Tyranny is not always born – for it to flourish, it must not only be bred, but coddled. Such is the premise of “Ang Muntik Nang Di Mapigilang Paghahari ni Arturo Ui”, Dulaang UP’s Filipino adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.” Ably helmed by Alexander Cortez, the production boasts of dynamic choreography, original compositions, an ensemble of energized portrayals, and a plot both timely and timeless.
The play juxtaposes Adolf Hitler’s rise to power with Chicago circa 1930, where greed is at an all-time high and vegetable sales are at an all-time low. Merchants from the deteriorating Cauliflower Trust secure their hold on the local market by bribing the heretofore honest Mayor Dogsborough (Jerson Rey Guiwa). The illicit deal is kept under wraps, until an incriminating witness falls into the hands of gang leader Arturo Ui (Randy Villarama). With little else but wiliness and a band of loyal cronies, Ui successfully blackmails Dogsborough in an attempt to gain political clout.
Equality, fraternity, morality – Chicago under Arturo Ui is governed by anything else but. The road to absolute power, after all, is one marred in blood and riddled with bullets. But in as much as lust for power corrodes a leader, submissiveness among the citizens erodes the soil upon which democracy is rooted. The cast echoes this sentiment in their closing hymn against passivity: “Ang lahat ng madaling makalimot / Ang lahat ng palaging takot / Ang lahat ng na kay raming dahilan / Ang siyang may kasalanan (All those who forget too easily / All those who always live in fear / All those who never run out of excuses / Are to blame).” With the chorus’ fingers pointing at the audience (both literally and figuratively), the parting scene is at the very least striking, and at the very most, haunting. In these times of social, political and economic turbulence, the epilogue of “Ang Muntik Nang Di Mapigilang Paghahari ni Arturo Ui” is as much a threat as it is a call to action.
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“Ang Muntik Nang Di Mapigilang Paghahari ni Arturo Ui” will be performed from Feb 17 to March 7, with screenings at 7 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekends. For ticket inquiries, please contact Dulaang UP at 09228124938, 09194281399, 981-8500 local 2449 / 2451 or 926-1349. Catch it while you can! 🙂