PETA stages shadow animation

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) presents Ismail at Isabel, which is onstage until Oct 4 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the PETA-Phinma Theater, 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.

Thai shadow theater expert Monthatip “Tip” Suksopha trained the cast of PETA’s Ismail at Isabel to perfect a series of beautifully styled scenes of silhouette animation.

They carefully cut, meticulously designed over 50 intricate pieces of handmade puppets, while using the art of free-hand lighting to illuminate the shadows.

Tip founded the Wandering Moon and Endless Journey Group in 1998 at a small town in northern Thailand. The group started collaborating with PETA for its Asian Women’s Festival in 2003, where it performed The Butterfly, a shadow theater play on women, gender and reproductive health.

As a non-profit and independent shadow theater proponent in Thailand, the group has given various workshops on shadow puppetry and has initiated the use of the medium for advocacy plays and performances.

Their style, while very contemporary and experimental in approach, incorporates different styles and ancient forms of creating the illusion of moving images. Although Thai puppets are normally made of cowhide and rattan, the group has evolved into using organic materials and the human body in creating shadows and forms.

Their performances are also normally accompanied by a combination of songs and chants, but for this production in particular, their shadows lend an enchanting backdrop to the rather eclectic play.

“Every puppet has a different shadow very much like its creators. In shadow theater workshops, the ugliest puppet unbelievably turns to be beautiful in the world of shadow. The shyest child becomes the most full-hearted and energetic puppeteer. In many journeys, light and shadow enchant the audience. This is what is special in telling stories with shadow theater,” explains Tip.

Tickets are P300 each. For inquiries, call 410-0821, 725-6244, SMS 0917-8044428 or e-mail petampro@yahoo.com.

On Oct. 6 at 4:30 p.m., PETA will mount “Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto,” a two-hour musical play on voters’ education and participation in good governance, at the PETA-Phinma Theater.

Written by award-winning playwright Vincent de Jesus and directed by Phil Noble, the musical is part of PETA’s tradition of using theater to inform, inspire and move people to action.

This vaudeville-style show will happen back-to-back with live sign-ups for youth volunteerism, post-performance discussion and a shout-out of the youth agenda on the freedom wall.