The Romance of Magno Rubio

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:09pm

Has anyone seen this? It's at The Culture Project as part of the currently ongoing Asian American Theater Festival. A friend suggested that I go check it out, and I meant to post about it a while ago, but just completely lost track of time.

It's at being produced by the Ma-Yi Theater Company, who also produced SIDES: The Fear is Real (which I know a lot of people on the boards loved) back in 2005.

It's a beautifully directed sort of mix between a play with music and a folktake, and it's infused with several sequences of really engaging choreography. The story is about Filipino migrant workers in the U.S.; it encompasses all of these really big themes without ever seeming too lofty or pretentious as it deals with notions of love and good versus evil, as well as work ethnic and the strength of one's soul and the things by which it's measured. It is rather subtle and gentle, feeling natural and somehow wise about its thematic proclamations, where it could have been heavy-handed and affected. It could very easily have become one of those plays that pats itself on the back for dealing with so many "issues" without ever humanizing them in a way that invites the audience to connect; but in the hands of a masterful director, it's able to perfectly integrate the themes and the story in a way that balances the play's two personas, so to speak.

The title character is in love with an American woman he's never met. He's only communicated with her through letters (written by a friend, as he is illiterate), and is too deeply in love to realize that she is using him. His companions taunt him for his foolishness, but his dreams blind him to the harsh reality. His heartfelt letters are a testament to the belief in the visceral power of the written word; it's basically a tale of a man who tries with all that he is to express the pureness and honesty of his love -- one perhaps so pure that it can only be experienced in naivete. The play sort of questions whether there's actually a place for such honest, untainted emotion in a world of corruption, competition and stark practicality.

I think it only runs through this weekend, but if you have some time within the next few days, I'd recommend checking it out. It's a little bit of everything: a sweet, funny, play, yet one touching and intellectually stimulating as well.

For more info: http://www.ma-yitheatre.org/hme.html

Updated On: 6/15/07 at 11:09 PM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:19pm

It's a wonderful, touching play. Well-acted and directed.

The use of escrima movements and percussion with the escrima sticks is great.

And it has a lot of humor!

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:35pm

Because there can never be enough references to Sides.

I've heard lots of good things about this play (and not just from Em ).

Updated On: 6/15/07 at 11:35 PM

[Bobby Maler]

Posted: 6/16/07 at 3:14am

LuvtheEmcee, thanks for that beautiful synopsis. I saw this when it was here two (?) years ago..it's friggin great theatre. Very sophisticated, muscular, visceral theatre that you don't often experience. They integrate the Tagalog language and the rhythms of a culture with a universal story line. I found it fascinating and highly recommend it.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/16/07 at 12:15pm

Who directed that production? I know someone who was in it in Chicago a few years ago; it's apparently been around for a while.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 12:19am

Bump.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 3:27pm

Loy Arcenas directed.