presents
Ang Banay Ni Crisanta
"Ang Banay ni Crisanta," a deconstruction of the Greek Classic Medea, was another popular production mounted by Mindanao State University theater group Kabpapagariya Ensemble with major sponsor, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Kalimudan Culture and Arts Center as co-sponsor, a drama production performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, ‘Ang Banay ni Crisanta (The House of Crisanta)’, an adaptation to the Greek classic Medea portraying the issues of gender equality, the corruption of the government and the virtual war created by the government to push its political interest thus putting the issue of peace in its proper perspective. Unfolding the narratives in fast-paced ensemble acting, employing authentic actors to dance the laments of the victims of war, with realistic costume designs, and the use of music and voice-overs to dramatize the aural spectacle, the company transformed the acting area into the different images of Mindanao realities. The company presented Mindanao in a cycle of living and leaving, bordering into a culture of displacement and, yes, genocide.
The play is no doubt a faithful representation of the Mindanao conflict with its presentation that the civilian Muslims, the indigenous peoples, and the settler societies are all victims—to the consequences of bombs and bullets that are fired. We cannot fault the performers that despite such a powerful presentation, still a number from the audience will be viewing it with an acquired explanation that the problem is between Muslim and Christians, which the play strongly demystifies.
