Me, me, me, again!

Theater
No Filter 2.0
By Jasmine Agnes T. Cruz, Reporter

THEY ARE TALKING about themselves again.
Last July, The Sandbox Collective presented its first original show, No Filter, which now returns as No Filter 2.0. Written by 15 people led by head writer and dramaturge Wanggo Gallaga, No Filter is a series of monologues and multimedia performances about millennials. The rerun has new monologues, new actors, and a new venue.

INTIMACY AND EXPANSION
After getting feedback that the production needed a more intimate setting, the rerun is being staged at the brand new Power Mac Black Box Theater at Circuit Makati, a 300-seat black box. It is hoped that this venue will allow audiences to have a more personal connection with the show.

The monologues have also been trimmed down and refined. They still tackle topics such as the evolution of social media, life after college, pursuing one’s passions, Tinder, and finding love, success and happiness. There are also new monologues about public shaming through social media, coming of age in a time of no crisis (Millenials didn’t experience war or a revolution), the feeling of displacement when moving to the big city (a part-Chabakano, part-English monologue), among others.

“It’s easy to restage what we did since that was widely successful,” said Sandbox Artistic Director Toff De Venecia, who directed No Filter. “But we are artists. If we do the same thing, where’s the artistry in that? There’s an opportunity here to be amazing and to create something new,” he told ����ý in an interview on Sept. 8.

CASTING CONTROVERSY
The original cast is returning for the rerun, but there are alternates for certain shows. These are singer and actor Sam Concepcion (who will alternate for Jasmine Curtis-Smith); 10,000 Hours actress Carla Humphries (who alternates for Lauren Young and Saab Magalona-Bacarro); and performing artist, director, and son of singer Gary Valenciano Paolo Valenciano (who alternates for Mikael Daez and Micah Muñoz).

The casting of Mr. Concepcion is a bit surprising as he is Ms. Curtis-Smith’s ex. Asked if the two felt awkward about this arrangement, Ms. Curtis-Smith said she herself picked Mr. Concepcion to not just be part of the production, but to be her alternate. While searching for her alternate, she and Mr. De Venecia were looking at a list of women, but she didn’t feel “comfortable” in handing over the role to any of them. Realizing that the persona she was portraying wasn’t gender specific, a list of men was drawn up and Mr. Concepcion was in it. “I chose him because I know that he can fulfill the role,” she said.

Mr. Concepcion said that he has the “highest respect” for Ms. Curtis-Smith’s talent and that it was a “privilege” to be working with her. Since he had seen the original show, when Mr. De Venecia offered him the role, he said yes right away. “I absolutely loved it,” he said. After watching he approached the director and said that if they ever had a rerun, he’d be interested to be a part of it, and now he is.

On the other hand, Mr. Valenciano said that his conservative family is not thrilled that he is in this production because there are a few monologues that push the envelope. Still, he agreed to do the show because he wants his parents to understand the younger generation. “I can really relate to the text that was given to me,” he said. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel like acting. It feels like I’m just talking about my day.”

Ms. Curtis-Smith agreed with Mr. Valenciano, adding that the show helped her family, especially her father, understand where her mind was and why she behaves in certain ways. “I was able to connect with him, and he was able to understand our generation,” she said. “We were able to bridge the gap.”

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No Filter 2.0
Presented by
The Sandbox Collective
Oct. 3 to 25
Power Mac Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati, Sta. Ana, Manila

For details, call Sandbox at 585-6909, 0917-899-6680, or TicketWorld at 891-9999.