PETA’s ‘night, Mother is an entertaining and truthful look into mental health

Actress Eugene Domingo is back on stage with Ian Lomongo’s Filipino adaptation of Marsha Norman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama ‘night, Mother, a “timely” play that Domingo said is not only entertaining but also educational. (Photo: Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines—Actress Eugene Domingo is back on stage with Ian Lomongo’s Filipino adaptation of Marsha Norman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama ‘night, Mother, a “timely” play that Domingo said is not only entertaining but also educational.

Domingo plays Jessie, daughter of Thelma—played by Sherry Lara—who, in one evening, announced to her mother her plan of killing herself before the night ends. In 90 minutes, Thelma desperately convinces her daughter to not end her life.

In ‘night, Mother, Domingo said that the issues of mental health, depression, and suicide will be tackled faithfully.

“Malungkot ang materyal pero hindi namin s’ya gagawing malungkot. Gagawin naming totoo na nangyayari dahil nangyayari na s’ya ngayon [The material is sad but we will not make it sad. We will make it truthful because it is happening now]…,” Domingo said.

The play also seeks to create discussion on the taboo of talking about depression and suicide in society and among families.

“Hindi natin napag-uusapan dahil ito ay tungkol sa pagsuko, tungkol sa kung gusto mo pang mabuhay, tungkol sa ibig sabihin ng pagpapatuloy na hindi natin napaguusapan o di napaguusapan sa pamilya. [We do not talk about it because it is about giving up, about one’s will to live, about the meaning of carrying on, that we’re unable to talk about or not discussed within the family],” she added.

Lara stressed that these issues must be examined especially within families.

“I feel that as parents, as a mother, communication is very important in the family,” she said.

Domingo added that ‘night, Mother is “timely” due to the large number of people who are going through depression and wondering, “’Siguro wala na talagang pupuntahan itong buhay ko [Perhaps my life is really going nowhere].’”

“Dito sa ‘night, Mother… maliliwanagan tayo. Pwede tayong manood, pwede tayong sumaya. Pwede tayong makatulong sa mga sarili natin o sa kakilala natin, o sa mga mahal natin sa buhay dahil marami kaming sasabihin sa inyo [Here in ‘night Mother…we will be enlightened. We can watch; we can be happy. We can help ourselves or those we know, or our loved ones because we have a lot to tell you].”

“There are so many more lessons to be learned from this play,” Lara seconded.

‘night, Mother is Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)’s 50th theater season finale. Directed by Melvin Lee, it will run on February 2 until March 18, 2018 at the PETA Theater Center in New Manila, Quezon City.