Review: Ang Nawalang Kapatid - Finding Your Darma

Update: Proving just how AWESOME this show has been, Ang Nawalang Kapatid is having a re-run! They'll be staging benefit shows from July 4-6 and 11-13, Friday to Sunday only. Screening times will be 7pm for Friday and 3pm/8pm for Saturday and Sunday. You can get the tickets for only php500 but of course there's a discount if you're a UP student. If you missed the retelling of this Mahabharata classic, now is your chance! 

I actually just bought a ticket for my sis Unai yesterday. Heheh. So go catch it! You can also read below for your review :) :) 

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To cap off a long series of Valentine dates, me and Ray took time off from our schedules to watch Dulaang UP's "Ang Nawalang Kapatid". It was my first time to step back into Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero theater ever since I finished my undergrad course, and it was Ray's second time to watch a full theater production and so we were very excited.

Time truly changes perspectives, I used to wonder how a theater like Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero could fit into the AS building (Palma Hall) because it seemed so huge back then. But now, more than 5 years after, and after also being able to watch stage plays in other venues, I realized that it's actually quite a small place. But the love from the UP crowd always makes it a great place to be in, and is enough to house one of the country's top collegiate theater houses- Dulaang UP.

Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero theater was packed!

"Ang Nawalang Kapatid" is a very fitting way to close DUP's 38th theater season. The group just went all out in the production, routines, scoring (more lively because of the live band), cast, props, and even in promotion. It was a grand spectacle to behold! Sadly we weren't take alot of photos because it was obviously forbidden inside the theater.

The story is adapted from "Mahabharata", an Indian epic poem, and one of the longest poems ever told. This goes back to the time when man and god still lived together, and the gods had an active role in the lives of men. It is a story of two families, the Kaurava's and the Pandava's. The first king, Pandu from the Pandava's was cursed by a wild animal in the forests, such that if he engages in a sexual act, he will die. He was forced to transfer is reign to his blind brother, Dhritahashtra of the Kaurava's.

From the Pandava's were born three young princes, born of the gods because Pandu could no longer provide sons. And for the Kaurava's, the prince was Duryodhana, also born from a god.

However, Pandu's wife had an unwanted son before she got married, born from the god of the sun, and she threw him away after birth. He grows up looking for his family and destiny and is thus, the "Nawalang Kapatid".

In Mahabharata there were actually more sons and daughters from each clan and more complex storylines, but Dulaang UP presented a simplified plot for the audience. However they made sure that they did not take away key values from the Mahabharata, which is very much relatable in the Filipino setting. 

The story evolves around the conflict of the five princes as they grow up and somehow play the "game of thrones". There is a lot of emphasis in finding your "darma" or "destiny". It is made complicated by the fact that as humans, our emotions tend to blind us from the things that matter the most, and this causes the young princes to wage war on each other. 

Karna and Duryodhana (photo courtesy of Dulaang UP)

One thing I found interesting was the empowerment given to women. Like in most cultures, the most that women can do in the past was to pray to gods and manipulate the people around them to do their bidding. In this story though, Princess Draupadi gets to speak out infront of the crowd, and ask that she be able to choose the man that she will marry (after a series of tied-competitions from the brothers), and she chooses Yudhisthira of the Pandavas. Much of the conflict starts here though. 

The backdrop of the whole set was simple, but was made up for by the extravagant/ well-made props and the elaborate dance and singing in every scene. It was able to successfully channel the colorful visuals of India. The creativity was overflowing in the way they were able to reenact scenes in different ways like giving birth, war, courtship, and festivities. I super love how everyone in the stage was so full of energy right from the start! There were no 'extras' because everyone was just fierce! The choreography, stunts and costumes were able to impart the needed vibe and energy of the each scene. It must have been very exhausting for the whole cast. Two hours na intense na pagkaligalig! I think there were almost ten full dance productions with full costumes, props, and intensive movements. Nanonood ka lang pero para kang hinihingal! Hahah.

My favorite would have to be Prince Karna because the kid was really charming heheh, and also Prince Duryodhana because I liked his intensity. I also liked how he didn't get distracted when his mic malfunctioned. The show must go on! I actually like all the princes because the stage is always charged with so much energy with all their dancing and jumping and running tirelessly like gods themselves. The Queen Kunti was also very regal and effective in portraying a proud queen. I think Ray liked Princess Draupadi the most because of the strength of her singing, character, and her love for Yudhistira.

There were also some comic moments like the "shakalaka" of Shakuni, Duryodhana's uncle. Ray couldn't stop shakalaka-ing on the way home lol!

But the scene that really sealed the deal for me was the climactic war between the Pandavas and Kauravas, where death and rage were translated in a brilliant play of choreography and effects, and was surprisingly more effective than seeing people actually beating each other up. Suddenly everyone onstage seemed to transform into demons. And then the god(dess) of war and death steps in and eats everyone up with blood, and it was beautifully gory. I realized my jaw was dropped open the whole time and couldn't help but join everyone else in applause.

Kudos to Dulaang UP for this amazing feat. It was hard to remember that the cast was composed of mostly college students because everyone was superb. I'm not exactly a frequent audience but I think a lot of people would agree that this is one of their best in terms of production value and scale. Go watch it! Highly recommended!

Something shocked him in the end. I wont tell! hahah

The remaining shows are as follows (plus contacts for the tickets)

Feb 19, 7pm | SOLD OUT

Feb 20, 7pm | SOLD OUT

Feb 21, 1pm | CAMILLE GUEVARA | 09178239531

Feb 21, 7pm | SOLD OUT

Feb 22, 10am | SOLD OUT

Feb 22, 3pm | SOLD OUT

Feb 23, 10am | SOLD OUT

Feb 23, 3pm | BRIAN DACANAY | 09168595021

Feb 23, 8pm | CAMILLE GUEVARA | 09178239531

Ang Nawalang Kapatid is shown in Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, Palma Hall, in UP Diliman, Quezon City. Catch this visual spectacle while you can! You'd be amazed at what theater can really do to you. :)

Update March 10: The show is extended! They have 3 more performances as follows:
March 14, 7pm
March 15, 3pm and 8pm
March 16, 3pm and 8pm

For tickets, sponsorships and showbuying inquiries, call Samanta Hannah Clarin or Camille Guevara 9261349, 4337840, 9818500 loc 2449 or email dulaangupmarketing@gmail.com.