MANILA -- “Anna in the Tropics” is Repertory Philippines’ second offering for its 53rd season. To those who are not familiar with the play, there is no character in the story named Anna. She is actually Anna Karenina, the heroine in Leo Tolstoy’s Russian classic.

Interestingly, Cuban-American playwright Nilo Cruz inevitably weaves “Anna Karenina” into every character’s story in his Pulitzer Prize-winning play, which opens this March 13 at Onstage in Greenbelt 1, Makati City.

“Our lives will find pattern after the ‘Anna Karenina’ novel,” explained Gab Pangilinan, the youngest cast member. “We got so affected by Anna Karenina. What happens in the novel happens to each member of the family in different ways. It’s interesting how Nilo Cruz, the writer, was able to intertwine both stories.”

“Anna in the Tropics” is an ensemble piece with seven characters. “There is no lead in the story,” added Pangilinan. “But the women characters, you’d be surprised. In the 1920s, you’d think the story is male-dominated, but in this play, thank you, Nilo Cruz, the female characters are stronger than the male characters.”

Pangilinan joins six other actors, who are all first timers in Repertory Philippines. The dark family drama will be presented with a stylized and modern treatment, directed by New York-based production designer Joey Mendoza, who is also making his Rep directorial debut.

Pangilinan plays Marela, the youngest daugher of patriarch Santiago (played by Gie Onida). Completing the seven-member veteran cast are Skyzx Labastilla as the eldest daughter Conchita, with Brian Sy as her husband Palomo, Paolo O’Hara as Cheche, Madeleine Nicolas as Ofelia and Ricardo Magno as Juan Julian.

This is the first time for Rep to have an entire cast of non-Rep actors.

“It is nice that this whole cast is experiencing Rep altogether for the first time,” Pangilinan said. “It has been a good experience because of the environment. This is new for all of us. It’s not just me feeling Alice in Wonderland. We’re a team here. It’s not a challenge at all.”

RELATABLE TO PINOYS

Set in Tampa, Florida, “Anna in the Tropics” is a steamy, dark tale of passion that speaks of universal themes of family, love and even misfortune. Brimming with intrigue and scandal, the play traces the life of the Alcazar family.

“The story is set in 1929 and we are a family of cigar rollers,” Pangilinan explained. “We own the tobacco factory. Way back in the ‘20s, cigar factories would hire lectors who are readers to read novels to the workers. The lector that Mama hires decides to read ‘Anna Karenina.’ What happens is that we got so affected by the novel.

“We’re seven in the play. Each character kind of finds himself relating to the story very much. We’re a dysfunctional family. Everyone thinks everyone is okay, but really, everyone has his own issue in their personal lives.”

The characters come to terms with their torrid, extra-marital affairs, unresolved bitterness and forbidden yearnings. Each character’s destiny somehow intertwines with "Anna Karenina" and they undergo a profound transformation.

Even if “Anna in the Tropics” is a period piece about a Cuban family living in America, all the characters are very relatable. “That’s what makes it so interesting,” Pangilinan said. “Even if it’s a period piece, you will still realize there’s still the culture and heart of Pinoy.

“That’s why we can bring the play closer to the audience. Our director was telling us, ‘I want this story to be about any of us.’ Like you watch it and realize this could be me, this could be you. This could be somebody I know. Very Pinoy.”

“Both are very religious, very Catholic,” Onida added. “The attitude towards the patriarch of both families and the hierarchy in the family are also the same.”

FIRST TIMERS

Working with director Joey Mendoza, a New York-based set designer, was a blast for the entire cast.

“He is very open,” Onida said Mendoza. “He will say his idea, then we’ll try it. If it doesn’t work, we’ll try another one. He allows his actors to explore other ideas, which to him are okay. When he sees the idea doesn’t work, he’ll tell us. For me, that’s very welcoming.”

Mendoza goes beyond merely calling the shots onstage. To prepare the cast members for their role, he even sent reference materials related to the play -- from how to roll a cigar to the lives of Cuban-Americans in the 1920s.

Mendoza also works as set designer for “Anna in the Tropics.” He is joined by fellow New York-based creatives Fabian Obispo for sound design and American costume designer Becky Bodurtha. They are teaming up with Barbie Tan-Tiongco for lights design and GA Fallarme for video projection design.

Pangilinan is delighted to work with Mendoza, who gives every member of the cast a lot of freedom in acting out their respective roles. “He allows us to explore and discover new things as an actor. We can go extremes. I guess it’s up to us. Also, we have to work together. We’re only seven in the play. And we are a family. That’s a lot of working together and discussing. Which is also what the play is all about.

“Working with Joey is a different process definitely. It’s always so interesting and exciting. You’ll never know what we’re going to explore with or focus on. He allows everyone to learn together. He’s open to discussions and ideas,” he said.

Working together for the first time is not actually a struggle for Pangilinan and Onida. “Personally, I like keeping an open mind with anything or anyone I work with. It’s not just easier, but it’s more fun that way. It’s a big factor that we are all first timers here,” she said.

Onida added: “It’s a big factor that we are all first timers. “There’s no struggle for us. Fabian, who’s Fil-Am and doing the musical score, was from Fordham University. Becky, also an American, is doing our costumes. It’s a new team altogether.”

He considers it even welcoming how Mendoza, and even Rep’s artistic director, Liesl Batucan, have kept an “open communication” with the cast from the time they started rehearsing.

Admittedly, Onida can be frenetic when he acts and delivers his dialogue. “I have to stay still. Sometimes, I forget my lines when I do that. It’s a struggle again. They took a documented video of our rehearsals and made us watch it. That was very helpful. I saw the difference of what I was doing.”

Pangilinan, for her part, is doing her first straight play after previously doing musicals like “Side Show,” “Beautiful” and “Ang Huling El Bimbo.” She will be seen next in "Tabing Ilog" and the Hotdog musical, “Bongga Ka Day.”

“I’ve always known myself as a musical theater kid,” Pangilinan said. “Doing ‘Anna in the Tropics’ is also exciting for me. It’s another process. I like meeting people new people precisely for that and seeing what kind of process works for them.

“How my personal way of learning can adjust and what new discoveries I can find along the way, that’s important to me. I’m very appreciative with how everybody, not just the entire cast but also the director, has been in this entire process that we all work together.”