February 24, 2024
Theater director Harry dela Fuente (Onyl Torres) is making his big comeback to the scene with a controversial play entitled "La Querido." According to his co-producer Cathy (Naths Everett), this explosive play will surely get people talking because it will be featuring frontal nudity and sexual scenes by its daring cast. One of the stars was former teen idol James Dizon (Victor Relosa) making his showbiz comeback in the role of farm hand, Pablo.
The three other actors were newcomers. Andrew Vega (Josef Elizalde), the godson of the producer, plays the invalid army officer Lt. Gen. Antonio Montero. Sexy starlet Trina Montes (Dyessa Garcia) plays Antonio's childhood friend Minerva. Commercial model Laura San Jose (Angela Morena) plays the female lead character Amparo, Antonio's new bride. As she was in her theater debut, she was having a difficult time following the director's instructions.
Director Lawrence Fajardo and screenplay writer John Bedia devised to present a play within a film. The script of the "El Querido" play was written by Jim Flores, obviously adapted from the classic novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover" by D.H. Lawrence. The surnames of the lead characters Montero was likely derived from the film "Ang Kabit ni Mrs. Montero" (Peque Gallaga & Lore Reyes, 1999), which was also based on the same novel.
This Vivamax film felt different from others from the very start with its opening credits featuring animated pencil renditions of various portraits and scenes from the film. The first nude scene only got going after 35 minutes into it, unlike most Vivamax films that have a sex scene from the first frame. This one took its time in setting up the premise and to let viewers into the behind-the-scenes goings-on among director, cast and crew in a theater production.
The main actors were expected to act two ways -- as their character, and as their character's character in the play. Morena's Laura was supposed to be a timid virgin and she looked the part, making her an unlikely Amparo. Elizalde's Andrew was weight-conscious, but this could be an inside joke. Being more experienced, Relosa's James was more self-assured and confident. However, their stage acting techniques were not convincingly theatrical enough.
Onyl Torres, star of Fajardo's "Imbisibol" (2015), was giving it all his campy best as the flamboyant director Harry, who would do everything to make sure his comeback project succeeds. It was very surprising to see Naths Everett, a "Ms. Saigon" alumna whom I had only previously seen in English language plays for Repertory Philippines, in the cast of a Vivamax film. Theater veteran Frannie Zamora cameos as Harry's mentor and toughest critic.
Laura's audition process would have been interesting to see because her personality seemed mismatched for her role at first. It would have been better if the rehearsals were given more time, so we could appreciate how the actors evolve into the actual performance. It was odd why the workshops were held only after critics night, when the need was obvious from the get go. The role of an intimacy coordinator could have introduced and highlighted.
*****SPOILER ALERT
For sure, the graphic stage sex scenes (they made it clear that penile prosthetics were used) seemed more fit for a smaller intimate blackbox theater than a big stage, especially for indie producers like Cathy. This was the third Vivamax film to have gone the John Wayne Bobbitt route, after "Silab" (2021) and "#DoYouThinkIAmSexy?" (2022). However, the bigger shock came after the actual cut itself, which made for a strong ending. 6/10
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