be directed by Soxie Topacio and written by Lalie Bucoy.
Eugene Domingo is the actress behind the success of Kimmy Dora and Babae sa Septic Tank and soon to be releasing the sequel Kimmy Dora (Kimmy Dora and the Temple of Kiyeme) and I Do Bidoo Bidoo. But before being a full pledge TV/film actress, she was enrolled in University of the Philippines’s Theatre Arts programand appears in most of the plays of Dulaang UP (DUP) as actress, production and stage management staff where it develops her talent in acting. She will be playing the role of Bona in this theater adaptation of Brocka’s masterpiece with a modern approach. From a middle-class schoolgirl who fell in love with his movie idol in the film, here Bona is call center agent and with her age she remained single and focused with work. In a reality show entitled Star of Tomorrow, she is a die-hard fan of a star wannabe named Gino Sanchez. Wanting to help Gino to become a star she did everything even turning her back from the things she valued a lot even her own life until she finds herself losing her own dignity and love for herself.
I had the chance to see the film Bona during my film appreciation days where Gardo (Gino in theater) was played by Philip Salvador who is a movie bit player Gardo and Bona willingly became his alalay (servant) in the story. Everything was because of love for her idol but despite of her efforts she doesn’t get in return from the man she love and supported. Until days passed Gardo brought home some girls that really hurts the feelings of Bona and along the treatment from the guy whom she thought will love her in the future. The highlight in the movie which I think PETA will be doing it in the play but bigger is when Bona poured boiling water to Gardo during his ritual bath that represents anger and pain that she received from the man he loved.
Keep posted on PETA’s official website http://www.petatheater.com for the tickets and reservation of this anticipated performance of Eugene Domingo as she returned to her first love – Theater.
