Kicking off its 45th season, Artistang Artlets, the official theater guild of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, staged “Binibining Maria Clara” at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex (TARC) Auditorium on Nov. 8.
The play follows five characters trapped inside a dressing room right before the start of a beauty pageant, tackling the themes of self-awareness and motherhood.
“Binibining Maria Clara,” a one-act chamber drama, interrogates the notions intrinsically tied to the concept of the Filipina, or rather Maria Clara, the fictional character in Philippine national hero José Rizal’s “Noli Me Tángere.”
“Binibining Maria Clara” portrays systemic issues in pageantry, while also exposing how womanhood is often used to cultivate compassion and sympathy.
However, its five characters were not afforded the depth and nuance they deserved, acting instead as mere vessels for the ideas Ducusin intended to explore.
The transformations they experienced individually did not feel earned due to the absence of build-up. As a result, it seemed like the characters were simply waiting for their turn in the spotlight.
Despite that, the actors infused color and life into the drama, although some scenes felt emotionally stilted.
Despite the play being set in 2001, the direction of political science senior Claudette Francesca Bayabay and communication sophomore Juliana Domingo effectively emphasized the urgency and relevance of “Binibining Maria Clara.”
While the journey is rough, the ending is worth it. It affirms the idea that pageantry is a social construct, but a woman’s individuality will always prevail, as Maria Clara is also someone who remains true to herself.
