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El Fuego del Alma

Fred Hawson

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784422221079fuego.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>Alma Ortega (Opaline Santos) was the daughter of the local minister (Rolando Inocencio). Her mother (Sheryl Ceasico) had mental issues that caused her to act like a child, so Alma lost her own youth to take over her mother&#x27;s duties. Alma became very stern and impatient as a person, and she kept pretty much to herself. Despite this, Alma was still able to teach singing voice lessons, and her current student was young Nelia (Ingrid Joyce). </p><p>Alma&#x27;s closest childhood friend was her next door neighbor Joselito Yago (Sandino Martin). He had to leave and go to the city to take up Medicine to be like his father. After several years, when Joselito came back home after his studies, the flame between Alma and Joselito in their youth soon got rekindled. However, when Alma kept Joselito at bay, he sought company from Rosa (Hariette Mozelle), the loose daughter of the gambling den owner. </p><p>&quot;El Fuego del Alma&quot; is a Filipino adaptation of &quot;Summer and Smoke,&quot; a full-length play by American playwright Tennessee Williams that first debuted on Broadway in 1948. All the tropes in William&#x27;s signature style of Southern Gothic are in this one, from the sweltering heat to the repressed sexuality. From its original setting in Mississippi, this story was seamlessly adapted into the Filipino language and context by Eljay Castro Deldoc. His adaptation of the story was so astute, you will not feel that this was a foreign story.</p><p>Opaline Santos and Harriette Mozelle alternate with each other in the role of repressed Alma and flirtatious Rosa. Nour Hooshmand only alternated as Alma. Similarly, Sandino Marin and Vincent Pajara alternated with each other in the roles of Joselito and shoe salesman Archie. The minor characters also have alternates: Sheryl Ceasico and Madlen Nicolas alternate as Mrs. Ortega. Rolando Inocencio and JP Lopez alternate as the two father characters — Mr. Ortega and Dr. Yago. Ingrid Joyce and Janna Cortez alternate as Nelia.  </p><p>I have seen Opaline Santos in various roles in Dulaang UP and Virgin Labfest. This is the first time I am seeing her in a full-length lead role, but I am aware that she has done one-woman shows before. Alma&#x27;s arc stretched a stage actress&#x27;s range, and Santos was certainly up for that challenge. Santos&#x27;s big eyes did a lot of the internal talking for her Alma, and in the intimate venue where this play was performed, we see every little nuance. </p><p>From the first time we see Sandino Martin&#x27;s Joselito outside just silently looking at Alma, we already feel the sexual tension his role carried. With his dark brooding looks, Martin effortlessly smoldered throughout the first two acts of the play by the sheer physicality of his stage presence. The burning passion building up in his Joselito would finally reach such libidinous ecstasy at one point — a scene that the intimacy of the venue made bolder. </p><p>As may be surmised, the extraordinary venue was very much a character of its own in this production. I have been to Sine Pop for special film screenings in the second floor before, but this is the first time I have seen the first floor snack bar area converted into a performance venue. To extend his stage, director Mark Mirando made full use of the wide pane glass window that allowed us to see the peaceful bamboo garden outside, along with the glass door and wall on one side, as well as the stairs to the second floor, all integrated in the performance. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17844222594411000099550.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Joyce, Ceasico, Martin, Mozelle and Santos at the curtain call. <em>Fred Hawson</em></span></span></span></div><div><em>“El Fuego del Alma” runs July 17–19, July 31, August 1–2, and August 21–23 at Sine Pop, Cubao, Quezon City. Shows are on at 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with 4 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are priced at P1,800 through Ticket2Me, or onsite. </em></div><div><br/></div><p>This review was originally published in the author&#x27;s blog, “<a href="https://3xhcch.blogspot.com/2026/07/porvenir-review-of-el-fuego-del-alma.html">Fred Said</a>.”</p>

<p>A classic Tennessee Williams drama finds new life in Filipino through a seamless adaptation, compelling performances and inventive staging that makes every emotional beat feel immediate.</p>

A classic Tennessee Williams drama finds new life in Filipino through a seamless adaptation, compelling performances and inventive staging that makes every emotional beat feel immediate.

Theater review: 'El Fuego del Alma' finds new fire in Tennessee Williams classic

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Theater review: 'El Fuego del Alma' finds new fire in Tennessee Williams classic

Fred Hawson

Published July 19, 2026 02:00 PM PHT

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El Fuego del Alma

theater review

Summer and Smoke

Tennessee Williams

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