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| Photos courtesy of PETA. |
Mahabharata
is the longest known epic which consists of over 100,000 lines in 18 books.
It's a complex tale of love, life, family, war, religion, philosophy, politics
and culture.
Hiroshi
Koike, an acclaimed artist from Japan, wishes to create harmony among different
cultures using Mahabharata on stage. The Pan-Asia Mahabharata Project which
started in 2013 in Cambodia can be listed as Koike's greatest achievements to
date. This production will run until 2020 in different Asian countries. This
time in Manila, the continuation of the first two chapters (Mahabharata B-War)
hit the PETA Theater Center last December 2-3.
Mahabharata
B-War is a melting pot of Asian senses. Hiring actors of different backgrounds
and origins, Koike succeded in making the audience feel the very true essence
of art. Intricate movements. Elaborate masks. Sophisticated costumes.
Impeccable acting. Joy for those who understand theatre. Actors, masks and
costumes from different nations in one stage play, how about that?
Be
ready with a stiff neck though. Mahabharata B-War is in Nihonggo, Thai,
Mandarin and a few lines in English and Filipino. There is a screen above the
stage for the translation, which can be distracting as you wouldn't want to
miss a single movement. They also tried to inject some Pinoy lines to lighten
up some scenes. But this one was not necessary and failed to define humor.
Overall,
the Hiroshi Koike Bridge Project's ambitious production must be experienced by
every cultured Filipino. There may be no Pinoy touch in it (only a very few
Pinoy phrases), but this play will make you feel what Asia is. Mahabharata
B-War will also be shown in China, Japan and Thailand. The next chapters will
be continued in Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore and South Korea in the next few
years. The full length performance with all the chapters will be staged in
Malaysia.
Verdict:
A. To hell with the stiff neck, this is art.
Text by Aga Posadas.
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