The Possession of Cherie Gil as Maria Callas
“Sinaniban si Cherie Gil ni Maria Callas (Cherie Gil is possessed by Maria Callas),” Artistic and Managing Director of the Philippine Opera Company Karla Gutierrez whispered half-seriously as she hurriedly sat beside me before the start of the run-through of Terrence McNally’s Master Class at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium or RCBC Theater on 16 October 2008.
The invited bloggers and I had an inkling of this when we were informed by Karla earlier that Cherie Gil had “requested” for the scheduled run-through to be moved from 4.30pm to 5.30pm instead.
And, as Cherie Gil came onstage, I instinctively sat up and straightened my posture. A maestra had entered.
Coming out of my spell, I gingerly tried to take a picture with my digital camera, but, Cherie “Maria Callas” Gil admonished in my direction, “No photographs,” which made me hurriedly put down the offensive equipment.
As she reprimanded another audience member about a different offense, I asked Karla, “Is she allowed to adlib?”
Karla replied, “No, that’s really in the script.”
Thus, the audience is swept into being part of the Master Class, reminiscent of the roomful of audience members in James Lipton’s famous Inside the Actors Studio program. All the theatergoers are treated as if they’re attending the master class, and the “fourth wall” between the stage and the theater is broken.
As I listened to the monologues that were a combination of historical details, anecdotes, verbal swipes, and instructions, I was strongly reminded of the company calls cum lectures that Tita Bibot Amador, Tony Mabesa, Anton Juan or Rolando Tinio, plus a host of other directors, would give after a rehearsal.
Terence McNally’s words washed over me with great familiarity, and strengthened the core of beliefs that I had created for myself to guide me in my artistic endeavors, such as considering the stage as a “sacred place” or how a simple hand movement must be followed “with your heart and soul.”
And, as Cherie Gil let herself be swept into the maestra’s shoes, I agreed wholeheartedly, yes, actors must indeed be a little bit insane and courageous (or mut — a favored German word by Maria Callas for bravery and spirit), for we must allow a certain level of “possession” by the characters we play.
Photo Courtesy of Karla Gutierrez
GMA 7 Interview of Cherie Gil
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