I remember sitting in the front row of the Guerrero Theater. I remember laughing the whole night. I remember wanting to watch it again. That was in 2006. On October 2, 2010, at 3 in the afternoon, I sat on the second row waiting for the same show I watched four years ago to start.
When I learned that Dulaang UP will restage Shock Value and that my awesome Theater 12 (the one and only academic class besides PE na streetdance na naka-UNO ako yeaboi!) professor, Dexter Santos (pictured below), is part of the production, I knew that I should watch the show by hook or by crook.
Unfortunately, Sir Dex wasn't part of the show I watched. Instead, the original Ritchie that I watched four years ago played the part. Matt Deseparasidos was played by Jojit Lorenzo pictured below, instead of the Andoy Ranay who I watched before.
The show isn't for the conservative type. Beside me was a
lola accompanying her
apo who is a student of UP. During the infamous bed scene where Matt is caught having sex with Jason,
lola exclaimed to
apo, "Hija, ano ba tong pinapanood natin? Bakit kayo pinapayagan manood ng ganito?" I was laughing so hard both on the scene and
lola's remarks! That day will always be marked as "The Day Shock Value shocked Lola"
Shock Value is a satire of the Philippine media and how it has exploited itself among other things. Underneath the surface, it is more than just gay sex and network wars. Amidst all the laughter is the reality that the industry is a flawed one.
I want to watch Shock Value again... and again... and again. Yes, it's THAT awesome.