平和
和平
평화
ASEAN
22 March 2014
Idol

Filipino-Canadian Theatre in Toronto

Last night's opening performance of Nina Lee Aquino's "Every Letter Counts" at Toronto's Factory Theatre was a stunning success. It is the "must-see" play of the season.

Nina Lee Aquino's "Every Letter Counts" opened last night with stunning success at Toronto's Factory Theatre. The play is a re-imagining of the last five days of the life of Filipino political icon, Benigno Aquino, just before he was assassinated by his nemesis, Ferdinand Marcos. It is told through the eyes of Nina, as his six year niece, "Bunny".

Struggling to find her own path and haunted by her uncle’s voice, a desperate “Bunny” breaks into the Aquino Museum at night, where past, present, myth and memory collide. The play delves into the world of dyslexia and the power of an uncle’s lessons in how one can learn to read by playing the game of Scrabble. Bunny learns that Ninoy has given her more than the power of words. He has given her the power to shape her own destiny.

This intense political and personal drama is acted brilliantly by Nina as Bunny, Jon de Leon as Aquino, Anthony Malarky as Cecilio Aquino (Bunny's father and elder brother of Aquino) and Earl Pastko as Marcos. It is directed by Nigel Shawn Williams.

The play represents a very important opportunity for Toronto's 200,000 strong Filipino community (some of whom are former pro-Aquino activists) to relive and better understand the history of their homeland. The assassination of Benigno Aquino led to the rise of the Philippines "People Power" movement, the end of the Marcos regime, and the return of democracy in the Philippines.

It is also a great opportunity for other members of Toronto's multi-ethnic community to gain an insight into the culture and history of Filipinos, presently the fastest growing ethnic group in Canada.

"Every Letter Counts" will be playing until February 24, 2013. You can book seats and obtain further information on the Factory Theatre's website -- www.factorytheatre.ca.

In addition to being a brilliant director, actor and dramaturge, Nina Lee Aquino is the Artistic Director of Cahoots Theatre Company and a member of Factory Theatre’s Interim Artistic Team. She is also the editor of Canada’s first Asian-Canadian 2-volume drama anthology titled Love & Relasianships and the co-editor of New Essays on Canadian Theatre Volume One: Asian Canadian Theatre. Nina co-wrote Miss Orient(ed) and her monologues have been published in Beyond the Pale and She Speaks. Her other credits include the Ken McDougall Award 2004 for directing, the Canada Council John Hirsch Prize 2008, a Dora Mavor Moore Award for outstanding direction 2011 and four consecutive Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations for Singkil (2007), People Power (2008), Lady in Red Dress (2009) and The Making of St. Jerome (2010).

Author

John West
Executive Director
Asian Century Institute
www.asiancenturyinstitute.com
Tags: asean, Philippines, Filipino-Canadian theatre, Canada, Nina Lee Aquino

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