Repertory Philippines, more popularly known as REP, brings another daring show to celebrate its 50th anniversary and this one is sure to give you, as double entendres go, a pleasurable experience.
In The Next Room, also called The Vibrator Play, is exactly about what its name suggests – the vibrator. The provocative and brilliant comedy written by multi-awarded playwright Sarah Ruhl gets you laughing and leaves you moved with genuine emotion, too.
At the dawn of electricity in 1880’s New York, gynecological and hysterical disorder expert Dr. Givings, played by Joshua Spafford, uses the newly invented electronic vibrator to induce orgasms – then called “paroxysms” – and relieve men and women of their so-called hysterical tendencies. All the action happens in his ‘operating theater,’ in other words his home clinic which is right next to their living room.
Giannina Ocampo plays Catherine Givings, the lonely and unhappy wife of the good doctor. Catherine listens curiously to the sounds and cries coming from the patients because she has absolutely no idea what goes on in the next room. She has not experienced the ‘treatment’ herself because of her husband’s refusal, the reason he gives is that she isn’t neurotic like his other patients. Her frustration and sadness is aggravated by the fact that she could not produce enough milk for her newborn baby, and so she and her husband resorted to hiring a wet nurse to help.
Coldly neglected by her husband, Catherine has never experienced his touch in their marital bed. When she sees how the anxious and depressed Sabrina Daldry, played by Caisa Borromeo, looking so calm, happy and relieved after being administered ‘treatment,’ Catherine is forced to take matters into her own hands.
In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play is a comedy that shifts gears, one hand shows the medical procedure-only purpose of the vibrator, but then exposes the reality of how women endured physical and emotional neglect in a male-dominated society.
This Tony-nominated production explores the realities of marriage, the nature of intimacy, passion, true love and yes, orgasms.
REP’s anticipated production is directed by theater veteran Chris Millado (Vice President and Artistic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines). Rounding up the powerhouse cast are Cara Barredo, Hans Eckstein, Jef Flores and Tami Monsod.
Catch REP’s In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play from March 24 to April 23 at the Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati City.
For inquiries, you may call REP at 843.3570, and Ticketworld at 891.9999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph.
For updates and show schedules, log on to www.repertoryphilippines.ph, like and follow repertoryphilippines on Facebook and Instagram, and follow @repphils on Twitter.
