A SMALL house, a fisherman’s boat, 16 plastic bottles, and fishing nets are all found within the performance area of Layeta Bucoy’s Doc Resureccion: Gagamutin ang Bayan, Tanghalang Pilipino’s (TP) first production after two years of coronavirus pandemic lockdowns. This month, the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) resident company returns with a filmed version of the one-act play.

Set in a poor fishing village, the play follows an idealistic young doctor, Jess Resureccion, who is running for mayor with the promise of helping uplift the status of its residents. But standing in his way is his cousin, Boy Pogi Resureccion, who was paid by the incumbent mayor to run as a nuisance candidate and hopefully spoil the votes for Jess. Jess tries to convince his cousin to withdraw his candidacy.

It was first staged in 2009 as part of the Virgin Labfest, the CCP’s festival of unproduced and unpublished plays. In 2012, it was staged by TP as part of its Eyeball production.

“Our country is currently looking forward to open a new chapter in its history as a nation. With renewed vitality and great hope, we Filipinos are aiming for a renaissance, or a ‘Resurreccion.’ Looking back, the pandemic that has adversely affected our physical and psycho-social being, compelled us to look inward and assess how we protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our fellowmen from the unseen killer virus,” TP’s artistic director Nanding Josef said in a statement.

“Moreover, the pandemic has triggered us to look farther into the political malaise that has continued to infirm us for many years. Politics and governance have deteriorated in our very midst. Thus, there is an urgent call for change,” he said.

Dennis Marasigan is directing the play’s filmed staging. Alongside Mr. Marasigan in the artistic team are Pong Ignacio as director of photography, TJ Ramos as musical director and composer, Daniel Gregorio as costume designer, and Ohm David as set designer.

Prior to a rehearsal on April 1, Mr. Marasigan told Businessworld that he aimed “to capture as much of what the audience is going to see if they were here live” and “enhance certain elements we can because of the medium.”

TP’s Marco Viaña stars as Doc Jess Resureccion, while Jonathan “Tad” Tadioan stars as Boy Pogi Resureccion. Joining the cast are Mr. Josef as Papang, Sherry Lara as Mamang, and Lhorvie Nuevo as Elsa.

The sole original cast member from the first staging in 2009, Mr. Tadioan is reprising his role as Boy Pogi. He noted the deeper understanding he has now in playing the same role.

“Nag-mature ka din, marami kang pinagdaanan through the years at mas lalo mong naintindihan ’yung human condition (You mature. You go through many experiences through the years, and you gain a deeper understanding of the human condition),” Mr. Tadioan said.

“Mas nakikita mo ’yung mga taong Boy Pogi. Nakakasalamuha mo. So, mas naiintindihan mo sila (You see more of the Boy Pogis in real life. You interact with them. So, you also learn to understand them),” he said.

With the remounting of the play online, Mr. Marasigan hopes first time viewers have a chance “to see yourself” and “become more critical of the things you see.”

“I think the play is very provocative in a way that it asks questions without necessarily giving you answers,” Mr. Marasigan told BusinessWorld. “It does not make you choose between the characters, but makes you examine the way you think about people running for elections, your neighbors, [your] relatives, and others that you know.”

Doc Resureccion: Gagamutin ang Bayan will stream from April 17 to 30 via www.ticket2me.net. Tickets are priced at P350 (general audience), and P550 (barkada promo for three tickets). Access to the show is for 24 hours on the buyer’s chosen date starting at 10 a.m. to 10 a.m. the following day.  — Michelle Anne P. Soliman