Contemporary Theater and NOLI ME TANGERE Opera

Theater

• Theater is a collaborative art form that uses live performance to present real or imagined events before a live audience.

NOLI ME TANGERE Opera

• The 1957 opera NOLI ME TANGERE, by Felipe Padilla de Leon and Guillermo Tolentino, made its New York debut at The Kaye Playhouse in 2013.
• The opera follows the story of Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, who returns to the Philippines after studying in Europe.
• Ibarra's plans to open a school and marry his betrothed, Maria Clara, are hindered by Padre Damaso, the archenemy of the Ibarras.

Contemporary Theater

• Contemporary theater interprets life to become a new living experience.
• It incorporates new technologies, influenced by changing physical landscapes and lifestyles.
• Contemporary theater focuses on the interpretation of everyday experiences through sound, movement, words, and visual representations of the contemporary environment.

Characteristics of Contemporary Theater

• Tradition-based forms with new idioms of expression.
• Functional use of local languages.
• Unique motifs and narratives.
• Transformation of ordinary spaces into performance spaces and community participation hubs.
• Collaboration between new and established artists.
• Emphasis on function and relevance to the audience.

Forms of Contemporary Theater

• Multi-art performances: Non-theater artists creating original plays based on real-life experiences.
• Improvised plays: Plays created in a short period using local experiences and cultural forms.
• Devised plays: Plays based on actors' ideas and real experiences, without a written script.

Examples of Improvised Plays

• Tula-dula/Dula-tula: Plays developed from poetry, utilizing traditional forms like sabayang bigkas, rap, and flip-top. These plays draw from the long tradition of local poetry in interpreting social realities.

Contemporary Theater in the Philippines

• Southern Tagalog's ARTIST: Utilizes the "bola sa kili-kili" acting style, inspired by Commedia dell'arte performances, to retell historical stories humorously.
• Mindanao: Contemporary theater in Mindanao is characterized by works like:
  • Pataya, Patihaya (2003-2016) by Glecy Atienza and Bobet Mendoza.
  • TnB Titser ng Bayan (2003-2014).
  • Siak sa Duha Ka Damgo by Fe Remotigues Sinalimba and Nestor Horfilla.
  • Banay ni Crisanta by Don Pagusara, performed by Kaliwat Theater Collective.
  • Bulawan by Arnel Mardoquio.
  • Dula Ta and Banay ni Crisanta by Kabpapagariya Theater Ensemble og MSU General Santos City.
  • Tales of Mindanao by Steven Patrick Fernandez.
  • Tud Bulul by Bebot Rodil, performed by the Integrated Performing Arts Guild of MSU Iligan City.

Performing Arts

• Performing arts include dance, music, opera, theater, musical theater, magic, illusion, mime, spoken word, puppetry, circus arts, performance art, recitation, and public speaking.

Tinikling

• The tinikling dance originated in Leyte, imitating the movements of tikling birds.
• The dance reflects the birds' ability to walk and jump over branches and dodge traps set by farmers.

Contemporary Performance

• Contemporary performance art includes:
  • Hand-painted murals of movie stars.
  • Computer-generated or tarpaulin art.
  • Dance styles like Zumba and street dance.
  • Lantern parades, like those in UP Dilliman Campus.
  • Adaptations of traditional plays, like Haring Tubul, Ubo Roi, and Battalia Royale.

Stand-up Comedy

• Stand-up comedy performances in more casual spaces like bars and restaurants (Tuesday Vargas, Chocolate, Candy Pangilinan).
• Political satire by artists like Rex Navarette.

Poetry as Performance

• Flip-top: A poetic joust performed by youngsters in open spaces, evolving from poetry as a traditional subject in school.
• Rap: A poetic joust done in a syncopated rhythm, popularized by singers like Francis Magalona, Andre E, and Gloo 9.

Cyberspace and Performance

• Cyberspace has created a new world of communication and artistic expression, influencing new forms of sound, rhythm, movement, words, and visuals in creating living art experiences like theater, dance, and musical concerts.