Tess Zarasosa and Lito Capina of the
Philippine Theater Summer Workshop.
Photo by George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin

The production is the culmination of a four-month Philippine Theatre Summer Workshop - and a first step toward adding the works of Filipino playwrights to the schedule of Western and Asian theatre at the UH.

"It's a no-budget production, all courage and love, but we're hoping that these two little plays will contribute to an interest in Philippine culture for locally born Filipinos here and as a sharing with other cultures. My experience (in theater) here is that learning about other cultures enriches my understanding of my other culture."

"The '70s were a very fertile period in Philippine theater. One hand there was martial law and the arts were state supported (but) there was a lot of awareness of the power of theater to portray oppression whether by multi-national corporations or direct force. There was an explosion of Philippine theater - both traditional forms and in new forms being invented like Philippine rock opera - and these plays are from that period."

"Pas de 2" offers two types of Philippine theater. Agapito Joaquin's "The Tin Roof" ("Bubungang Lata") explores the conflict between poverty and dreams in the slums of Marcos-era Manila. (The social realist drama was filmed by Lino Brocka for the Cannes Film Festival.) "Seven Years!" ("Pitong Taon"), by Purita and Fidel Sicam, is a romantic comedy of manners involving a couple that's been dating for seven years.

Pascual translated both from Tagalog to English, saying, "Translating comedy is very hard because part of the fun is the use of the language." Since only two members of the cast - veteran actors Lito Capina and Olivier Jodloman - are Philippine-born and Tagalog speakers, part of the rehearsal process involved learning about what the plays reveal about modern Philippine culture.

"A little gesture that makes a (dramatic) difference in a scene - and which would be taken for granted by a Philippine cast - has to be explained as to why it would be there. The workshop has been a rich forum for exchanging ideas on how it is to be Filipino in the Philippines and how it is to be an American-born Filipino in Hawaii, and the differences between the two cultures."

Pascual has previously distinguished himself as an actor in UH productions of Shakespearean comedies ("The Merry Wives of Windsor"), kabuki ("Sukeroku: The Flower of Edo"), and social drama ("Bent"). His new project is taking him back to his roots in more ways than one.

"It's been really wonderful to see the cast grow as artists and now be able to share it. Part of a project like this is to encourage people to follow their dreams in theater. Now it's a matter of developing an audience."

On stage: 'Pas de 2' - two plays from the Philippines
When: 8 p.m. Sept. 6 to 8
Where: UH Music Building 36
Cost: Free, but donations accepted
Call: 525-8024 or 956-8324