Sometimes, all you need to create stage magic is three lead actors, two chairs, and one table.
That’s certainly what IdeaFirst Live did for the stage adaptation of About Us But Not About Us, a movie that competed in the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. Romnick Sarmenta and Elijah Canlas reprise their roles from the film, and they are joined by the movie’s original writer-director, Jun Robles Lana, and the play’s director, Tuxqs Rutaquio.
Photo: The IdeaFirst Company
About Us But Not About Us centers on a tense encounter between Eric (Sarmenta), a literature professor, and his former student, Lance (Canlas). The film is set over the course of a single meal, and a game of wits unfolds as the two men peel back layers of deception, trauma, and shared history.
What begins as a conversation about literature and life spirals into a brutal confrontation with the truth, especially concerning Eric’s boyfriend, Marcus, who has passed away. The material proves that every story has a version we tell others—and a version we keep for ourselves.
About Us But Not About Us is irresistible as it is, with the layers and secrets unfolding slowly and deliciously. The stage adaptation, however, further elevates it.
What you’ll see on stage is similar to the film’s bare set. The primary props are a small round table and two chairs. In fact, there really is no need for a grand set as the dialogue carries the story.
Most of the scenes are set in the restaurant, just as they were in the film. What makes the play compelling, especially for those who’ve seen the film three years ago or on streaming platforms, is that it fleshes out what wasn’t seen on screen.
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If the film only shows Eric and Lance, mentioning Marcus only in dialogue, the stage brings him to life through Epy Quizon. We witness firsthand the tendrils of suspicion creeping over the characters, relationships disintegrating, and power being wielded over one another. The stage adaptation fills in the gaps of the film, and it does so wonderfully.
It was definitely a treat to see Sarmenta and Canlas reprise their roles from the film. Sarmenta embodies the rigid, almost vanilla Eric. Canlas effectively peels off the many layers of Lance’s story and personality.
However, it’s Quizon that tears through the stage with his larger-than-life persona: thunderous one moment and frail the next. Funnily enough, it’s the character who’s dead that brings the production to life; the play could come off as one-note without Quizon’s spirited performance (this writer has not seen the original film).
Sarmenta, Canlas, and Quizon are joined by Herbie Go and Geraldine Villamil alternating as Dean Dimalanta, and Jack Denzel Gaza as the waiter. Noel Rayos and Jao Catarus cover the roles of Eric and Lance.
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Another notable change is the play’s language. The film is told in Filipino, while the play is delivered mostly in English. It’s interesting to ponder why Lana and Rutaquio shifted the play’s language. While Filipino would probably have worked better, with all the emotions that come with it, seeing the play could provide explanations on why English was ultimately chosen.
Overall, the stage adaptation of About Us But Not About Us is an adaptation done right. It takes an existing story and adds an extra layer, thus becoming a new piece of art. This is a must-see, whether or not you’ve seen the original film.
The play runs from February 14 to March 8, 2026, at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater in Circuit Makati, and is presented as part of Ayala Land and Circuit Makati’s Palanca Awardees Residency Program. Tickets are now available via showbuyers and Ticket2Me.
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