fu-GEN’s Second Play Stomps its Way into Factory’s Studio Theatre Singkil – A World Premiere! Written By Catherine Hernandez Directed By Nina Lee Aquino

 

fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company in association with Factory Theatre proudly presents Catherine Hernandez’s Singkil. The production, directed by Nina Lee Aquino, features actors Nadine Villasin, Karen Ancheta, Leon Aureus, Rose Cortez and David Yee. The show previews from Jan 6 2007, opens Thursday, Jan. 11 and runs until Jan. 28 2006.

 

To the Filipino community, the ancient tale of the Singkil is a familiar one: A Muslim Filipina princess who was caught in the throes of a violent earthquake cleverly escaped the debris unharmed and unaffected. Over hundreds of years, the story has been transformed into a theatrical spectacle where a dazzling princess dances her way in and out of clapping bamboo to a hypnotic beat.

 

Turning this legend on its ear is playwright Catherine Hernandez, who presents the ‘anti-princess’ Mimi: a down and out lost soul caught in the relentless grip of the past and forced into the unfamiliar terrain of forgiveness.

 

It’s present-day Scarborough. The grave of Maria Perez is still fresh and so are the wounds she left on her daughter Mimi and husband, Nestor. The family’s darkest secret is set to be buried along with its keeper when Maria’s best friend Norma arrives with a few secrets of her own. Now Mimi must stumble her way back to the land of the living by facing the mysteries held by the dead.

 

Catherine Hernandez is a Toronto-based writer and theatre practitioner. Based on her work with her mother, Cecille Hernandez, who is a pioneer of Filipino folk dance education in Canada, Singkil was first featured at the 2005 CrossCurrents Festival and is part of Hernandez’s "Scarborough Stories" anthology. Its second installment, Saint Candice, is a short story that will be featured in this year’s Diaspora Dialogues Festival. The third installment, Kilt Pins, a play about teens in a Scarborough Catholic high school, is currently in development. Happy to wear the hat of playwright, Hernandez also heads Factory Theatre’s education/outreach program.

 

At the helm of this stellar production is Nina Lee Aquino, who engineered last year’s hit, Banana Boys and produced the record-breaking 2006 CrossCurrents Festival. “This play represents the next stage of fu-GEN’s development as a company. As a follow up to Banana Boys, it is a bold new direction. Singkil uses traditional storytelling. It’s linear. It’s gentle, in many ways. It’s quiet, but at the same time, it possesses the same sort of magic and theatricality that we saw in Banana Boys. It offers us a chance to push ourselves as artists and, in turn, invites our audience to grow and explore the Asian-Canadian Diaspora with us.” 

 

Yvette Nolan, Artistic Director of Native Earth Performing Arts and Production Dramaturge for Singkil concurs: “Catherine is a compelling and clear voice for the Canadian stage. I have no doubt that the production of Singkil will vindicate fu-GEN in its chosen course and contribute to the fabric of Canadian theatre.”

 

Bringing this touching tale to life is Nadine Villasin, playing Mimi. Best remembered as co-creator of Miss Orient(ed) alongside Nina Lee Aquino, Villasin runs The Carlos Bulosan Theatre and stars in the recently released thriller, Ang Pamana: The Inheritance by Romeo Candido.

 

Playing Mimi’s mother, Maria, is Karen Ancheta, who delighted audiences as Thaisa in Stratford’s production of Pericles and Choon-Yi in LKYTP’s Ghost Train. Maria’s friend, Norma, will be played by Rose Cortez, who is a co-creator in Carlos Bulosan Theatre’s upcoming project, People Power.

 

Fresh from appearing in last season’s Banana Boys is actor David Yee as Mimi’s boyfriend, Chase and Banana Boys playwright, Leon Aureus as Mimi’s father Nestor.

 

Camellia Koo, the Dora award-winning designer behind Bombay Black, takes on Singkil’s stunning set design. Stage Management by Dale Yim, Movement Coaching by Clare Preuss, Lighting Design by Arun Srinivasan, Costume Design by Jackie Chau, and Music Composition & Sound Design by Dora-nominated Romeo Candido. 

 

* * * * * *

 

Singkil

By Catherine Hernandez

Directed by Nina Lee Aquino

Produced by fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company in association with Factory Theatre

Previews Jan 6, Opens Jan 11, runs to Jan 28

Factory Studio Theatre

125 Bathurst Street at Adelaide

 

Performances: Tuesday – Saturday 8:00 p.m., Sunday Jan 7^th at 7pm, all other Sunday Matinees at 2:30pm, Saturday Jan 27 matinee at 2:30pm

Ticket Prices: Previews $12 (Student Hip Tix available $5); Tuesday-Thursday at 8:00 p.m. $23; Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. $25; Saturday at 8:00 p.m: $30.50; Sunday Matinee Pay-What-You-Can ($20 if booked in advance); (Discounts for groups, students, seniors and Equity members)

 

Tickets available online at www.factorytheatre.ca or through Factory Theatre’s Box Office: 416-504-9971