‘Sandosenang Sapatos’ REVIEW: For the dreamers despite of it all
‘Sandosenang Sapatos’ REVIEW: For the dreamers despite of it all
Courtesy of May Celeste
Have you ever dreamed of something you can never attain? Have you yearned for a life better than you are living now? Based on Luis P. Gatmaitan’s short story of the same name, Sandosenang Sapatos follows Susie, an eleven-year-old girl who aspires to become a ballerina someday, as her father wishes for one of his daughters to be. This is all but a pipe dream, however, for her disability hinders her from ever walking.
For her twelfth birthday, Susie wishes for something she has been dreaming of for years: to finally be able to walk. But it can never truly happen. Disappointment seeps into her every year she celebrates her birthday. She carries the guilt of not being able to achieve the dreams of her father. She turns to her dreams instead, where she can roam freely with her set of whimsical friends and truly be happy, as she puts it. Music by Joel Balsamo and Noel Cabangon transport and immerse us into this world with such ease, with the song “Sa Panaginip Lang Ako Minamahal.”
Wincess Jem Gaviola Yana and Felicity Kyle Napuli play this role on alternate nights, and they give remarkable performances. It’s easy to praise an impressive and beautiful singing voice, which they both have, but it’s hard to pull off emotions and character while doing one, and they managed to embody Susie extremely well through these songs. You can see the vulnerability, naivete, and grief in their whole performance.
Courtesy of May Celeste
The musical acknowledges the difficulties of her condition from Susie’s point of view. From the overprotective nature of her parents to self-deprecation, Layeta Bucoy adapts Gatmaitan’s short story that gives an eye-opener to the audience of the realities of the disabled, without making the musical feel like a big pity party for Susie.
Despite the underprivileged life they’re living, Susie’s family is completely content somehow. Her mother is a humble homemaker. Her older sister is a painter and a good one. Her father, while sick, still manages to go to work every day and never fails to provide for his family. They give everything they can to Susie and support her writing. No matter how hard their life is, having each other is enough for all of them. You can feel their strong bond and how much they trust each other, thanks to the performances of the actors (Tex Ordoñez-De Leon, John Joven Uy, and Mica Fajardo).
When tragedy strikes, it’s easy to resort to a melodramatic and sorrowful ending. Bucoy handles this section of the play well. Given the nature of the production and its intended audience, it makes sense and is suitable that the musical allowed for a great deal of optimism despite the family's unfortunate circumstances. However, it never became pessimistic since it continues to recognize the seriousness of their circumstances, including the realities of their social status and the challenges of having a disability. The play lets both the audience and Susie process the emotional toll the climax gives.
The ending of Sandosenang Sapatos ultimately seals the show’s overall thesis: unconditional love can never be broken, no matter how many storms test its strength. Tanghalang Pilipino’s rerun of the musical is a special treat for all of us, not just because of the impressive set design and other production elements. The musical resonates with a lot of us and I’m pretty sure some of us will see ourselves in Susie — a little dreamer with a big heart despite it all.
Tanghalang Pilipino’s production of Sandosenang Sapatos is running until December 8 at CCP’s Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez. There are still few tickets left for the remaining shows. You may head over at Tanghalang Pilipino’s Facebook page for more information
