FOUR members of the cast of upcoming stage play, His Son, Jose Rizal, detailed their impressions on their roles last week.
Ala Paredes, who plays Rizal’s younger sister ‘Soledad’; Manny Diel, who plays the main character ‘Jose Rizal’; Kate Andres, who plays Rizal’s mother ‘Teodora’, and Bob Mendoza, who plays Teodora’s confessor-confidant ‘Father Leonico Lopez’ went on radio last week to air their impressions.
In a special twist to interviewing on Radio Sandigan, Ms Paredes led the talk segment on the cast as interviewer. In describing her feelings about ‘Soledad’, she said it impressed her that ‘Soledad’ was a woman ahead of her time and not the typical docile woman of those days.
Mr Diel said he studied the life of ‘Jose Rizal’ and, as instructed by play director Armando Reyes, grew a mustache which friends had said made him look very much the part.
Mr Mendoza said he felt the role of ‘Father Lopez’ had been ordained for him. He welcomed the role because he is a lay missionary and could well adapt to the role of a priest.
Mrs Andres said she could see herself in the character ‘Teodora’, who was an activist and strong of character much like she had been in younger days.
Leonor Orosa Goquinco’s one-act stage play, Her son, Jose Rizal, is about the life of Rizal, covering his childhood and significant events before his execution by a Spanish firing squad. It goes through the arrest of his mother Teodora by civil guards, a fiesta scene with the Governor General, Rizal’s cell detention and his farewell to his mother.
Actor-singer RJ Rosales plays the role of a youthful Jose Rizal, with Mr Diel playing the 35-year-old Rizal. The role of nine-year-old Rizal is played by Elijah Merjudio. The role of Rizal’s elder brother Paciano, is played by Marcel de Vera, and also in the role of Rizal’s younger sister Choleng is Arianne Milan.
Her Son, Jose Rizal opens on Thursday, June 17 and will run up to June 20, at the Tom Mann Theatre in Surry Hills, Sydney.