Arzen Rose Dulzura

EXCLUSIVE: Karylle shares what she finds most rewarding about being in theater

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>Apart from being a television host, singer, and actress, Karylle has also carved out a successful career in theater, taking on roles in productions such as <em>The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, West Side Story, </em>and <em>The Sound of Music,</em> among many others. </p><p>Despite the many productions she has been part of, Karylle shared in an exclusive interview with <strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong> that the most fulfilling part of being a theater actress is not always necessarily being on stage under the spotlight, but watching fellow performers and seeing the local theater community continue to thrive.  </p><p>&quot;I think, for me, it&#x27;s watching other people,&quot; Karylle expressed.  </p><p>The actress recalled recently attending Virgin Labfest XXI: Hubo&#x27;t Hubad to support her brother-in-law, Yan Yuzon, who plays as &quot;Lalaki&quot; in <em>Elehiya</em>, written by Dustin Celestino and directed by Ron Capinding. </p><p>&quot;He got really rave reviews for <em>Elehiya</em>. And being there, siyempre blackbox so kitang-kita mo lahat ng tao, sabi ko &#x27;Grabe &#x27;yung Philippine theater, grabe &#x27;yung pupuntahan pa nito.&#x27;&quot; </p><p>&quot;More than just being on stage, it&#x27;s being there for other people,&quot; she said. &quot;And then, alam mo &#x27;yun sobrang cute kasi I had this idea of giving flowers. Sakto, si Yael sabi niya parang gusto [niya] bumili ng [gift]. Sabi ko, &#x27;I got this. I really thought about it and know what to get.&#x27;&quot; </p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-18" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXEN6ZZE6HN/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A18%2C%22os%22%3A10369213.099999905%2C%22ls%22%3A168752.59999990463%2C%22le%22%3A168759.69999992847%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-18" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>For Karylle, the greatest joy of theater is being present to cheer on fellow artists and celebrate their achievements. </p><p>&quot;Seeing all the men on stage holding the flowers you gave them, I just thought that &#x27;It&#x27;s so nice to give people their flowers.&#x27; Kasi diba as a symbolic sentiment, and also to be there for people, it&#x27;s really nice, especially theater is thriving.&quot; </p><p>The actress also expressed excitement after <em>Elehiya </em>was chosen as one of the three productions returning for another run at Virgin LabFest next year.  </p><p>Meanwhile, Karylle is currently portraying Mrs. Bucket in <em>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical</em>, a role she said came into her life at the perfect time. </p><p>Speaking more with friends from the press during the show&#x27;s media event on July 9, she recalled watching the musical during its Singapore run and immediately feeling connected to the story. </p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s just a different time, it&#x27;s a very unique time in our lives. I think when I first watched the show in Singapore, sabi ko &#x27;Ito &#x27;yung kailangan ko today. Ito &#x27;yung kailangan ko right now&#x27;. It felt great stepping into a world of pure imagination because there was a unique time also when we had COVID-19 [pandemic] and they were saying that the creatives will find a better way and we will find a new hope. I think this is exactly what I needed when I watched it. Stepping into the role is even more exciting because you get to live as Mrs. Bucket with my two kids,&quot; she said, referring to Cohen Toukatly and Oliver Wong, who alternate in the role of Charlie. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-16" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DamVJugAXfy/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A16%2C%22os%22%3A10343789.699999928%2C%22ls%22%3A168752.59999990463%2C%22le%22%3A168759.69999992847%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-16" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Now that she is playing Charlie&#x27;s loving and devoted mother on stage, Karylle said the role has given her a new experience as an actress. </p><p>&quot;I also get to become a mom for the first time and on stage. I&#x27;ve been a mom before for roles but not like this, there are certain scenes where they really met my heart. The journey is new to me and it&#x27;s beautiful and it&#x27;s something that I never even had the courage to take.&quot; </p><p>Watching the production before eventually joining its touring cast also inspired Karylle to dream even bigger for Philippine theater and for herself as well.  </p><p>&quot;I think the word is nakakabighani. You are there and you are like &#x27;Wow, ano &#x27;to?&#x27; It just made me all the more excited. And I get to see what it&#x27;s like to be on tour...and get to stay in stage management so I get to see behind the scenes. Parang umandar &#x27;yung utak ko, sabi ko &#x27;Baka one day magkaroon din ako ng original play tapos tayo naman &#x27;yung magto-tour.&#x27;&quot;  </p><p>She continued: &quot;You start to dream even more and being with the touring cast, iba &#x27;yung energy nila...I think there&#x27;s much to be learned. It makes you want to do more and be more, and dream bigger.&quot; </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-14" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DamXs9OlkLS/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A14%2C%22os%22%3A10321974.599999905%2C%22ls%22%3A168752.59999990463%2C%22le%22%3A168759.69999992847%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="549" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-14" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>To better understand Mrs. Bucket, Karylle revealed that she researched the experiences of widowed women, hoping to portray the character&#x27;s resilience with sincerity. </p><p>&quot;They&#x27;re super women. I think it&#x27;s because she just really takes her strength from her son [Charlie]. He&#x27;s such a good natured person. Hindi na kapani-paniwala &#x27;yung kabaitan niya...It all the more brings strength in her heart no matter the hardships, kasi isa akong labandera dito...I think all those little things just bring my fight as a woman who has so many mouths to feed.&quot; </p><p>Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, <em>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical</em> is directed by Matt Lenz and presented by GMG Productions. The musical runs until July 26 at The Theatre at Solaire.</p>

<p>Kapamilya actress-singer Karylle says one of the biggest rewards in being in theater is watching fellow artists shine and seeing the Philippine theater scene continue to flourish. </p>

Kapamilya actress-singer Karylle says one of the biggest rewards in being in theater is watching fellow artists shine and seeing the Philippine theater scene continue to flourish.