HAPPINESS IS A PEARL - What will you do for love?

The moment Kenji and Maria sets on each other.They then knew what they will do for love.

It was a small stage that made the paly a bit intimate with Sakura Flowers known in Japan with some Filipino touch. It reminds me of during 90's where the so called "Japayuki's" are really in demand working in Japan. Simply to help and support of each Filipina who works so hard to earn as an entertainer so that when they come home they have lot of money to make and change their life for a better one even if they knew that a lot would think negative about their real work in Japan.

CAST

Mari

Mari enjoys living her life as a wife to a wealthy businessman. She, however, finds herself trapped in the ripple of life’s problem when her husband leaves her because of her attachment to a hosto named Kenji. Having no other means to survive, Mari becomes a courtesan in the red-light district of Tokyo. Despite being on the same level as her beloved, Mari still struggles to win Kenji’s heart and the pearl he keeps.

Kenji

Kenji is the embodiment of every woman’s fantasy. He is handsome, perfect, and available to everyone who can pay his tag price. Thanks to the pearl stitched in his genitalia, Kenji easily becomes a ladies’ man. Among Kenji’s admirers, it is Mari, the wife of a wealthy businessman, who bears sheer obsession with him and his pearl. Kenji, however, falls for a Filipina entertainer named Maria, and soon embarks on a journey to the Philippines to prove his love for the lass.

Maria

Maria is the face of every Filipino working in Japan. With eyes closed, she accepts her fate of being an entertainer in the red-light district of Tokyo in order to provide for her starving children in the Philippines. Her irrefutable beauty soon captivates a Japanese hosto named Kenji. Uncertain about her feelings, Maria brings Kenji to her native country to prove his love. Maria, however, falls into a dilemma when she faces the need to return to Japan and leave her beloved behind

The cast featured guest artists Ruth Alferez (Mari); indie film actor Tomas Miranda (Kenji); together with The Players, Artist Playground’s very own group of artists namely Cath Go (Mari, alternate), Jerome Rosalin (Kenji, alternate); Shiela Espina and Irra Ruzz (Maria).

The Players are young budding professional group of artists, discovered by Artist Playground through its series of workshops. As in-house members of the company, they can write, direct or act in the year-long season of plays. They are also given the opportunity to hone their skills by mounting fresh and well-thought of productions that are entertaining, mind boggling, and socially relevant. through the professional guidance by some of the most respected artists in the industry.

In so doing, The Players are able to cultivate their talents and skills by engaging in powerful artistic explorations, and even act as mentors amongst each other as one family. Driven by the love for theater, The Players shall continue develop enjoyable theater masterpieces for its audiences regardless of age, gender, and class, in the entire Philippines, if not in the world.

Synopsis

Before becoming a prostitute in a club in Kabukicho, Tokyo, Mari was married to a wealthy businessman. But Mari’s billionaire husband soon leaves her when she becomes attached to a male gigolo named Kenji, who has a pearl stitched under the skin of his penis. However, Kenji sets his eyes on a poverty-stricken Filipina entertainer named Maria. Intertwined by fate and struggles, how will Kenji, Maria, and Mari find the true meaning of love and happiness ?

“Happiness is a Pearl” is directed by Paul Jake Paule, an esteemed actor, director and Aliw Awards nominee.

Artistic and Production Team

The artistic team of “Happiness is a Pearl” are as follows: Paul Jake Paule (Director); Roeder Camanag (Artistic Director), Rody Vera (Playwright); Jesse Lucas (Playwright); Sharon Perlas (Sound Designer); Rowena Jarito (Sound Designer Apprentice); Melvin Sumalinog and Erick Jonathan Sumalinog (Guitarists); Joseph Navarro (Lights Designer and Board Operator); Lezlie Dailisan (Choreographer); Reynoso Mercado (Production Designer); Sem Pabion (Dramaturg); Mailes Kanapi (Creative Consultant); and John Mark Yap (Lay-out Designer).

The production team is composed of the following: Kimberly Claire R. Somoza (Production Manager); Dayana Dancel (Stage Manager); Jacelle Escanan and Princess April Tuason (Assistant Stage Managers); Reynoso Mercado (Set Head); Coleen Lanit (Costume Head0; Christian James Tiongson (Props Head); and John Paul Racho (Spinner).

Interview with Artistic Director of Artist Playground, Roeder Camanag

For tickets and inquiries, visit Artist Playground’s FB Page or contact 0926 932 3179.