’The Normal Heart’: confronting the reality of HIV/AIDS

06 October 2015 - The Actor’s Actors, Inc. brings back the Filipino adaptation of Pulitzer Prize winner ’The Normal Heart’ by Larry Kramer, a largely autobiographical play which focuses on the rise of HIV/AIDS crisis in New York City in the 1980s, featuring actors TJ Trinidad, Red Concepcion, Richard Cunanan, Nor Domingo, Topper Fabregas, Jef Flores, Roselyn Perez and Bart Guingona who is also directing the play. The second run of the play will have limited performance beginning October 2, 8 p.m.; October 3, 8 p.m., October 4, 3 pm and 8 pm; October 9, 8 pm; and October 10 and 11 with 3pm and 8 pm shows at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.

The play received critical acclaim during its earlier run in July, which recreated the early era of the epidemic when AIDS was a nameless and mysterious disease claiming the lives of a specific group of people in the 1980’s. The play gives a brave and insightful take on how a man struggled to provoke attention to the issue that was taboo in those days to save as many lives as possible even if it meant losing friends along the way.

Bart Guingona, actor and director of the” The Normal Heart” says, “When I first read “The Normal Heart” years ago, I was keen on staging it because I saw it as a powerful piece of agitative theatre in the tradition of Ibsen, Odets, and Miller. It was angry, impassioned, funny and sad. But other material overtook Larry Kramer’s masterpiece in my list of priorities and I went on to do other things.

Last year, I came across an article that said that the rate of increase of HIV cases in the Philippines was now among the highest in Asia. The questions in my head were, “how did we allow this to happen?” and “who is responsible for this?” And then I remembered “The Normal Heart” and re-read it. A chill ran up my spine when I realized that the Philippines in 2015 was beginning to look like New York in 1981 in terms of awareness, indifference, political apathy.

So, I immersed myself in the world of those fighting the war against the disease-doctors, patients, activists. I decided to finally stage “The Normal Heart” because I realized it could be an important cautionary tale for us to learn from.

The goal of our production is to reach as many people as possible with a message: “There is a crisis going on right now. We need to wake up!” said Guingona.

The first case of HIV infection in the Philippines was reported in 1984. From that year to July 2015, there has been 27,138 HIV cases reported according to the Department of Health, 94% of which is male and median age was 27 years old. As of July 2015 alone, there were 682 new HIV-positive cases reported, this was 17% higher compared to the same period last year (585).

In terms of number of newly diagnosed with HIV per day, the rate has been increasing as well year on year. From a single case per day in 2008, number has now reached 22 per day this year.

“The Normal Heart” is produced by AAI’s The Necessary Theatre and sponsored by Taal Vista Hotel and Standard Chartered Bank, with special arrangement with the Samuel French Inc., New York.

Standard Chartered supports the production in line with its own advocacy against HIV/AIDS. The Normal Heart is a powerful play that reinforces the bank’s advocacy on HIV - which is to decrease social stigma by increasing awareness and understanding of the general public.

Mai Sangalang, Standard Chartered Bank’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing says, “When Bart brought the play to our attention, we immediately saw alignment with our refreshed global programme on HIV, Positive Living. Standard Chartered is an organization that embraces a culture of diversity and inclusion, and 100% supportive of causes such as this. The numbers of HIV cases in the Philippines are alarming by each day. We are one with The Necessary Theatre in firmly believing that increasing public awareness is key in effectively addressing the issue”.

For over 15 years, Standard Chartered encourages HIV and AIDS awareness and promotes safer behaviours through Positive Living, its refreshed global HIV/AIDS education programme. Standard Chartered mandates all its employees to complete their Living with HIV training through elearning and face-to-face education amongst its staff. Standard Chartered also offers to share its HIV/AIDS education program to other institutions free of charge.

For play ticket inquiries, call 2150788 or 0917-5378313, or call TicketWorld at 891-9999.