This was the opener of the 40th season of the Repertory Philippines. I have read the book by Mitch Albom before, and yes, I knew this was going to be a sad but meaningful play. I chose this play to celebrate my wife's birthday with her together this year, and we were certainly not disappointed.
As directed by no less than Ms. Baby Barredo, this play was very intimate. There were only two actors -- Bart Guingona (who maybe I saw last wrestling naked in "Paris and Alexander" in UP Diliman) as the author Mitch Albom, and the legendary Jose Mari Avellana (whom I only knew by reputation, but whom I have not seen in action till now) as the titular sociology professor Morrie Schwartz.
These two talented actors captivated and touched the audience in a play lasts for 1 hour and 45 minutes, with no intermission and no gimmicks, just the insightful conversations between two people -- a professor (dying from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and his favorite student -- not only about death and dying, but also about life and living it to the fullest. It was sad, but not maudlin. It was about the inevitability of death, yes, yet it is full of hope and redemption.
One essential message Morrie left Mitch was "Don't hide your light under a bushel." He urges Mitch, and us, to keep on giving while we are still alive, so that we will continue to live, even as we have already passed on. Beautiful message.
(Photos care of www.repertory-philippines.com)
Watch this first of a series of videos on youtube of Ted Koppel and his interviews with the real Morrie Schwartz that was referred to in the play:
