Joy Viado: From dialogue to monologue
Joy Viado is a veteran comedienne, who has successfully crossed over from TV to film and stage. Doing monologue, whether a comedic or melodramatic one, however, is an uncharted territory for her, whose communicative orientation on stage is dialogue.
Joy was tapped to do the monologue of 60-year-old Petunia in Liza Magtoto’s Tatlong Yugto, Tatlong Babae. Her recent performance at a special preview held at Teatrino in Greenhills showed that Joy has learned the workings of a monologue and she will show it in the play’s Metro Manila and provincial runs.
“I do a lot of plays but it was my first time to do a monologue na ako
lang talaga on stage (that I was only by myself on stage),” says Joy. “I love what Lisa wrote. Alam na alam mong
babae talaga ang writer dahil ito ay sensitively written, yung hugot galing sa kaibuturan at ang daming lessons that you get every time (You know that the writer is a woman because it was sensitively
written. You know that the play is coming from something deep and is full of lessons).”
Interpreting a play written from a female perspective and breathing life to a relevant character are just icing on the cake to Joy. But the real deal in playing Petunia in Tatlong Yugto,
Tatlong Babae is the advocacy to inform and educate women on the many facets of womanhood and femininity, making them realize that their “core” is sacred and powerful, says Michiko Unso of Think+Talk Creative Communications, Inc., which partners with na Flora Feminine Wash in mounting the stage presentation.
“I’m happy to be part of this advocacy because it makes women more empowered and more attuned to their bodies and feminin--
ity,” says Joy. “For a mature woman like me, especially those who have no partners in life, there is always hope (and a reason) that you must celebrate your age and (the) changes (in your life), and that hindi ka nag-iisa sa
mga pagbabagong ito (you’re not alone in going through those changes).”
Joy’s Petunia is a cougar, who has become weary of pleasing her young dance instructor and winning his heart. She is weighing things whether to pursue him or not, especially that the latter considers her as old. The character is in a dilemma in finding and searching for that happiness.
“I always wanted to be part of the Vagina Monologues. So when they offered me to do Petunia, I
said yes right away,” recalls Joy, who was part of another iconic play Penis Talks. “Si Petunia ay
matrona na dating may dance
instructor na iniinsulto siya kasi amoy alimuom daw siya. Hahahaha! The play will see how she will address it and how she becomes more accepting of the physiological changes. Then, there will be a new lease on life and romance. She will meet her high school love and they will be reunited. So the monologue addresses how a woman, whose age maybe considered as ripe, eh
pwede pa sa romance at makipagsexual congress.” NaFlora, the partner brand of Tatlong Yugto, Tatlong Babae, aims at helping women of all ages, adds Joy. The variants Protect and Restore are perfect for daily and monthly period use, and postpartum care (and as adjunct therapy to vaginal infections), respectively.
Aside from Petunia, Marigold, in her 30s, and Jass or Jasmine, 17, are the two other interesting characters audiences should look forward to in Tatlong Yugto, Tatlong Babae. A mother of three, Marigold aspires to join a triathlon competition. She has to convince her husband in pursuing this dream and asking for the space and time. The monologue talks about partnership. The teenager Jass, on the other hand, is stuck in a toilet and can’t get to a concert. She represents the vulnerability of young women.
“In the monologues, women of all ages will realize that they should not stop loving themselves,” says Joy. “Na hindi dahil
may iba silang pursuits aside from family life eh selfish na sila, hindi yun totoo. Na ang mga babae ay tunay na katuwang sa buhay. Na mas strong talaga ang mga babae kasi nga we give birth, we care for and love our husbands, and we do our best to raise children. Na pag babae ka, the possibilities of self-expression and realizing all your dreams eh walang katapusan.”
That’s a real-life “monologue” from Joy to ponder upon.