Red Turnip Theater Closes Its 4th Season with Sci-Fi Thriller "The Nether"

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Fresh off the critical success of their last outing, the family comedy-drama Tribes, Red Turnip Theater is ready to take audiences into a different theater experience with the sci-fi thriller THE NETHER.

Ever since making their debut four years ago, Red Turnip has already made quite the dent in the local theater scene. By sticking to their vision of producing contemporary straight plays, this young company has almost single-handedly paved the way for the straight play to find equal footing in a landscape formerly dominated by the musical. Younger companies have sprouted and followed suit and there are now more text-driven plays getting produced than ever before. Each of the Red Turnip’s eight productions has gone on to top critics’ lists and garner awards and nominations from both the Aliw and Gawad Buhay Awards, making this company the go-to for outstanding plays that both entertain and move.

Their Fourth Season’s grand finale is THE NETHER, a sci-fi crime drama about the dilemmas of living in a virtual world. Written by Jennifer Haley and winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, this thrilling play explores the ethical questions and moral consequences of living out one’s hidden desires and fantasies. Set in the not-so-distant future, this haunting thriller made its West End and Off-Broadway debut back in 2015 and has been produced across the U.S. and Europe.

THE NETHER makes its Asian premiere via Red Turnip with multi-award winning actress and director Ana Abad Santos at the helm. A veteran of the stage and screen, Abad Santos returns to the director’s chair after her award-winning turn in the film Apocalypse Child and nominated lead performance in Red Turnip’s Time Stands Still. She won critical acclaim for her direction in the Red Turnip debut production Closer as well as her dystopian take on Hamlet for Repertory Philippines.

ABAD SANTOS: When I first read ‘The Nether’, it was love at first sight. It is a new material that bravely dives into the horrors of man, the unspeakable, and still makes sense of it. It’s about our present journey into the big unknown, that other world we call the Internet. And to present this advanced concept on a very basic traditional medium, which is the stage, is so exciting. It explores human desires and boundaries or lack of. And the discovery that no matter how beautiful or grotesque our desires are, we are all still searching for that “one”--to LOVE and to be loved.

THE NETHER boasts a powerhouse ensemble led by legendary actors Bernardo Bernardo (Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis, El Filibusterismo, Katy!) and Bodjie Pascua (3 Stars and a Sun, The Tempest Reimagined, Waiting for Godot). Making their Red Turnip debuts, young actresses Alba Berenguer-Testa (Annie) and Junyka Santarin (GMA 7’s Pyra) alternate in one of the play’s pivotal roles. Screen actor TJ Trinidad (Saving Sally) joins the cast after an accomplished theater debut as Bruce in last year’s The Normal Heart, which garnered him a Gawad Buhay nomination for Best Featured Actor.

Jenny Jamora (Cock, The Vagina Monologues, A Little Night Music) returns to the Red Turnip stage to take on the lead role of Detective Morris, an investigator of The Nether’s online offerings.

JAMORA: I do most of my scenes with Bernardo Bernardo and Bodjie Pascua, I’m terrified but absolutely psyched for the challenge. In ’Cock’, my character was a fighter but due more to the external circumstances of being in a man’s world. Detective Morris is also a strong female character but, this time, in a position of power. I’m excited to take on her internal struggle to maintain that authority as she discovers hidden parts of herself that may threaten that.

THE NETHER is a play for our times. It is relevant; it is provocative. In the play, life is spent more and more in The Nether, a virtual paradise so interactive that it engages all the senses--a tempting haven to retreat from a bleak world. But the main conflict begs the question: In a computer-generated space, is there no room for ethics and morality? THE NETHER isn’t just about Virtual Reality, but Reality itself.

With a stellar cast and creative team, this Red Turnip production is sure to electrify with its one-of-a-kind story and give audiences the complete theatrical experience this groundbreaking new company is known for.

THE NETHER opens March 10 and runs all weekends until April 9. Tickets atwww.ticketworld.com.ph or www.redturnip.com.ph.

Venue: The Power Mac Center Spotlight Theater
Circuit, Makati
(Level 2, Circuit Lane, A.P. Reyes Avenue, Makati City)

Directed by: Ana Abad Santos
Lighting Design / Technical Direction: John Batalla
Set Design: Ed Lacson, Jr.
Sound Design: Teresa Barrozo
Costume Design: Faust Peneyra

Joshua Pacio Keen on Getting Rematch with Yoshitaka Naito if He Wins Over Thai Foe

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Filipino fighter Joshua Pacio knows that if he plays his cards right against Thai combatant Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, he will get an opportunity to challenge Japanese veteran Yoshitaka Naito for the ONE Strawweight World Championship title again.

Pacio and Naito crossed paths this past October in the main event of ONE: STATE OF WARRIORS, where the latter had to endure two grueling rounds before he pulled off a come-from-behind victory by submitting the Pinoy prospect with a rear-naked choke in the third frame to keep the gold-plated strap around his waist.

The 21-year-old Baguio City native hopes that if he secures a convincing win over Dejdamrong, it will grant him a second date with Naito for the ONE Strawweight World Championship belt later this year.

“I want to fight for the world title again. I was inches away from winning it, but one mistake took that one crowning moment away from me. Since my loss to Naito, vying for the world title once again is my main goal,” Pacio stated.

“I have the chance to face Naito again for the belt if I will get the win over Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke on March 11. The stakes are high in this fight,” he added.

The Pochologist (Episode 1): How to Know Your Life Purpose

Wazzup Pilipinas!

WHY... perhaps the most important yet most difficult question to answer. Why did you wake up today? Why do you go to work? Why are you alive? Let the Pochologist help you answer this big question in this short but inspirational video about finding your LIFE PURPOSE. Pocholo Gonzales is your Pochologist - your mentor and your friend in the school of life.

Life is a never-ending quest for MEANING.

On the surface, it seems as if people only strive for fame or fortune. But deep in our hearts, everything that we strive for – material or imaterial – all lead to our much deeper desire to be significant. We ultimately want to have an impact – to our loved ones, to the society, to the world.

But how do we reach that level of accomplishment, amidst the distractions in our daily life? How do we go past the viscious cycle of working for money, chasing deadlines, and balancing work and play? What’s the secret to truly achieving GREATNESS?

The truth is, there is no secret to success or happiness. Everyone knows what needs to be done in order to achieve their dreams. But you see, knowing what to do is very much different from doing what you know. We don’t need to be informed much more than we need to be REMINDED of the actions we need to take in order to become the best version of ourselves.

This is where the Pochologist comes in!

As one of the most sought-after speakers in the country today, Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales takes inspiration and motivation to a higher level as the Pochologist. Believing that inspiration and motivation has expiration, Pocholo uplifts your spirit through EMPOWERMENT – giving you actionable, practical wisdom that will take you from knowing to DOING.

For over a decade, Pocholo has empowered thousands of Filipinos here and abroad – through his radio programs and his motivational talks. He has a collection of his own words of wisdom which he fondly calls “Pochology.” Now, he has opened yet another avenue to help others discover their greatness – the POCHOLOGIST.

For a few minutes each day, the Pochologist helps you discover your potential and live up to your greatness, with short yet empowering videos that will not only make you think, but also ACT.

Here’s the pilot episode of the Pochologist, where he talks about life purpose. In this video, the Pochologist will help you answer your WHY – the most important yet the most difficult question to answer in our life.

 

Contributed by Pocholo "The Voicemaster" Gonzales