Any play can, practically, be “based on a true story” but The Insanity of Mary Girard is one of the few that took real-life events into a haunting and highly theatrical piece.
Mary Girard (1758–1815) was committed to an asylum in 1790 where her husband declared her legally insane. During her confinement, she gave birth to a baby girl – unsure who the father was – who died five months later. After residing in the insanity ward for 25 years, she was laid to rest somewhere on hospital grounds, her grave unmarked.
Three actors will be bringing life to the “furies” on the last night of Mary Girard in 13th of September: Adore Dominguez, a hair and makeup artist at ABS-CBN and Chairman of Sining-Lani Poly Repertory Alumni at present; Marco Edward Calilao, actor and production staff; and Lao Rodriguez, a television and film actor.
With the help of institutions such as Erehwon Center for the Arts, BOGT had a head start to establish and start pursuing their goals. True to its mission and vision, Erehwon provided a space for the team to “advance art to a new and higher level” and to “strengthen art as a means of communication and understanding among people”. Hence, BOGT is launching the Philippines’ official entry to the 9th Festival international de Théâtre de Mont-Laurier, “13th of September” on August 10, 2019 (4pm) for guests of Erehwon and August 11, 2019 (7pm) for the press, sponsors, and patrons of BOGT at Erehwon Center for the Arts: The People’s Art Center.
Be Our Guest Theatricals’ 13th of September is a reimagination of Lanie Robertson’s The Insanity of Mary Girard chosen to represent the Philippines and be a part of the 9th Festival international de Théâtre de Mont-Laurier at Quebec, Canada on Sept. 5 to 11.
Be Our Guest Theatricals is a team of professional theater and film practitioners based in Manila, Philippines. The group’s major goal is to create and produce shows for different international theater festivals and this year, a door was opened to the group to start achieving it. The theater company wants to boost the presence of the Philippine theater in the international realm and at the same time, bring home and share their learnings to Filipino professional and school-based theater companies.
Only 25 companies from over 20 countries were selected to join and present their plays during the biennial theater festival. The Philippines is the only country from Southeast Asia who was selected to join the festival since its launch in 2003.
13th of September is written by Eljay Castro Deldoc and directed by Riki Benedicto. Fundraising shows, which are in partnership with BGC Arts Center, will also be held on Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 (4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.) at Zobel De Ayala Recital Hall, Maybank Performing Arts Theater. Proceeds of these fundraising shows will go to the actors’ and production staff’s travel expenses to the said festival in Quebec, Canada on 5-11 September 2019 where they will be performing as the country’s official delegation. Tickets are available at www.ticketworld.com.ph.
Erehwon Center for the Arts is a member of the Philippine Performing Art Centers Consortium (PhilPACC), a project of the CCP. It is located at 1 Don Francisco St., Villa Beatriz, Old Balara, Quezon City, operating hours are from Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For inquiries, email: [email protected]; or call (02) 294-5286; mobile: (+63) 917 657 9932.