Love’s many faces—unrequited, unfulfilled, forbidden, or altogether absent—take center stage in Para Kay B, a melancholic yet thought-provoking tale grounded in a striking premise: out of five who love, only one will be happy.
Tanghalang Ateneo brought Ricky Lee’s beloved novel onstage in an emotionally charged adaptation that explored the unpredictable nature of love. Known for its shifting narratives, metafictional elements, and unconventional structure, the novel presented a unique challenge to adapt. Yet, under the helm of director Yong Tapang Jr., the production stayed faithful to Lee’s vision while infusing theatrical magic.
The musical ran from March 1 to March 17 at the Doreen Black Box Theater, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University.
Act I: Love, in all its chaotic glory
Tapang’s direction breathes new life into the story, seamlessly blending heightened humor and heartbreak. At the heart of it all is Nicco Manalo as Lucas, a writer who weaves together four love stories, each a testament to love’s unpredictable and often cruel nature. Manalo’s compelling performance leaves them wondering whether love is bound by rules or thrives in defiance of them.
Through masterfully woven narratives, the play explored love in its many forms—the innocent and obsessive, the forbidden and unfulfilled, the hopeful and the doomed. Each story unfolded with raw emotion, resulting in an aching question that reverberates throughout: Is love a choice or something beyond our control?
Via Antonio’s Erica lit up the stage with sharp wit and playful banter, injecting much-needed levity into a story laced with sorrow. Her role stands in stark contrast to Liza Diño-Seguerra’s Ester, whose subdued performance conveys longing in every stolen glance and hesitant exchange.
As Irene, Martha Nikko Comia brought authenticity, embodying reckless devotion as her childhood affection deepened into something far more complex, leaving viewers to ponder if love can truly withstand the test of time and distance. Meanwhile, Matel Patayon’s Sandra left a lingering presence long after she exited the stage, adding a haunting depth to a love that defies societal norms.
Act II: When love becomes cruel
As the curtain rose on the next chapter, a new story took shape, one that surprised the audience and reshaped everything that came before it. This was Bessie’s story. Hers was not a tale of passion or fleeting romance. It was a love given without condition and hesitation, only to be met with silence.
And Lucas, the writer who had spun heartache into poetry, was at the center of it. He had written about love in all its forms, but never once had he held it in his hands. Bessie loved him selflessly, endlessly, and yet, he could never love her back. Not in the way she hoped, and especially not in the way she deserved.
Here, Para Kay B peeled away its final illusion. Love, so often idealized, is not always a gift—it can be a burden, a wound that festers the longer it is ignored. Lucas’ stories were never just fiction; they were fragments of his longing, his characters bound to suffering because he had never known love that did not hurt.
The stage swelled with raw emotion as the silent anguish spoke louder than words. Confessions crack in the throat before they can be fully spoken. And when the final moment arrived, the audience was left suspended in the quiet devastation of it all, hauntedly wondering if love is truly worth the pain it brings.
When all is said and done, the curtain calls
Seamlessly interwoven, the stories in Para Kay B lay bare love’s contradictions—its joy and pain, inevitability and impossibility. It did not merely tell a love story; it unraveled love and exposed its rawest truths. Through unreciprocated devotion, forbidden desires, and unfulfilled longing, the play reckoned with love’s most heartbreaking realities.
Elevated by powerful performances and thoughtful direction, Para Kay B transcended the boundaries of a simple romance, offering a poignant meditation on fate, longing, and the relentless pursuit of something that may never be ours. With its bold narrative choices and electrifying execution, Tanghalang Ateneo’s adaptation transforms Ricky Lee’s novel into a gripping theatrical experience.
As the final note faded, a question lingers in every watcher’s heart: Is love a blessing or merely a beautiful curse?
