Bentria Productions is making its first move into live stage performances with the play Walong Libong Piso. This marks a new chapter for the company, which has built a solid reputation for film productions.
Engineer Benjamin Austria, better known as Bentria, has already established himself in the film industry. His first project, Broken Blooms, directed by Louie Ignacio, received international praise and even earned Jeric Gonzales a Best Actor award.
His next film, Huwag Mo ‘Kong Iwan, is a romantic drama directed by Joel Lamangan and stars JC De Vera, Tom Rodriguez, and Rhian Ramos. Another notable project is Fatherland, a social drama featuring Allen Dizon and Inigo Pascual, with appearances by Cherry Pie Picache, Angel Aquino, Richard Yap, and Mercedes Cabral. His latest film, Graduation Day, is an inspiring story led by Jeric Gonzales and Elizabeth Oropesa, written and directed by Dante Balboa, a former actor and educator.
Now, Bentria is venturing into theater with Walong Libong Piso. The play is about an hour and 40 minutes long and explores themes of love, desire, and power through a psychological lens. Set in 2007, the story centers on Dante, a somewhat seasoned actor in the film industry, who receives a prank phone call that quickly turns malicious. The caller is revealed to be Rommel, a long-time showbiz reporter seeking a career breakthrough, despite his years in the industry.
The production features well-known talents like Paolo Gumabao, Jhon Mark Marcia, Juan Paolo Calma, and Drei Arias. It tells the story of a handsome actor who strikes a shady deal for a one-night stand, hoping to outsmart his partner. But as the story unfolds, things do not go as planned—bringing surprises that will keep the audience guessing.
Director Dante Balboa describes the play as “super erotic— but tastefully done— whatever horny males do in their free time,” emphasizing that the play will have intense, yet tasteful, scenes. He promises that the provocative scenes will leave a lasting impression because of the cast’s believable performances. “Their talent as actors will outweigh the actors’ physical sexiness,” he adds.
The play is scheduled to open this August at the CCP Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (Black Box Theater). Additional dates and venues are being finalized, and audience members can look forward to a memorable theater experience that pushes boundaries while delivering a strong message and moral lesson.
Log on to: https://premier.ticketworld.com.ph/shows/show.aspx?sh=WALONGLP25
