phil contemporary drama report

Philippine Contemporary Literature: Philippine Contemporary Literature:

DramaDrama

DRAMADRAMADRAMADRAMADramaDrama is a is a

composition in prose composition in prose form that presents a form that presents a story entirely told in story entirely told in dialogue and action dialogue and action and written with the and written with the

intention of its intention of its eventual eventual

performance before performance before an audience.an audience.

DramaDrama is a is a composition in prose composition in prose form that presents a form that presents a story entirely told in story entirely told in dialogue and action dialogue and action and written with the and written with the

intention of its intention of its eventual eventual

performance before performance before an audience.an audience.

Setting identifies the time and Setting identifies the time and place in which the events occur. It place in which the events occur. It

consists of the historical period, the consists of the historical period, the moment, day and season in which moment, day and season in which

the incidents take place.the incidents take place.

Characters are the people Characters are the people in the play and thus in the play and thus considered as the principal considered as the principal material in a drama.material in a drama.

PlotPlot lays out the series of events lays out the series of events that form the entirety of the play. that form the entirety of the play. It serves as a structural framework It serves as a structural framework

which brings the events to a which brings the events to a cohesive form and sense.cohesive form and sense.

Theme is considered as Theme is considered as the unifying element the unifying element

that defines the that defines the dramatized idea of the dramatized idea of the

play. It answers the play. It answers the question, “What is it question, “What is it

all about?”all about?”

Style refers to the mode of Style refers to the mode of expression or presentation expression or presentation of the play which points out of the play which points out the playwright’s position or the playwright’s position or

viewpoint in life.viewpoint in life.

TRAGEDYTRAGEDYTRAGEDYTRAGEDYTragedy is a type of drama that Tragedy is a type of drama that

shows the downfall and destruction shows the downfall and destruction of a noble or outstanding person, of a noble or outstanding person, traditionally one who possesses a traditionally one who possesses a character weakness called a tragic character weakness called a tragic

flaw. The tragic hero, through choice flaw. The tragic hero, through choice or circumstance, is caught up in a or circumstance, is caught up in a sequence of events that inevitably sequence of events that inevitably

results in disaster.results in disaster.

COMEDYCOMEDYCOMEDYCOMEDYComedyComedy is a type of drama intended to is a type of drama intended to interest and amuse the audience rather interest and amuse the audience rather

than make them deeply concerned about than make them deeply concerned about events that happen. The characters events that happen. The characters overcome some difficulties, but they overcome some difficulties, but they

always overcome their ill fortune and find always overcome their ill fortune and find happiness in the end.happiness in the end.

TRAGICOMEDTRAGICOMEDYY

TRAGICOMEDTRAGICOMEDYY

Tragicomedy is a play that does Tragicomedy is a play that does not adhere strictly to the structure not adhere strictly to the structure of tragedy. This is usually serious of tragedy. This is usually serious

play that also has some of the play that also has some of the qualities of comedy. It arouses qualities of comedy. It arouses

thought even with laughter.thought even with laughter.

FARCEFARCEFARCEFARCEFarce is a play that brings laughter for Farce is a play that brings laughter for the sake of laughter, usually making the sake of laughter, usually making

use of exaggerated events and use of exaggerated events and characters. It has very swift characters. It has very swift

movements, has ridiculous situations, movements, has ridiculous situations, and does not stimulate thought. and does not stimulate thought.

PHILIPPINE PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORACONTEMPORA

RY DRAMARY DRAMA

PHILIPPINE PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORACONTEMPORA

RY DRAMARY DRAMA

Philippine Drama in EnglishPhilippine Drama in English

Philippine writing in English has Philippine writing in English has perhaps made its slowest progress in perhaps made its slowest progress in the drama. the drama.

Until about the last decade, the Until about the last decade, the names prominent in this field can be names prominent in this field can be counted brieflycounted briefly

Reasons for the Slow ProgressReasons for the Slow Progress of Philippine Drama of Philippine Drama

has to be seen and heardhas to be seen and heardproduction demands the competence production demands the competence

and integrity of a host of people and integrity of a host of people other than the playwright himself.other than the playwright himself.

problem of attracting audienceproblem of attracting audience

Prominent Names in Prominent Names in Philippine Contemporary Philippine Contemporary

DramaDramaWilfrido Ma. GuerreroWilfrido Ma. Guerrero

Severino Montano Severino Montano Alberto S. FlorentinoAlberto S. FlorentinoWilfrido D. NolledoWilfrido D. Nolledo

Nick JoaquinNick Joaquin

Wilfrido Ma. GuerreroWilfrido Ma. Guerrero

He was a Filipino He was a Filipino playwright, playwright, director, teacher director, teacher and theater artist. and theater artist. He has written over He has written over a hundred plays, a hundred plays, 41 of which have 41 of which have been published. been published.

