Cherie Gil as Diana Vreeland for Full Gallop
Gil said so herself, after Full Gallop‘s press preview, that she aimed to capture Vreeland’s essence, and not completely mimic her. The result is a breathtaking performance, and at times touching. Only Gil could successfully bring to life a woman known for her vivacity, then switch to poignancy, and then haughty humor.
Gil also impresses with her ability to improvise, from the audio that suffered glitches to an unruly bouquet of flowers that got untangled.
Although Gil says that she is not similar to the famed fashion editor, director Bart Guingona felt that she was perfect for the role, even when he first saw Full Gallop 10 years ago. “There’s only one person I know of who can play this woman,” Guingona said in the press preview.
I personally felt inspired by Gil’s portrayal of Vreeland. This woman, who shocked everyone in her day, saw beauty in everything, even in chairs. During the play, Gil as Vreeland said you’ve got to have a dream in everything you do. According to her, even if you’re just buying bedroom slippers, you’ve got to have a dream design and color. To quote her, “I want to be drowned in beauty.”
Gil’s family was similarly inspired. Her daughter, Bianca is planning to take up Theater Arts because of Full Gallop. And Gil said that it’s productions like this that fulfill the soul. However, she describes the play as excruciating, and she wouldn’t do a one-woman play again.
We completely understand. An hour and a half of talking to one-self (excluding those scenes with the intercom) is tedious, but Gil did it with aplomb.
When in Manila and you want to be drowned in beauty, or at least marvel at Gil’s acting brilliance, catch Full Gallop!
Full Gallop
Date | March 15 and 21 (8PM)
March 16 and 23 (4PM)
Venue | Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City
Ticket Inquiries | 215-0788 or 09175378313
Ticket Purchases | https://www.ticketworld.com.ph/Online/
