Theatre Passe Muraille – Sulong Theatre Collective’s Future Folk

Reviewed by Paula Citron

Sulong Theatre Collective’s Future Folk is about the plight of Filipina nannies in Canada. The four creators tell their docudrama through the spoken word, song, dance and chorale speaking. The folk idioms of the Philippines are the medium to tell this sobering Canadian story.

The problems lies in the Live-In Caregiver Program. LCP immigrants come for two years, after which they can apply for Canadian citizenship. In the meantime, they are separated from their families, and in many cases, are physically, sexually, emotionally and financially abused.

Karen Ancheta, Aura Carcueva and Catherine Hernandez enact the stories of three nannies, and the integration of music and dance is superb. The most memorable prop is the piece of Filipino batik that each woman carries. Not only does it remind the audience of their homeland, the cloth becomes the babies they care for and the telephones they use to call home.

This is a moving, heart-felt show.

Future Folk continues at Theatre Passe Muraille until Mar. 13.
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Future Folk
Sulong Theatre Collective
Written and performed by Karen Ancheta, Aura Carcueva and Catherine Hernandez (actors) and Romeo Candido (composer)
Theatre Passe Muraille, Feb. 18 to Mar. 13, 2010
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