The Coño Boy 1 & 2: Love What You Will

Chapter Thirty-Seven: All the World's a Stage

Gregory, plays Antonio: "Kung hindi mo ako papatayin dala ng pagmamahal sayo, tulutan mong makapaglingkod ako bilang utusan mo."

Me, playing Sebastian: "Kung hindi mo babawiin ang iyong nagawa na, at papatayin ang sinagip sa kamatayan, huwag mo yang hangarin. Paalam na agad. Puno ng damdamin ang aking dibdib, at sa labis akong nagmana sa ugali ng akong ina; walang kamukat-mukat, nag-iiwan ng bakas ang aking mata!"

I exit to stage left.

*Can I just swear for a bit? Just for now? P$t@ng-!n@ I survived my first scene! It's all so new to me; yung feeling na ito. There's an audience out there and I know we rehearsed with the lights and the music na repeatedly before, but wow. Just wow. I think I didn't do so bad, right?*

I'm still shaking and kind of glued to my spot behind the wings. I feel someone grip me on my left shoulder. It's Gregory, my scene partner, the guy who plays Antonio. I could barely make out his face with the dark backstage work light dahil nag-black out na rin sa stage, but he's smiling at me while giving me a thumbs up. He walks towards the direction of the dressing room.

I decide to stay for a bit to watch the next scene.

I move to a spot kung saan hindi aco makaka-abala sa mga actors and crew.

It's Nerissa's monologue.

Nerissa, plays Viola/Cesario: "Balatkayo, sakbibi ka ng kasamaan, na kinakasangkapan naman ng maulong kaaway!
Anong dali para sa anyong makisig na makintal sa pagkit na puso ng babae.
Pa'no kaya ito?"

*Wow, she's really, really, really good! Hey, honest naman ako with that assessment. You should see her perform. I guess yung pagiging strict niya sa dressing room with us asking to be quiet is part of her discipline. Sorry naman if I'm being ignorant about it, I'm still learning this whole theater and acting business.*

Lloyd, the Production Assistant: Sean, hanap ka ni Sir Ricky.

*Wait, Sir Ricky? While the play is running? May nagawa ba akong mali?*

_ _ _

Sir Ricky: You started out strong. Stronger than any of your rehearsals. Now, you have to keep it up.

Me: Yes, sir.

Sir Ricky: Remember, Sean, that Sebastian has no idea about everything else that's happening at Illyria. He should be as surprised and as quick to respond to the situation. "Play for truth" and don't act it. You get what I'm saying?

Me: But sir, I think I'm already acting.

Sir Ricky: Yes, the job or the activity is acting. But behind the work on stage is the truth as the actor sees it.

Me: Okay, sir.

Sir Ricky: My intention isn't to rattle you, Sean. But if you could see that glint in your eye for a moment there when you were telling Antonio, "nang mag-isa kong mabata ang aking kapalaran", there was so much truth there that even the best acting coaches can't teach you.

*Okay, so I'm not doing a bad job. But I still have the bulk ng role and lines ko sa second half of the show.*

_ _ _

Intermission.

We have 15 minutes for the intermission.

I dared check my phone. I put it inside my bag just to be safe at baka may ibang maka-kita if ever someone messages me.

*There's only one person who I want to check if he messaged me at all.*

I swipe to unlock the screen.

Joaquin:
Keep it up, Dude.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 😁😙😊

*Thank you, Gay Bathalas! But I won't reply just yet. Eheheheh!*

_ _ _

Hindi ko magawang umupo lang sa dressing room to wait for my turn.

I find a decent spot from the stage right wing to watch kung anong nangyayari sa stage.

Gregory, plays Antonio: "Nasa kalooban lahat ng kapintasan natin;
Walang masasabing pangit kungdi ang malupit! Ganda ang kabaitan at makisig na imbi, baul na walang laman, ipininta ng demonyo."

*I love those lines... Yan yung naalala ko while reading it in Shakespeare's English.
In nature there's no blemish but the mind;
None can be call'd deform'd but the unkind.
Virtue is beauty, but the beauteous evil.
Are empty trunks o'erflourish'd by the devil.*

Kleng-Kleng, the Assistant Stage Manager: Sean, standby for your next scene, sabi ni Abbie.

*Yeah, this one with Countess Olivia is critical. I have to be as straight as a ruler. Wait, hindi lahat ng ruler talagang straight. Yung manipis na gamit natin when we were in grade school, nababaluktot yon. F@cker, it's me over-analyzing even my own thoughts.*

Me: Okay. Noted.

_ _ _

Me playing Sebastian: "Anong sarap ito? Saan patungo?
Nababaliw ako, o kaya'y nangangarap.
Bayaang lumalim pa ang tulog na maningning.
Kung ganitong mangarap, huwag muna akong gisingin."

*This moment... For a split-second there, I could see Joaquin seated in the audience with Artie and Caleb. By some favor of the light change, I am able to see him watching me here on stage. His gaze is piercing through me. Under this costume, beneath this make-up, without all the illusion: It's like him and me in this theater and no one else.*

Christine, plays Countess Olivia: "Halina! Sana'y umayon sa aking sadya."

The line from Christine snaps me out of that indescribable moment.

Me playing Sebastian: "Aayon ako."

Christine, plays Countess Olivia: "Naku, mangyari nawa."

We exit to stage right.

_ _ _

More that halfway through the second act...

Backstage.

Gregory, plays Antonio: Sean, okay ka lang?

Me: Yeah, I accidentally dropped the sword sa fight scene kanina. Halata ba?

Gregory, plays Antonio: No, it was a quick save. Good thinking.

*Buti na lang naisip kong yung punching pose na parang boxer para maka-urong to get my sword ma nahulog ko kanina. I heard some of the audience laugh pero baka mapagalitan ako ni Sir Ricky mamaya.*

Winnie: Sean, Quick Change to costume three!

*The home stretch. This is it pancit!*

_ _ _

[Author's Note: All Filipino translations of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night are quoted from the late National Artist Rolando Tinio's.]