NONIE and Shamaine Buencamino
Although she’s a teacher and best supporting actress winner (Cinemalaya and the Asian Film Awards for Loy Arcenas’ “Niño”), Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino thinks nothing of taking additional lessons for a new role.
For her latest play, Mario O’Hara’s “Stage Show,” she took voice and dancing classes.
(She had just finished a session under voice teacher Pablo Molina at the time of the Inquirer interview.)
“I’ve done musicals, but ‘Stage Show’ is a huge challenge,” she said. “I’m 47, so this play is like running in a marathon.”
That’s no exaggeration. “I have three costume changes onstage. I had to learn tap dancing, shim sham and lindy hop,” she noted. “I had to sing.”
The biggest test was acting opposite husband Nonie Buencamino. She recounted: “Last time we shared the stage was 12 years ago, in ‘Oedipus Rex.’ I was Jocasta to his Oedipus. I was pregnant with our youngest, Julia.” They have four kids.
The way she explained it, acting with her hubby could be a combustible proposition. “When it comes to acting, we tend to argue a lot,” she admitted. “It’s not unusual for us to discuss creative choices passionately.”
Their debates were so intense that “Stage Show” director Chris Millado went up to Tanghalang Pilipino artistic director Nanding Josef and reported: “Shamaine and Nonie are quarreling during rehearsals.” Josef assured Millado: “That’s normal.”
It was a further learning experience for Shamaine, to say the least. “When we work with family, we tend to be too generous with criticism and stingy with praise. We take our loved ones for granted. Working with Nonie this time reminded me to be kinder, more effusive with positive feedback for a change,” she said.
The two are also working together in the ABS-CBN soap opera, “Walang Hanggan.” TV work has bestowed on them belated celebrity.
“Everywhere Nonie goes, he’s called Miguel, his character’s name in the soap. Strangers approach me when I go to (fastfood chain) Jollibee. If they don’t know my name, at least they recognize my face.”
She hopes to utilize this newfound TV fame to attract a bigger audience for their stage and indie film projects.
She believes it’s just a matter of promoting and marketing for noteworthy projects like “Stage Show” to be able to compete with a mammoth production, like “The Phantom of the Opera,” for example.
“I’m happy that foreign productions are staged here because they contribute to our cultural education. Not everyone can fly to London to watch these plays. But I hope local shows would be marketed and promoted just as well, to give us a fighting chance.”
There is no question that Filipino talent is at par with the world’s best, she stressed. Case in point: “Miss Saigon” producers are once again conducting auditions in the country for the West End revival next year.
“I don’t think I could play a bar girl now,” she quipped in jest. “Well, it’s common knowledge that Filipinos are very artistic even with very little formal training. For instance, it’s now a stereotype abroad that if you’re Filipino, you can carry a tune.”
She, however, had to overcome her fear of singing in “Stage Show” with constant practice. “My eldest, Delphine, who has seen ‘Stage Show,’ says I no longer sound scared when I sing. That’s a big compliment coming from her!” Shamaine exclaimed: “You just can’t stop learning.”
Initially, the Buencaminos thought they had to work double time. “Our knees ached after all that dancing.”
(“Stage Show” is on its last day today 3 p.m. at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Little Theater. Next month, it will have three stagings during the National Theater Festival, also at the CCP.)