‘El Fuego del Alma’ heads into final weekend after 6 sold-out shows

Porvenir’s first fully staged production draws praise for immersive staging, Day and Night versions.

After six sold-out performances and strong reviews, Porvenir’s “El Fuego del Alma” is heading into its final weekend at Sine Pop in Cubao.

The production, Porvenir’s first fully staged offering, has steadily gained momentum since opening in July. After selling out one performance during its first week, five more shows sold out in its second week as word of mouth drew more theatergoers.

Directed by Mark Mirando and translated into Filipino by playwright Eljay Castro Deldoc, “El Fuego del Alma” is an adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ “Summer and Smoke,” a drama about desire, repression and the tension between the spiritual and physical self.

The production has drawn praise for its intimate, immersive staging, with audiences seated just feet away from the actors in a found-space setup that blurs the boundary between spectator and performance.

Theater critic Gibbs Cadiz called it “one of the most arrestingly staged and performed productions of the season, perhaps of the year.”

The cast features Nour Hooshmand, Hariette Mozelle Santos, Opaline Santos, Vincent Pajara, Sandino Martin, Johnny Maglinao, Janna Cortes, Ingrid Joyce, Sheryll Ceasico, Madeleine Nicolas, Rolando Inocencio, JP Lopez, Dolly Dolot and Tristan Bite.

Adding to the production’s appeal are its Day and Night versions. Both tell the same story but create distinct emotional atmospheres through their staging, prompting some theatergoers to return to experience both.

Returning patrons may receive P500 off their second ticket by presenting proof of a previous Ticket2Me purchase together with a matching valid ID.

“El Fuego del Alma” plays its final performances on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m., which is already sold out; Aug. 22 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Sine Pop on St. Mary’s Street in Cubao.

Limited seats remain for the final weekend, with tickets available through Ticket2Me.

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