Cover Jamila and Rashiddin in Tanghalang Ateneo’s ‘Sintang Dalisay’ (Photo: Instagram / Jerome Dawis)
Jamila and Rashiddin in Tanghalang Ateneo’s ‘Sintang Dalisay’ (Photo: Instagram / Jerome Dawis)
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In a familiar tale of forbidden love, ‘Sintang Dalisay’ puts ‘Romeo and Juliet’ under a new lens
Honouring the memory of the late Dr Ricardo G Abad, Tanghalang Ateneo proudly presented Sintang Dalisay—a full-length adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Directed by Abad and Guelan Varela-Luarca at the Hyundai Hall of Areté in Ateneo de Manila University, the play is more than just a direct translation of Shakespeare’s magnum opus. It transported audiences from Verona, Italy, to the fictional Mindanaoan land of Sempurna. The feuding houses of Capulet and Montague became Kalimuddin and Mustapha and the titular characters were named Rashiddin and Jamila.
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Upon entering the theatre, one would first notice the intricate set design of the late National Artist for Theatre and Design Salvador Bernal and Tata Tuviera. The band is situated centre stage, hidden just enough so as not to be distracting. Armed with kulintang, luntang, and wooden flutes, among others, the background orchestra perfectly sets the tone of each scene. A wooden catwalk extends to the audience from the stage, protruding outward towards the seats. Certain characters would use this to either enter or exit the stage and sometimes interact with the crowd humorously.
Perhaps what the entire production executes with sheer brilliance is its localisation to pre-colonial times. The play is performed through the Igal—a traditional dance form of the Sama-Bajau ethnic group. Throughout the show, the characters constantly interact with each other with subtle hand gestures that make it look like you’re watching a ballet. Under Matthew Santamaria’s choreographical direction, Sintang Dalisay evokes ethereal beauty through movement alone.
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Abad and Luarca’s dialogue was very fitting for the kind of play this was. The original text of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet used archaic language, and Sintang Dalisay was written similarly. The audience often needed to use context clues to understand what was being said. While it seemed daunting for the layperson, the narrative demanded it—not just to appear cultured; the dialogue trusted its viewers to understand. There were moments wherein the characters would take liberties in speaking by using modern terms in comical moments. For instance, after the marriage of Rashiddin and Jamila, members of the Mustapha house made a series of jokes. Jokes alluding to the absence of the divorce bill in the country and even to Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s statements during Senate hearings criticise current political events lightheartedly while pointing out flaws in our system. At one point, the word ‘nonchalant’ was even used to poke fun at GenZ humour, and it garnered laughter from the audience. We’ve seen these kinds of jokes in other productions, and I can confidently say that this brand of comedy never gets old, as it grounds any play or musical in our reality.
Seasoned theatre actors’ portrayals of Rashiddin and Jamila were nothing short of masterful. Rashiddin was portrayed by Jerome Dawis from Dekada ’70 (2022) and Jamila by Mitzie Lao from Mula Sa Buwan (2022). Every guttural scream during intense moments of emotion and tender embrace shared by the two really hammered their kind of relationship. The trope of star-crossed lovers has been told across generations, and we’ve seen it repeatedly. This kind of whirlwind romance didn’t feel unrealistic despite knowing each other for less than 24 hours. Lao and Dawis’ performance showed us that love like theirs didn’t need to make sense. It just needed to exist as the lessons learned continued to resonate.
Sintang Dalisay will be restaged in February 2025.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
Work
A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
