Tanghalang Ateneo takes Shakespeare to the Disco in Hakbang sa Hakbang!

Tanghalang Ateneo takes Shakespeare to the Disco in Hakbang sa Hakbang

Tanghalang Ateneo returns to Shakespeare with a novel rendition of Measure for Measure, a tragicomedy on desire, morality, and justice. Translated into Filipino as Hakbang sa Hakbang, the production marks the first time the play will be staged in Filipino. It will also showcase student talents who displayed their performance mettle in such previous productions like Middle Finger po and Litisang Bilog ng Caucasus . Ronan Capinding leads the artistic team as director and translator.

Tanghalang Ateneo's Hakbang sa Hakbang brings alive the disco-dancing era. Choreographer Ina Luna, Sound Designer Reamur David and Capinding fuse disco dancing moves and hip hop beats with Shakespearean language. The fusion not only contemporizes Shakespeare; it also creatively reveals the persona of the characters and the tone of each scene. The play is staged in the round thus giving audiences the experience of intimately witnessing the story unfold in their midst. One of Shakespeare's lesser-known works, Hakbang sa Hakbang is a true must-see as it has all the elements of a great untold story, as only Shakespeare can tell.

In the play, The laidback Duke Vincentio (alternately played by Dan Chua and Exzell Macomb) has appointed the austere Angelo (alternately played by Paolo Apagalang and Gelo Brilliantes) to temporarily take his place as ruler while he is on a diplomatic mission. The new ruler suddenly forces the freewheeling and disco-dancing citizenry into strict adherence to the law. To serve as a warning, Claudio (alternately played by Kenn Cayunda and Brian Sy), a young nobleman, is arrested and sentenced to an immediate death for impregnating his fiancee. Isabel (alternately played by Rizzy Alejandro and Reg de Vera), Claudio's sister and a virtuous nun, hesitantly pleads on her brother's behalf, only to be given a shocking proposition by the duplicitous Angelo: her brother's life for her virginity.

Unknown to all, the Duke, disguised as a friar, has secretly been watching the events unfold. He conspires with Isabel and Mariana (alternately played by Nayie Caga-anan and Ysabel Yuzon), Angelo's long lost fiancee. They trick Angelo into sleeping with Mariana instead of Isabel, but Angelo still orders Claudio beheaded the next day. The Duke must find another way to save Claudio's life. He secretly weaves the final plot leading to a dramatic revelation scene. With the entire city as the audience the Duke is unmasked to the shock of all. Will the justice the Duke bestows give everyone a happy ending?


Hakbang sa Hakbang opens on January 31, 2008 at the Fine Arts Exhibit Hall, 3rd Floor, Gonzaga Building, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. Show dates are on January 31, February 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15 & 16, 2008 at 7:00 pm and February 2, 9 & 16, 2008 at 2:00 pm. For ticket inquiries and group bookings, please contact 09184733137 or 09188151218. www.tanghalangateneo.multiply. com