Aida Gomez' Carmen

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Other

I just got back groggy from Boracay last Sunday and it was a refreshing Tuesday night at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo as the 2004 Spanish Dance Awardees' Aida Gomez Dance Company performed a dance opera of sorts, Georges Bizet's Carmen in flamenco. I havent watched any plays in the past 2 years and so the performance gave a little of acculturation and a little sense in what a "nightout" I did have in the past couple of months. A night at the opera was a pleasurable experience indeed, contrary to popular notion that it can be boring...

Anyway thanks to my friend Luis Enrique (Luisen) from Instituto Cervantes, he got me two front row tickets at the balcony and so initially I thought of bringing my college friend (and fellow theater mate) Gerda as this gonna be my birthday gift for her. I sent a message several times but apparently her phone was running low on battery so she wasnt able to take any of my messages so I asked my friend Maggie to come with me instead of which she was particularly pleased. After all, we partied our asses off in Boracay the previous weekend. This should be a welcome respite from all that crunk.

The entire performance was 1 hour and 40 minutes in its entirety and without any intervals. Set in Seville, Carmen is a study of love triangles and fiery passion, and with the flamenco as the medium with Spanish guitars as accompaniment, Spain indeed owned the performance.It's a red hot passionate signature Spanish performance. Portraying Carmen and the ladies in such a fashion that would Bizet smile in his grave, I whispered to Maggie that the performance should be renamed "The Loose Women of Spain". After all these were the gypsy women. In a nutshell, the women were fire dancing onstage.

The Toreador Song, probably one of the most popular songs from musical theater was lovingly rendered, and I am sure would have made almost instant connection with everyone in the audience.

The encore was sweet and fun, and my heart went out to the Escamillo character, for his fierce encore. All in all, except probably the Habanera part, made me stayed awake allthroughout the whole show. The Habanera was not part of the original play by Bizet, it was only added after consultations with patrons. Looking forward for more performances to come!