Since making his showbiz debut as a housemate on Pinoy Big Brother Kumunity Season 10: Celebrity Edition in 2021, Benedix Ramos’s career continues to rise as he carves out a name for himself on stage and onscreen. He is set to take the stage as the star of 9Works Theatrical’s latest production Yemaya, which is the Filipino translation of Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Yemaya’s Belly, where he takes on the role of Jesus.
During the Yemaya press visit this month, Benedix admitted that this production is his biggest acting challenge to date. “This is really the most challenging for me because parang hindi ako lalabas ng stage, so all throughout, from Act One to Act Two, walang labasan ng stage. So even in the transitions, I’m there. So sobra siyang challenging for me kasi double effort to keep track of your character, where you are, your intentions. So for me it’s really the most challenging kasi walang pahinga.”
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When he was first invited to audition for the straight play, Benedix admitted he had no prior knowledge of what the story was all about. “I wasn’t aware of the play. I really thought it was about a girl na Yemaya, pero there’s really more to that pala. Like Yemaya is a figure, is a mythical character. Nung una kong nabasa ‘yung script, nakaka-touch talaga siya. Nakakadala talaga siya. Hindi pa ako nakapanuod ng ganitong material sa Pilipinas. Wala pa akong napanuod na ganitong magic realism and hindi pa ako naka-experience ng ganito as an actor.”
”I’m also playing a kid here. Like he’s around 12-ish years old. So that also adds to why it’s the most challenging because iba ‘yung demeanor, iba ‘yung bata mag-isip, ‘yung process niya and all that. So ‘yun ‘yung nakakadagdag talaga ng challenge,” he told PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview.
READ: Benedix Ramos to lead 9 Works Theatrical’s ‘Yemaya’ before heading to ‘The Notebook’
The show also marks Benedix’s first time to work with Bituin Escalante, whose work he had always admired. “It’s my first time to work with Ms. Bituin. Oh my God, sobrang powerful niya. I thought kung makaka-work ko siya [it would be] in a musical. Pero hindi. Sa straight play ko pala siya makaka-work for the first time. Ever since napanuod ko siya, I really wanted to work with her. And then ngayon, luckily, I got the chance to work with her. She’s amazing.”
The Bar Boys: After School actor also shared how he felt working closely with Sheena Belarmino again, after it was recently announced that they would also be part of the cast of the upcoming Theater Group Asia production The Notebook.
“Actually, nauna itong Yemaya. Hindi pa kami nakaka-work sa The Notebook pero mas nauna sila mag-announce pero mas nauna ang Yemaya. Mas nauna kami mag-rehearse and mas mauuna kami mag-show and then konting break lang, start na kami ng rehearsals for The Notebook. So sabi namin ni Sheena, at least somehow nakapag-prepare kami for The Notebook with our chemistry. Kasi dito kami ni Sheena, we’re also closely working with each other here in this play. So that’s one thing that could also help us for the future projects that we do, including The Notebook,” he explained.
For those who have watched him on PBB, in film, or in his previous musicals like Tabing Ilog and Bar Boys: The Musical, the Star Magic artist shares what makes watching a straight play live also worth the ticket price.
“I think parang mas nakikita na ng mga generation ngayon ‘yung mga musicals, the extravagance of it all, ganun. Pero there’s really something about intimate theater or something like a black box theater, a straight play, a non-musical play that’s really comforting and relatable in a way. Kasi this is the time that you will see how life is, na without music, without the spectacular staging and all that. So parang they could just sit here and let the material really and hopefully resonate with them, in a way. Kasi ako, nag-resonate talaga ‘yung material sa akin. It feels like I’m watching a story of someone, but there’s a way na nakaka-connect ako sa kanya kahit hindi ko siya story. Parang ang dami kong nakuha sa character ko dito na hindi ko in-expect na nag-a-apply siya sa akin kahit na it’s a different world out there, ‘yung Yemaya,” he explained.
9Works Theatrical’s Yemaya starts its run from June 13 to July 5 with performances on Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., at The Black Box at The Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Makati. Tickets are available via Ticket2Me.net.