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THE PLAY
G is a non-believer turning 33. The age Jesus died. The age their uncle committed suicide. In search for more life, G suddenly finds themselves in the in-between, in a world neither for the living nor dead. G travels to across an imaginary Filipino countryside to a place where unbeknownst to them they’ll have to confront their deepest fears of life: will they ever find love? Accompanying them on this trip is their late grandfather, with whom they’ll meet monsters of Filipino folklore, a ferocious Tikbalang, their late uncle, and their lost aunt, a survivor of demonic possession and exorcisms. A ritual play, a community is asked to participate in singing and maybe some storytelling. They together ask if love does exist in a world of cruelty, and discover together the joys of life, the reasons why we fight to live, and gratitude to themselves and loved ones. Inspired by Dante's Inferno, family stories, and my bipolar disorder.
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
Developed at Orchard Project Greenhouse Lab and Ma-Yi Writers Lab's Writing Retreat Intensive, March 2023
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Semi-Finalist - 2024 Eugene O'Neill Playwriting Conference