THOMASIAN director Joey Paras staged a series of one-act plays collectively titled “Iyak Tawa,” which opened on Oct. 20 at the Performing Arts and Recreation Center Foundation in San Juan.
“Iyak Tawa” featured 10 short plays in various genres.
“Isa Akong Disney Princess” told a bizarre story of feminism, misogyny and transition from a man to a woman, concerning two best friends and a homeless man.
“Hindi Tunay na Pangalan” depicted a confrontation between a daughter and her unsympathetic mother because of their mutual lover.
“Ka-Close Mo Jusko Sobra” poked fun at the television networks’ competitive ratings game, as it told the story of a cancer patient whose dying wish is to meet her celebrity idol.
“Ang Kaibigan ni Imaginary F.,” “Ang Tatlong Bruha,” “Besame,” “Kintsugi,” “Mine Heart Heart,” “Mukbang,” and “Stay In” were also staged as part of the series.
Paras, who graduated with a degree in communication arts in 1998, said he felt challenged to write his own scripts and produce his own plays.
“May iba’t-ibang peg iyong gawa ko to challenge myself as a writer, at the same time, my actors as the performers – the story-tellers. Sinadya ko iyon para makita ko iyong kakayahan nila sa iba’t-ibang mga genre,” Paras said.
“From the way they look, from their capabilities, from their philosophies of life, nakaka-create ako ng babagay na character,” Paras shared.
The show was presented by Teatro Expedicion de Filipinas and The Powerhouse Ensemble, both spearheaded by Paras.
Paras has won numerous awards, including Best Supporting Actor (New Breed Category) for the movie “Babagwa” in Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013 and Best Supporting Actor (Enpress Golden Screen Awards 2014) for the international movie “Dance of the Steel Bars” among others.
