Condescending Sid

Sid Lucero was offered to play the lead part in Philippine stage's production of Equus. He turned down the part, reasoning that Pinoy audience is "not yet ready" for such kind of theater where performance is focused on rather than the nudity. Papanoorin daw ito ng audience for the nudity at hindi dahil sa nilalaman ng play o dahil magaling ang mga gaganap dito. Kaya raw mas mabuti pang sa isang theater actor mapunta ang role kaysa sa kanyang may pangalan sa industriya.

Asked to comment on his Emmy nomination for his performance in ABS-CBN's Dahil May Isang Ikaw, he said na magaling tayong Pinoy considering na "madalian" tayo kung gumawa compared sa US. At bukod pa ru'n, they look at actors as actors at hindi tinitingnan kung bida o contrabida ba ang role, unlike dito sa atin.

May sense of pride man sa statement ni Sid, mayro'n din itong halong condescension.

In his view on Pinoy audience, napakababa naman ng tingin niya rito when he said na panonoorin lang ng tao ang paghuhubad niya rather than the play itself. Him as the would-be lead on Equus would definitely generate a buzz among Pinoy audience. Tataas sigurado ang ticket sales nito. However, nasa kanya pa rin if he would deliver a credible performance or not. So what if the audience was encourage to see the play for its nudity? Still, they would sit for at least two hours and absorb whatever they can get from the play. Who knows? Those theater virgins would like the theater and become regular watchers. Nakatulong pa siya sa mundo ng teatro.

Also, Sid has to realize that the theater is a different arena. Hindi niya pwedeng i-compare ito sa manonood ng pelikulang Pilipino. Not everyone can afford to see a play for tickets sell higher than cinema. Medyo high-brow din ang audience ng theater. At, hindi rin basta-bastang play ang Equus. It's cerebral! So how could he say na papanoorin lang ng Pinoy ito para sa hubaran?

He should be grateful for his Emmy nomination. Period. Kesyo minadali ang produksiyon o hindi, ang isang magaling na aktor ay hindi matatawaran. 'Wag niya sanang purihin ang galing ng Pinoy at laitin ito at the same time.

He is nominated for worldwide Emmy's so I don't think na tinitingnan nila kung supporting character lang ang role o hindi. Kung artista siya ng US at doon ginawa ang Dahil May Isang Ikaw, malamang ay sa supporting role ang nakuha niyang nominasyon at hindi bilang best actor.

'Wag niyang kakalimutang ito ang industriyang nagbibigay ng trabaho sa kanya. Respetuhin naman niya. At ang Pinoy audience na tinitingnan niya ng mababa ang siyang gumagastos para panoorin ang mga proyekto niya. Konting pagpapahalaga naman.