Chicago troupe debuts three monologues about domestic workers in Singapore, Sept. 6 to 9

CHICAGO |  A budding Filipino theater company in Chicago returns with its second production. The troupe, named Alab Entablado, debuted last year with the well-received Alay Kay Rizal, a show timed to the anniversary of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal.

Alab Entablado’s second production for 2012 is entitled The Tales of Three Marias. This is a three-part monologue about the plights of overseas Filipino domestic helpers in Singapore interspersed with music, video and movement.

This community event is staged at The Den Theatre (1333 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago). Written and directed by Jay Espano, the show will be in Filipino (Tagalog) with English subtitle. The performers are all Chicago-based Filipino actors: Je Nepomuceno, Evelyn Masbaum and Jovie Calma.

Dates and times are as follows (5 Shows): Thursday, Sept. 6 - 8:00PM (Preview and Industry Night); Friday, Sept. 7 - 8:00PM (Opening Night), and then Saturday, Sept. 8 - Matinee 3:00PM and 8:00PM; and Sunday, Sept. 9 - Matinee 3:00PM.

Here is a description of the three monologues, with their respective titles and the names of performers, according to the company’s press materials:

• Maria Soledad Padua (Je Nepomuceno) |  Sol, a former school teacher in rural Philippines, took a job as a domestic helper in Singapore. But luck seems not on her side as she moved from one employer to the next. All of whom physically abused her. Convinced that it’s􀁑a pattern that she has to break, Sol took matters in her own hands and ends up deep in trouble.
• Maria Dolores Dimarucut (Evelyn Masbaum) |  For thirty years, Dolor strived to permanently go back to the Philippines to be with her daughter. But couldn’t. She has witnessed Singapore’s progress as she continuously worked and in the process became estranged to her home country. Is this the price she pays for trying to give her family a good life?
• Maria Corazon Parungao (Jovie Calma) |   Ever since she was a little girl, strong-willed Maricor dreamt to be in America and see snow and be an American — in that order. When an opportunity to work in Singapore was dropped in her lap, she grabbed the chance without any hesitations, without even knowing where Singapore is. For her, Singapore is just a stepping stone to her ultimate dream.

If you are in the Chicago area, go! — randy gener, in the theater of One World

Tickets: $20.00 General Admission; $15.00 for Students
LOCATION : The Den Theatre – 1333 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622

SEATING IS LIMITED TO 60 PEOPLE PER SHOW. PLEASE RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

For additional information and ticket reservations, please contact
Jay Españo at (773) 420-6777 or Mae Vidal at (312) 218-4258.

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