We are excited to invite you to Act Avenue’s live theater performance for its fifth year offering of Kwentuhog: Shookt! The show will run on August 3–4, 2024 at 1:30 PM or 5:00 PM in NCCA, Intramuros Manila.
We are proud to share with you our event Kwentuhog: Shookt! featuring four (4) plays about societal “mysteries” and bizarre concepts such as supernatural appearances, rape, perpetrator’s trauma, murder, and dating. The main vision of this play is to unravel and expose these stories hoping to provide moral lessons to our viewers aside from providing shock, surprise, or rattling.
These four plays are as follows.
- “Bahay ni Maria”
“Bahay ni Maria” is a touching play set in an orphanage, focusing on ten-year-old Mimay, who talks to her imaginary friend, Dory, drawn on the wall. Sixteen-year-old Tony is about to leave after being adopted, and Mimay feels scared and abandoned. The situation becomes tense when something bad happens, making everyone face the difficult truths of their lives. The play explores themes of abuse, abandonment, and the need for love and care in a tough environment. Written by Joey Paras
Directed by Edsel Fusio
Featuring:
- Joy Torreliza as Mimay
- Juan Altejos as Tony
- Sheena Villanueva as Sister Anna
- “Hatol”
“Hatol” is a mind-bending play that occurs in a dark, and gloomy prison. This story focuses on a 21-year-old Kyle, who is trying to prove his innocence to his Lawyer “James”. As James presses Kyle to reveal his identity, and forces Kyle to relive his own nightmare through back and-forth interrogation. Will Kyle defend his own truth or is there a different version of this so-called “truth.” The play explores themes of slice-of-life, psychological thriller, and abuse.
Written by Elijah Llevares
Directed by Jomari Jacinto
Featuring:
- Elijah Llevares as Kyle
- Andrew Estacio as James
- Remanuel Delos Reyes as Joseph
- Jenny Mesares as Amy
- Enrico Boral / Lorraine Teng as Killer
- “Aparisyon”
“Aparisyon” is a story telling of the dark and traumatic experiences of Sister Mailene during the Japanese occupation. With the goal of achieving peace and building her life, Sister Mailene enters the convent which tests her belief, faith, and morality. Her stay in the convent is a bitter discovery of the mysteries and the secret of the so-called church.
Written and Directed by Rheymel Lunes
Featuring:
- Hannah Luces as Sister Mailene
- Lorraine Teng as Mother Priores
- Abet Abesamis as Monsignor Candido
- Nathan Cunag as Father Domingo
- Tina Ludia as Birheng Maria
- Rhon Rodriguez as Arnel (Makapili)
- Joshua Flores as Sundalong Hapon
- “I’m through with Love!”
“I’m through with Love!” is a comedy play about Donna and her struggles in love, sex, and dating. She encounters different guys throughout her life which led her to self-discovery and could change her perspective towards the idea of love and intimacy. Written by Abegail Eugenio
Directed by Edjie Maglano
Featuring:
- Adrian Reyes as Donna
- Jomari Jacinto as Lalaki
- Josievil Tero as Legal wife
Aside from the showcase of these plays, this Kwentuhog also serves as the recital for our workshop attendees or new members this 2024. We hope to expose their talents as they embark on their theatre journey with Act Avenue.
