BERDE, Focus Production’s latest stage play successfully accomplished the basic truism of human experiences and emotions, which despite its breathtaking swirl of conflict and revelations is nicely balanced overall between the dramatic scenes and simplicity of the plot. Berde’s story bares on a life of its own that stirs the audience’s emotions and becomes moving and poignant in its own right.
The play is written and translated in Filipino by Loyd Sato from the original material entitled, “Clash of the Cymbals” by national artist Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero. Sato, who also directed “Piring” and “Bus Terminal,” crafted a daring plot that is threaded invisibly by a solid story and dissolving moments of tears and excitement about two young men whose struggles, youth, joys and triumphs lampoon the current situation of homosexuality and same sex relationships in the family and the community we live in.
Berde is foremost a story of a father, mother, and a son, and their relationship with each other, and how this relationship has changed the very core of their own existence.
Berde is about the lives of Edwin and Butch and their seemingly unorthodox love affair. Both come from a rich prominent but unstable family. Edwin has a strict military captain for a father, who without discreet curses his son, and a mother who spoils him and dresses Edwin up as a girl when he was still young. Butch, on the other hand, has a drunkard for a father, who left him when he was young, and a cold and frigid mother who accepts Butch as he is.
The play starts with the not-so typical acquaintance of two individuals who are outwardly different in appearance. As the story progresses, the audience are ushered to the wealthy and grandiose house of Edwin which metaphors their social status. The conflict unfolds when Edwin’s father comes home and sees the truth about his son.
To date, Berde is the longest running stage play in Cebu with 50 performances – a great feat in local theater industry.
The next series of stage plays for September in Cebu City before they hit the road for Cebu Provinces will be on Sept. 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 and 30 at the CAP Auditorium on Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City. Show schedules are 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
For ticket inquiries, contact (0923) 7470900 or e-mail at focus_productions@ymail.com.