January 22, 1911 - April 28, 1995


Several of his plays Several of his plays have been have been translated into and translated into and produced in produced in Chinese, Italian, Chinese, Italian, Spanish, Tagalog, Spanish, Tagalog, Visayan, Ilocano Visayan, Ilocano and Waray.and Waray.

January 22, 1911 - April 28, 1995


Six of his plays Six of his plays have been have been produced abroad: produced abroad: "Half an Hour in a "Half an Hour in a

Convent" Convent" "Three Rats"Three Rats "Condemned" "Condemned" "One, Two, Three“"One, Two, Three“ "Wanted: A "Wanted: A

Chaperon"Chaperon"

January 22, 1911 - April 28, 1995

Wanted: A ChaperonWanted: A Chaperon

The plot of the play centers around a family of The plot of the play centers around a family of many generations, and the difficulties that many generations, and the difficulties that arise from so many different age groups living arise from so many different age groups living within one household. In the story, a well off within one household. In the story, a well off couple have continuing battles with their couple have continuing battles with their children centering around family roles, and children centering around family roles, and the children's behavior. The parents believe the children's behavior. The parents believe that the children should have a chaperone. that the children should have a chaperone. The children disagree heartily, believing that The children disagree heartily, believing that such a custom is outdated, and that the such a custom is outdated, and that the parents are being too strict, and perhaps a parents are being too strict, and perhaps a little bourgeois to even suggest such a thing. little bourgeois to even suggest such a thing. The conflicts also include the children The conflicts also include the children constantly asking their father for money, even constantly asking their father for money, even though they have their own jobs. The father though they have their own jobs. The father believes that the children are irresponsible believes that the children are irresponsible with their finances, and believe that they need with their finances, and believe that they need to learn discipline.to learn discipline.

By Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero

Wanted: A ChaperonWanted: A Chaperon

The comedic style of the The comedic style of the performance and the performance and the lessons within the story lessons within the story that pertain to both that pertain to both teenagers and their teenagers and their parents make it an ideal parents make it an ideal high-school play. high-school play.

It is funny enough to be It is funny enough to be enjoyed by everyone, enjoyed by everyone, yet serious enough to yet serious enough to actually teach something actually teach something to both students, and the to both students, and the parents.parents.

By Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero

Severino Montano Severino Montano

a playwright, a playwright, director, actor and director, actor and theater organizer .theater organizer .

50 plays in his 65-50 plays in his 65-year lifetimeyear lifetime

1915- 1980

Severino Montano Severino Montano

His published His published works include works include The Love of Leonor The Love of Leonor

Rivera Rivera My Morning Star My Morning Star Gabriela Silang Gabriela Silang The Merry Wives of The Merry Wives of

Manila Manila Sabina Sabina Parting at CalambaParting at Calamba

1915- 1980

Sabina: Sabina: A Tragedy by Severino Montano A Tragedy by Severino Montano

It tells about a It tells about a Sabina's love for an Sabina's love for an American trader, Mr. American trader, Mr. George Price, who George Price, who soon caused her soon caused her despair after he told despair after he told her that he's actually her that he's actually married. Her married. Her heartache and heartache and disappointment made disappointment made Sabina commit Sabina commit suicide. suicide.

was 23 when, as an was 23 when, as an accounting student at the accounting student at the University of the East, he won University of the East, he won a Palanca award for his play, a Palanca award for his play, "The World is an Apple." "The World is an Apple."

This success at his first serious This success at his first serious attempt at playwriting made attempt at playwriting made him abandon his accounting him abandon his accounting studies to become a writer.studies to become a writer.

He has since written more He has since written more than 50 plays for stage and than 50 plays for stage and more than 100 for television.more than 100 for television.

Alberto S. FlorentinoAlberto S. FlorentinoJuly 28, 1931

The themes that he The themes that he usually tackles usually tackles about deals with about deals with everyday scenarios everyday scenarios of a commoner's of a commoner's life. life.

He usually portrays He usually portrays the struggles of the struggles of Filipinos.Filipinos.

Alberto S. FlorentinoAlberto S. FlorentinoJuly 28, 1931

The World is an AppleThe World is an Apple A poor worker of an apple factory was A poor worker of an apple factory was

fired from work after stealing one apple fired from work after stealing one apple which he said was for his sick daughter. which he said was for his sick daughter. He had to steal to feed his daughter for He had to steal to feed his daughter for he used his salary to spend nights with he used his salary to spend nights with prostitutes.prostitutes.

Unmindful of his own sin, the poor Unmindful of his own sin, the poor worker blamed the management of the worker blamed the management of the apple factory for firing. He opined that apple factory for firing. He opined that the company had plenty of apples to the company had plenty of apples to share and asserted that he was treated share and asserted that he was treated unfairly.unfairly.

He questioned the act done to correct He questioned the act done to correct his mistake, but he failed to examine his mistake, but he failed to examine himself for the bad thing he did as a himself for the bad thing he did as a wayward and selfish husband.wayward and selfish husband.

