Artist Playground opens second season with ‘Happiness is a Pearl’

Emerging arts and performance company Artist Playground begins its second season with Happiness is a Pearl, the latest one-act play by Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Hall of Fame inductee Rody Vera that is set to open on June 9.

Partially set in the red-light district of Kabukicho in Tokyo’s Shinjuku city, Happiness is a Pearl focuses on three people who try to find the true meaning of love and happiness.

Prostitute Mari (Ruth Alferez, alternating with Cath Go) was married to a wealthy businessman who left her when she became attached to Kenji (Tomas Miranda, alternating with Jerome Rosalin), a gigolo with a pearl stitched under the skin of his penis. He, however, falls for a Filipino entertainer named Maria (Shiela Espina, alternating with Irra Ruzz), whom he follows to the Philippines in an effort to prove his love.

Happiness is a Pearl is directed by Aliw Award-nominated actor Paul Jake Paule, whose theater and film credits include Guelan Luarca’s Palanca award-winning play Mga Kuneho and George de Jesus III’s Filipino translation of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman, and Loy Arcenas’s film REquieme!, which, incidentally, is penned by Vera.

Happiness is a Pearl is mounted by an artistic team that includes Artist Playground artistic director Roeder Camañag, composer Jesse Lucas, creative consultant Mailes Kanapi, dramaturg Sem Pabion, production designer Reynoso Mercado, lights designer and board operator Joseph Navarro, sound designer Sharon Perlas, sound designer apprentice Rowena Jarito, layout designer John Mark Yap, and choreographer Lezlie Dailisan. ALVIN I. DACANAY

Happiness is a Pearl runs from June 9 to July 3 at the 1701 The Little Room Upstairs located at Landsdale Tower, Mother Ignacia St. corner Timog Ave., Quezon City. Shows are at 7 p.m. from Wednesday to Friday and 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For tickets and inquiries, call 0926-9323179 or visit www.facebook.com/artistplayg.