NEW YORKER IN TONDO
By: Marcelino Agana, Jr.
FACTS ABOUT THE PLAY
Title: New Yorker in Tondo
Author (playwright): Marcelino Agana, Jr.
When published: June 28, 1948
Type of play/genre: Comedy
CONTENT
1. Setting:
The story took place in Tondo particularly at the Mendoza’s residence.
2. When is it set?:
It was about ten o’ clock in the morning when the story started.
3. The plot:
The play is about a girl who got a chance to study in New York. Upon going home, she was transformed into a totally different person. She was greatly influenced by the environment of New York including her way of dressing and speaking. She acted differently until Tony, her secret partner, confronted her about her wrong attitudes and manners, and this made her realize that what she is doing is improper.
4. Characters:
- Kikay - also known as Francesca; she is the protagonist in the story; she could be considered as an ambitious, materialistic and self- centered woman
- Tony - he is Kikay’s childhood friend and her lover; he is an unfaithful man and at the same time dishonest
- Nena - she had a secret relationship with Tony while Kikay is away.
- Totoy - he’s secretly in love with Nena
- Mrs. Mendoza/ Aling Atang - Kikay’s Mother
5. Message: has the play got a message? If so what do you think it is?
Yes, it has a lesson that needs to be imparted to everyone. And that is learning how to appreciate the place where we came from. It is not wrong to dream of living and be successful in the other countries but we should still keep in mind that from time to time, we still have to go back to give thanks and praises to the place and to the people who helped us to reach the position that we are able to achieve or in Filipino, it is the “pagtanaw ng utang na loob”.
LANGUAGE
Write down 3 or 4 words, phrases or expressions you have learnt from the play.
Answer:
Upon reading these words and phrases, I had to consult the dictionary and the net to search for their meanings and to better understand the conversation of the characters.
- “I lost my nerve!” - it means “I was going to do a particular action, but I wasn't brave enough to actually do it".
- “Merci” - it means “thank you” in French
- “Mooning” - it means “have dreamlike musings or fantasies while awake”
- “A stark miscegenation” - it means “simple interbreeding or crossbreeding”
OPINION
1. Choose from the following adjective to describe the play:
Hilarious Gripping Moving Powerful
Tedious Tragic Amusing
What other adjectives could you see to describe the play?
Answer:
The play can be considered as a gripping, amusing and a fascinating one because it has a unique story. It also has a light atmosphere that could really entertain the audience/ readers.
2. The play is going to be performed and you are the director. Describe the costumes, scenery, lighting, etc. you want for each act.
Answer:
If I would be the director of this play, I would want the costumes to be casual. For Kikay, I want her to wear a glamorous blouse and jeans that could obviously portray what a New Yorker usually wears. For the other characters, I want them to wear simple clothes that could portray the simplicity of the Filipinos. For the scenery, the set-up would just be a simple living room with a curtained windows and wooden sofa. For the lighting, I would want a white spotlight and a light colored background to also portray the minimalism and plainness of the life in Tondo.
3. Would you recommend this play to anyone else? Why?
Answer:
Yes. I would want to recommend this drama to others because unlike the other dramas, it has a very light and comprehensive story. I’m also sure that everyone could easily understand and gets into the story for there were no complicated words that were used. Every reader could learn something important from it which is the love for the country and its culture. Also, the saying “There’s no place like home!” is implied in this drama.
4. Does the play remind you of any plays in your own language? If so, what?
Answer:
None, nothing in particular.
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