By Alberto S. Florentino

Wilfrido D. NolledoWilfrido D. Nolledo

Filipino-American Filipino-American fictionist, playwright, fictionist, playwright, essayist, and editor.essayist, and editor.

In 1965, he was a In 1965, he was a scholar at Iowa scholar at Iowa Writers WorkshopWriters Workshop

served as the served as the literary editor of the literary editor of the Iowa Review.Iowa Review.

January 19, 1933-March 08, 2004

Turn Red The SeaTurn Red The Sea is a story of a son named Leon who takes rebellion with his family is a story of a son named Leon who takes rebellion with his family

because of the misconception that his father doesn’t love him and because of the misconception that his father doesn’t love him and ignores him when it is abroad. He also creates propagandas ignores him when it is abroad. He also creates propagandas against his father who is currently the University President. The against his father who is currently the University President. The worst that he does is when he told his father that he wrote a letter worst that he does is when he told his father that he wrote a letter to the Board of Regents that is totally a filthy lie because he is just to the Board of Regents that is totally a filthy lie because he is just mad of his father that he wants him to suffer. mad of his father that he wants him to suffer.

He is angry because his father has another woman and he thinks He is angry because his father has another woman and he thinks that his father doesn’t love him. His mother explains everything to that his father doesn’t love him. His mother explains everything to him but still he doesn’t care about it. him but still he doesn’t care about it.

Until his father comes down the stairs and asks his wife to get her Until his father comes down the stairs and asks his wife to get her shawl for them to go and have a picnic but suddenly they heard a shawl for them to go and have a picnic but suddenly they heard a gunshot and find out that his father commits suicide. gunshot and find out that his father commits suicide.

The mother blames her son and kill him.The mother blames her son and kill him.

By Wilfrido D. Nolledo

Nick JoaquinNick Joaquin

was a Filipino was a Filipino writer, historian writer, historian and journalist.and journalist.

author of “A author of “A Portrait of the Portrait of the Artist as Filipino” Artist as Filipino” which is considered which is considered as the as the most most important Filipino important Filipino play in English.play in English.

May 4, 1917 – April 29, 2004

A Portrait of the Artist as A Portrait of the Artist as FilipinoFilipino

Set in the Filipino world of pre-Set in the Filipino world of pre-World War II Intramuros of Old World War II Intramuros of Old Manila in October 1941, the Manila in October 1941, the play explores the many aspects play explores the many aspects of Philippine high society by of Philippine high society by telling the story of the telling the story of the Marasigan sisters, Candida and Marasigan sisters, Candida and Paula, and their father, the Paula, and their father, the painter Don Lorenzo Marasigan. painter Don Lorenzo Marasigan.

The theme focuses on family The theme focuses on family conflict and the amalgamation conflict and the amalgamation of old Filipino of old Filipino identity and cultural identity and cultural character with the arrival of character with the arrival of contemporary and Western contemporary and Western ideals.ideals.

By Nick Joaquin


It is about a great but It is about a great but impoverished painter slowly impoverished painter slowly dying along with the Old dying along with the Old Manila. Manila.

It is about his daughters It is about his daughters Candida and Paula, two women Candida and Paula, two women in whom youth and dreams in whom youth and dreams have died but not dignity and have died but not dignity and gentility, trying to survive the gentility, trying to survive the ravages of poverty in an old ravages of poverty in an old paternal home which their paternal home which their brother and sister, Manolo and brother and sister, Manolo and Pepang want to sell.Pepang want to sell.

By Nick Joaquin


It is about the young go-getter of a It is about the young go-getter of a jazz pianist Tony Javier, wanting to jazz pianist Tony Javier, wanting to make an extra buck out of this make an extra buck out of this situation of desperate poverty getting situation of desperate poverty getting caught in his own trap. caught in his own trap.

It is about Don Perico, the Senator It is about Don Perico, the Senator who stopped writing poetry so he who stopped writing poetry so he could earn a living for his family. could earn a living for his family.

It is about Bitoy, the young journalist, It is about Bitoy, the young journalist, trying to interpret for himself and for trying to interpret for himself and for us, the paradoxes of his times and who us, the paradoxes of his times and who takes upon himself the poet’s mandate takes upon himself the poet’s mandate “to remember and to sing.” It is about “to remember and to sing.” It is about all of them, their choices showing us all of them, their choices showing us as that “Life is not as simple as it is in as that “Life is not as simple as it is in art.”art.”

By Nick Joaquin

Organizations that contributed Organizations that contributed to the development of to the development of Philippine drama:Philippine drama:1. Philippine Educational Theatre 1. Philippine Educational Theatre

Association (PETA)Association (PETA)

2. Repertory Philippines2. Repertory Philippines

3. UP Repertory of Behn Cervantes3. UP Repertory of Behn Cervantes

4. Teatro Filipino by Rolando Tinio4. Teatro Filipino by Rolando Tinio

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