MANILA, Philippines—After earning accolades as one of the Best of Filipino Theaters in 2023, Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas’ “Prinsipe Bahaghari” is scheduled to enchant audiences at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, Circuit Makati, from January 19-21 and 26-28, 2024.
This puppetry adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s modern classic, “The Little Prince,” tells the tale of the Rainbow Prince’s quest for a companion to care for his flower, the Gumamela, on his home planet. As he encounters extraordinary characters and befriends the Storyteller, the play unfolds the meaning of Prinsipe Bahaghari’s relationship with the flower.
Image Courtesy of Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas.
Celebrating Filipino culture, myths, and language, the production prioritizes accessibility, especially for children, utilizing rattan puppets and local materials.
Playwright Vladimeir Gonzales shared, “The use of the Filipino language and stories are drawn from the experiences of our people to narrate the magic and challenges of growing up, of the many ways of taking care of this world, of faith in different forms of love within and beyond the reach of the physical senses.”
Directed by Aina Ramolete, the play originated as a thesis project and has gained recognition since its premiere in November 2023. Noteworthy appearances include the 14th Annual Meeting and International Conference of the Asian Theatre Working Group and Puppet Power 2022: Celebration! in Canada. “Prinsipe Bahaghari” was a finalist in The Red Curtain International’s Good Theatre Festival for Young Audiences in India, receiving several awards.
The artistic and production team includes Vladimeir Gonzales (Playwright), Aina Ramolete (Director & Overall Production Designer), Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete (Producer & Assistant Director), and more.
Experience the magic of “Prinsipe Bahaghari” on January 19, 20, 26, and 27, 2024, at 7:38 pm, with matinee shows on January 21 and 28, 2024, at 3:38 pm, at Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, Circuit Makati. Tickets available at https://ticket2me.net/event/21496.
The play will also embark on an outreach run in Palawan on February 23, part of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ outreach program.