Martin Del Rosario, Denise Esteban on making their theater debut with 'Anino sa Likod ng Buwan'

Revisiting the play

Lana first wrote his riveting one-act play on love, war, and politics when he was 19 back in 1993, and it was adapted on stage by Bulwagang Gantimpala and Artistang Artlets of the University of Santo Tomas. 

After a film version in 2015, Anino sa Likod ng Buwan returned to its theatrical roots this year with Rutaquio in the director’s chair.

“I was chosen to direct the piece. Sabi ni Jun, parang ako lang daw 'yung pwede makapag-direct niya. Na-flattered naman ako doon,” he said. “I thought that it was so timely. Hindi pa kasi masyadong naco-cover ‘yung era na ‘yan, ‘yung moment na ‘yan in art history. It was set during the 90s, sa Marag Valley ba binomba ng military na nagiging center na siya ng resistance ng mga New People's Army.”

The first staging saw Del Rosario, Pesigan, and Elora Españo as Joel, Nardo, and Emma respectively. This time, the rerun adds Edward Benosa, Vincent Pajara, and Esteban into the mix as their alternatives.

The play is especially memorable for Del Rosario and Esteban, as this marked their debut on the theater stage after coming from the world of film and television.

Del Rosario admitted that he had doubts whether he could thrive performing live when he was tapped to audition for Joel.

“May matagal na pagninilay-nilay na parang, ‘Kaya ko ba?’ Kasi never pa nga ako nag-theater. Mapapanindigan ko ba kung umoo ako dito? Tapos pumasok sa isip ko na, ‘What if i-regret ko ‘to sa future na nang dahil lang sa takot or nang dahil hindi ko tinry ay pagsisihan ko na bakit hindi ko ginawa itong napakaganda role?’” he said.

“And na-realize ko na kaya naman pala, and ang sarap sa feeling nung natapos ‘yung first try,” he added.

Esteban also had her heart in her mouth when she became a part of the play, but highlighted that everything was worth it in the end.

“Kinabahan din ako na parang hindi ko kaya kasi since first time ko rin. Hindi ko inexpect na ma-mememorize ko ‘yung ganung kakapal na script, so marami rin ako natutunan,” she remarked.

For Pesigan, landing a role in Anino sa Likod ng Buwan was a full-circle moment for him as he had auditioned for the 2015 film when he was in his early 20s but was unsuccessful.

“Babyface pa talaga ako so gets ko naman kung bakit isa ako sa mga hindi napili. Tapos ito yung opportunity na makabawi dun sa naudlot na audition,” he said.

Handling the intimate scenes

According to Rutaquio, building trust and emotional connection among the cast was essential to navigating the play’s most intimate and intense moments.

“Last year, we were working already mga October or November until February, so medyo magaan na sila sa isa’t isa, and that was very important for me. Hindi halos sila magkakakilala in the beginning,” he said.

“Bago kami pumunta dun sa very sensitive scenes, I wanted them to be comfortable with each other because I wanted to create that respect first,” he added.

For the play's mature scenes, Rutaquio made sure to choreograph them as carefully as possible. Del Rosario and Esteban couldn’t be more grateful for his thoughtful direction, but this wouldn’t be possible without their mutual respect for each other.

“Ultimo ‘yung halika dito, halika sa lahat, pinapaalam. Kunyari, ka-eksena ko si Den, pinapaalam ko, ‘Okay lang ba sa'yo na hawakan ka dito?’ Lahat ng galaw namin sa sex, nanggagaling sa trust and respeto sa isa't isa,” Del Rosario shared.

Still, performing intimate scenes in front of a live audience is a different situation compared to a few crew members in a studio, but Del Rosario has a trick to keep his nerves calm.

“Hindi ko iisipin ‘yung may nanonood, more on kung ano ‘yung need na emotion or intention ng character,” he said. “Kapag nandun ka pala, kapag nandyan na ‘yung lights, suot na ‘yung costume, all of a sudden, parang malolost ka na don sa mundo niyo.”

Esteban had similar feelings in that she gets lost in her character when she’s already on stage.

“Sa film, kaunting tao lang. 'Yung sa camera kasi, pwedeng naka-cut ‘yun eh, tapos kung anong anggulo lang ‘yung kailangan. Doon sa stage, hindi ko na rin naisip na may mga tao doon,” she said.

“Feeling ko na ‘yung ginagawa namin sa stage and also sa film, nakikita nila ‘yun as art na part ‘yun ng story,” she added. Kung wala ‘yun, hindi mabubuo ang kwento.”

Growth in the spotlight

With its heavy themes that are not just for show, Anino sa Likod ng Buwan isn’t an easy ride for its actors, but all of them were eager to grow through the experience.

“Sobrang outside my comfort zone ko ‘to,” Del Rosario said. “Hindi ako sanay na isahang one hour and 45 minutes na play, na tatlo lang kayong actors, tapos ang haba-haba ng script ng aming dialogue. Pero still, tinanggap ko siya kasi gusto ko ng challenge. Gusto ko ng growth.”

“Ngayon ko pa lang ata nagawa ‘yung parang ayokong munang mapuyat, ayokong uminom. Kasi parang ‘yung mind ko, parang ayokong madiskarel. ‘Yung focus and ‘yung endurance ng body, ‘yun yung bago sa akin. Sobrang nakakapagod but sobrang fulfilling,” he continued.

Esteban meanwhile highlighted how this was a “big achievement” for her, and that performing in front of a live audience connected her to the craft.

“Nung sumalang na kami, ‘yun pala ‘yung nakakawala ng kaba, ng takot. Parang mas kakalma ka kapag nagrereact na ‘yung tao,” she said.

Unlike his co-stars, Anino sa Likod ng Buwan is not Pesigan’s first rodeo. Nevertheless, there were times that rehearsals got too heavy for him due to the emotional weight of the material, but he strived to “live in the moment” and channel his character.

“I have to recognize that kasi hindi ko siya pwedeng i-ignore. The more na i-ignore ko siya, naiipon siya,” he said.

“Nakakatulong din ‘yung banter ng cast after. Intense ‘tong play, pero before and after the rehearsal, nagbibiruan kami. ‘Yun ‘yung sabihin na nating irony nung situation—mabigat ‘yung play, pero ang gaan ng cast and crew,” he added.

Why Anino sa Likod ng Buwan is a must-watch

Despite the play being three decades old, Rutaquio underscored how its themes of power dynamics carry renewed relevance today.

“Lahat tayo ay nagiging puppets ng nakatataas. Ganun din dito, dahil itong tatlong characters na ito, in the end, are all victims of what has transpired. Ito’y nangyayari sa atin ngayon, na parang tayo na nasa laylayan. Nandun lang tayo, watching things unfold to us by the people in the government positions,” he said.

With the addition of new cast members, Del Rosario noted how this will offer fresh emotional textures to the narrative.

“Interesting na magkakaroon ng mga new combination ‘yung cast. So bawat ibang actor, iba ‘yung dynamics. May pagkakaiba sa flavor ng atake ng bawat isa,” he said.

If you're curious what we thought of the play during its first staging, here's our review on its earlier run.