The Vindicta Anthology

Chapter III: I Cursed Wrath

January 9, 1923

“It is necessary for actors, like you, to know the fundamentals of acting. The characters and the story are crucial for you to identify in order to perform excellently on stage.” Madam Conchita Vestil, the Filipino-American director, told us with a British accent as she gave her instructions in her iconic red lips before our stage blocking. She is on her black coat which perfectly fits in her body posture. She manifested a woman from the Americas although she studied for a long time in London which is why she accepted to direct our play.

“Oscar Wilde! Does anybody know the man?” She asks the cast while sitting on a chair in the middle of the stage. She tries to call names like a strict teacher who wants a no-good student to provide the answer. We are in that kind of situation with all our heads bowed down just to avoid an encounter with her sight. Fortunately, she knew that we were clueless. Nobody responded.

“Technically, the play that we are going to have is The Importance of Being Earnest, and the man whose name I mentioned earlier was the playwright. The said play first premiered in London. She crossed her legs and puts her right arm above it, folded her fist and leaned her head above it.

"The place I came from, on the 14th of February, 1895. Many of you are probably wondering why I told you about this. I knew that but the very reason is for you to have a glimpse of your performance. You have seen a lot of plays, from Shakespeare’s Othello and Hamlet. This time, I want you to try a new masterpiece that will satisfy not just the audience but the cast as well. I want you to experience a modernized play, a creation that will inspire you.” She drew a heart on the air to emphasize what she meant.

I am standing near the stairway but little did I know that behind me are the props to be used during the play. I moved a little to scratch my back but due to the small space I have, my elbow hit the house backdrop which caused it to fall on the ground creating a domino effect. An array of emotions were displayed on the cast members’ faces. Piercing and exaggerated screams were heard from the ladies. They were afraid that they might get crushed with these things even if they were light that can’t even kill a mouse.

“I am so sorry. I just wanted to scratch my back. I didn’t mean to—”

“If you don’t mean it, then recite a poem here.” Madam Conchita seriously told me as she pointed to the stage.

“Uhmmm … I am sorry Madam but I don’t know any…”

“Never underestimate my capacity, Mr. Thiago Delos Reyes." She seriously said.

"I  can identify whether a person is telling the truth or not.” Everybody fell silent. We knew that I just created a storm out of this mess. The others were fiercely staring at me like growling tigers that are about to charge on their prey. I was so nervous that sweat wrapped my entire body while my feet were shaking as if they were about to give up.

“Are we waiting for death to knock?”, Madam Conchita then again spoke. I ate my pride and opened my mouth to recite.

Kahilom nga mangitngit, sultihi ang akong kalag.
Idan-ag ang tanang dautan nga nabuhat ko sa mga sugilanon.
Hangin nga mabugnaw, mihapak kanako dinhi sa luhaan nga patag.
Timailhan nga silot, angayang ihampak sa akoang kaugalingon.

Sumala sa mga bituon, mapildi ang makigbatok.
Mga kalingawan, taliwala sa nagbagang kagul-anan.
Pinulungang mahinungdanon, apan lisod ilitok.
Maayo nalang nga ako nasayod, kini magpabilin hangtud sa kahangturan.

Niining taknaa, hingpit kong makab-ot ang kapahulayan.
Hinaut, ikaw pud ug ang imong mga damgo.

Silence reigned in the entire theater house but not until Madam Conchita stood up and made a sound out of her heels as she walked towards me and clapped which signaled the others to clap as well. I felt so honored with what she has shown me. I just wrote the poem for my mother who died when someone mixed poison with her perfume. I planned to give it to her during her birthday as a symbol of her strength but that won’t happen anymore. When I squatted on the floor, Maestro Rene, her genius and lively assistant, then gave the final instructions.