KUDOS TO Director Joel Lamangan for his bravura performance as Prof. Joseph Marco in “Fake”, a two-act play by Floy Quintos, helmed by Tony Mabesa. Marco is a historian in Negros who forged the Code of Kalantiaw and Fr. Jose Burgos’ ‘La Loba Negra’ that were later exposed as fakes by historian William Henry Scott. His story is presented in tandem with that of Sister Emily, a visionary who claims she talks to the Blessed Virgin. As it delves into questions of what’s real and what’s not, the play brands us as a nation fakes, an idea we can easily concur with considering the preponderance of insincere politicians and celebrities around whose motives are often marked by sheer selfishness. Joel, the formidable TV-movie director, completely disappears in his role as the aging professor and he’s matched every step of the way by Ces Quesada as his loyal wife and Paul Holme as Scott. On the day we saw the play, Bryan Tibayan was the cynical narrator, Miguel, and Olive Nieto was the tormented Sister Emily. Sorry but we found their performances in these pivotal roles quite anemic. Giving excellent support is Richard Cunanan as the American visitor who came to our country hoping to be healed by Sister Emily. “Fake” is now on its last weekend at the UP Diliman Faculty Center. Don’t miss this rewarding theatre experience.
