FRINGE 2015: STROKE explores the Filipino diaspora in-depth

When pride takes precedence over currency, when the quantity of a bank statement nulls over spending quality time with your family, or when swallowing your own emotions today to be in your loved one’s company tomorrow is what you have to be doing, at what cost does it take risk it all for the sake of happiness?

Written and directed by Marie Barlizo, STROKE invites us to sit down and witness an untold story of what many overseas Filipinos experienced for generations – leaving their home land working elsewhere to financially support their families and loved ones they have left behind.

But with success comes a nasty twist, as those who eye for the coveted prize of prosperity find themselves trapped in a vortex of unnecessary greed, establishing up irrational goals, pushing for bigger profit, and crawing towards a higher social status to top it all off. After all, happiness does come with a hefty price tag and a baggage that’s heavier than a 50-pound in-flight carry on.

The cast of characters represented by these actors are dedicated. They are enigmatic, full of life, and passionate in putting up with every line, right down to the very last millisecond: from the ever-so-humorous pudgy flamboyant middle-aged auntie, the aristocratic over-achiever surgeon and his Westmount-bound Anglophone secretary, and the hardworking twenty-something female doctor donned in Irish-green-hued scrubs, screaming and scrambling at her incompetent boss.

But that’s just scratching the surface. More cobwebs, dark secrets, revelations and surprises begin to unravel, altogether carrying a certain vibe that resembles a modern slice-of-life Filipino television drama (aka the teleserye) coming to life, while freshly seasoned with the most distinct Montrealais flavor that can only be savored here. Any more detail would be just spoiling it. Seriously.

Being the first production in a long time to be anchored by a Filipino playwright at the Montreal Fringe Festival, this play successfully showcases what goes beyond the smiles of the overseas Filipino. Each act orchestrated is done with finesse and elegance, and pounces on our deepest emotions. To put this on the record (and also an editorial disclaimer too), I am partly of Filipino heritage. Living in the Philippines overseas as a child for half of my life exposed me to learning the stories of how so many friends, colleagues, and family have been in similar situations as seen in this play.

Perhaps that is why this play got my attention, and in turn it resonated with me deeply in a way that seeing this collective narrative experience come to life at this festival means a lot to me. As a rookie storyteller, seeing this on stage really makes me proud.

Altogether, STROKE is a powerful story about how humans struggle to build a prosperous life out of very volatile circumstances, even if it risks giving up all of their own personal desires on the line. This play also leaves a powerful message – begging us to reflect how capitalism can sometimes divide human beings apart, and blur the lines between pride and humility.

I mean in the grand scheme of things, can money really buy us happiness?

STROKE continues to play at the Espace Freestanding Room, located at 4324 Saint-Laurent, Suite 300, at the following dates and times:

  • June 18th (Thursday) at 8:00 pm
  • June 19th (Friday) at 8:00 pm
  • June 20th (Saturday) at 8:00 pm
  • June 21st (Sunday) at 2:00 pm

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Saturn De Los Angeles is part of CJLO’s Official Fringe Team covering the sights and sounds from the 2015 St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival. Saturn also hosts Shibuya Crossing every Wednesday afternoon from 2 – 4pm, and is a member of the CJLO News Team.

Follow Saturn on Twitter and Instagram @satyyy.