LEA'S SUBTLETY, DOLLY'S RAWNESS: TWO POWERFUL TAKES ON 'REQUEST SA RADYO'

'Request sa Radyo,' directed and reimagined by Bobby Garcia, is a play that relies entirely on the performer's ability to communicate without dialogue. It revolves around Ms. Reyes, a middle-aged OFW nurse, who is grappling with the isolation and monotony of her life in a small apartment. While both performances told the same story, it was fascinating to see how the interpretation of the character could vary so greatly between the two actors. Lea Salonga (far right, photo) and Dolly de Leon approached the role with differing energies, bringing their own emotional depth and unique presence to the character of Ms. Reyes.

- By CARLO OROSA

I recently had the unique opportunity to experience back-to-back performances of "Request sa Radyo" - one featuring Lea Salonga at 6 p.m., followed by Dolly de Leon at 8 p.m. - at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. Watching both performances in a single evening was an experience I won't soon forget. It allowed me to appreciate the nuances and subtle differences each actor brought to the same role and narrative, making both performances feel distinct despite following the same script.

"Request sa Radyo," directed and reimagined by Bobby Garcia, is a play that relies entirely on the performer's ability to communicate without dialogue. It revolves around Ms. Reyes, a middle-aged OFW nurse, who is grappling with the isolation and monotony of her life in a small apartment.

Her daily routine - brushing her teeth, cleaning, cooking, smelling her armpits and even using the bathroom becomes the focus of the performance. This exploration of the mundane, the deeply personal and the isolated existence of Ms. Reyes mirrors the isolation experienced by many during the COVID-19 era, where physical and emotional distances were magnified.

While both performances told the same story, it was fascinating to see how the interpretation of the character could vary so greatly between the two actors. Lea and Dolly, both highly skilled and renowned in their own right, approached the role with differing energies, bringing their own emotional depth and unique presence to the character of Ms. Reyes.

What they shared, however, was their commitment to portraying this solitary woman with a quiet but palpable intensity, drawing the audience into the stillness and silence of her existence.