I need to move on. Now.

Vanilla Twilight

The stars lean down to kiss you,
And I lie awake and miss you.
Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere.
'Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly,
But I'll miss your arms around me.
I'd send a postcard to you dear,
'Cause I wish you were here.

I watch the night turn light blue.
But it's not the same without you,
Because it takes two to whisper quietly,
The silence isn't so bad,
Till I look at my hands and feel sad,
'Cause the spaces between my fingers
Are right where yours fit perfectly.

I'll find repose in new ways,
Though I haven't slept in two days,
'Cause cold nostalgia chills me to the bone.
But drenched in Vanilla twilight,
I'll sit on the front porch all night,
Waist deep in thought because when I think of you.
I don't feel so alone.
I don't feel so alone.
I don't feel so alone.

As many times as I blink I'll think of you... tonight.
I'll think of you tonight.

When violet eyes get brighter,
And heavy wings grow lighter,
I'll taste the sky and feel alive again.
And I'll forget the world that I knew,
But I swear I won't forget you,
Oh if my voice could reach back through the past,
I'd whisper in your ear,
Oh darling I wish you were here.

Flores Para Los Muertos is the Filipino adaptation of the media-spanning (stage, movie, book) hit A Streetcar Named Desire. The translation was by Orlando Nadres, and the director (for this TP production) was Floy Quintos. I have not really seen the original English version of this piece so I cannot do a vis-a-vis rant about the Filipino text versus the English one. :)

I can kind of infer that flores para los muertos would be an apt title for the translation since 1) it is a line from one of the most goosebump-inducing moments in the play, 2) translating the title A Streetcar Named Desire into Filipino sounds a little awkward (remember A Midsummer Night's Dream?). Maybe it also serves as an indication of the difference the Filipino text has over the English version. Streetcar (i.e. the English version) is about how Blanche is seemingly out of place in a seedy territory; it is a depiction of the social clash between the Dubois and the people of Elysian Fields i.e. Stanley Kowalski. It is a love story between the broken Blanche and the kind Mitch.

Flores (at least this interpretation I just saw) is not a love story, and it is not about the culture clash. The lines and dialogues are all delivered in pretty much the same manner, and in the same language, with Stanley's cussing coming off more as an emphasis on his masculinity, rather than the disparity of his "background" over the female characters. But I can't really say it's strictly about gender clash, because I’m sure Nader nor Quintos (and Williams definitely) did not want to subvert Blanche or womankind with the subservient and attacked portrayals of women – for Blanche (the classic Madwoman of Gubar), her plight was the inevitable end that would bring her character peace and finality; for Stella and all the other wives in their street, there was too little focus to justify a subservient portrayal (yes, even Stella). It could be a passion versus restraint clash ending with Stanley and Blanche’s encounter. In the Filipino text, the story transforms into a tale of self-preservation and morality: Who was happiest in the end? Did Blanche deserve what happened to her?

So are there still epiphanies that Flores can give us at this time and day? To end this rambling I am wont to think of a third and last reason why Flores Para Los Muertos is the perfect title for the translation: in this day and age of a thousand and one theories and literary pegs, this interpretation of the play is a tribute to a story and to characters that have been loved long ago. An offering to dead values and conflicts. The production was a faithful representation of the issues and portrayals that have made the play such a groundbreaking hit when it was first performed, and was done quite beautifully at that. But still, it’s all totally elementary for this generation of play goers.

**

In short, I really enjoyed this afternoon. Thanks for the fun "date" JV! :) (haha, sorry ang wordy at incomplete nito).

And will I miss the chance to get a photo with an artista? Hehe. Eula Valdes played Blanche quite wonderfully.

Ay, I am not her. Whoever she is.

Nothing like a good long character movie to ease anyone back into a pensive, think aloud-type aloud mode. Sunshine Cleaning's nice. It sure put my puny miseries into their rightful perspective. It's weird because the whole thing left me with a very very heavy heart but I am actually feeling better, both from the movie and the experience of watching it (bed, dim lights, calm, and all by myself).