DANCING LESSONS IS SOMETHING YOU MUSTN'T MISS

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Twin Bill Theatre’s production of Dancing Lessons is a piece written by the American playwright, Mark St. Germain, Dancing Lessons about two people who live in the same building and never have exchanged a word or two.


Set in New York, Senga Quinn, a Broadway dancer suffered a massive leg injury in an accident that most likely may never let her dance again – a character you could easily be drawn to; meanwhile, Ever Montgomery, a professor of geosciences has Asperger’s syndrome – a disorder that impairs social interaction abilities.


The 90 minute play is something to be cherished for its dialogue and music aside from its awareness-raising aspect; the way it entertains us with a story written about two entirely different people that manages to cross paths if not for Ever’s wanting to llearn the basics of dancing for an event that is to honour his work as a professor. Randy Villarama’s portrayal of Ever as a fighter who is willing to incline out of the things he has known to adapt – he conveyed it convincingly that you start to admire him more as the story goes on. As Senga Quinn, Jill Peña proposed a delicate performance as she alter from one emotion to another – Peña’s depiction of such character counterbalance with Villarama’s characterisation. The responses of the characters to each other echoes our own eccentricities in life.


The outstanding direction provided by Francis G. Mattheu offered an unnoticeable unambiguous ways to show how the pair’s relationship grows; along with the help of Kayla Teodoro’s beautifully executed set design that only proves her as a protean designer, and captivating lightning design by Joseph G. Mattheu.
 Kayla Teodoro


(L-R) Joseph G. Matteu, Randy Villarama, Jill Peña, Francis G. Mattheu


Dancing Lessons enlightens us to the capacity of people to change, difficulty of making emotional connection and a blend of compassionate understanding of autism and an odd people romance plot in a timely passaged comedy.

Dancing Lessons runs through to 16th of August to 26th of August 2019 at the Power Mac Centre Spotlight Theatre in Circuit, Makati. Tickets are available at Ticketworld 891 9999


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