Every family has one. The one who fills the silence, laughs the loudest, and finds a reason to celebrate an ordinary Tuesday. The one who insists that everything is fine, and makes almost everyone believe it.
But what happens when keeping up appearances becomes a way of avoiding the truth?
This November, “I Am Normal,” a new play written and directed by emerging Cebuano theater artist Ciara Baricuatro, offers audiences a glimpse into the Dimaano family, where grief manifests in different ways and the things left unsaid may be the hardest to confront.
The play follows family members struggling to grieve, each in their own way. Ian performs, Fern rages, Helen organizes, and Lolo watches. Beneath their individual responses lies a shared loss, and somewhere something waits to be said.
At the center of the story is Ian, a boy who, through humor, performance, and the familiar comfort of fictional worlds, attempts to navigate emotions he does not quite know how to face. His struggle reflects a larger question: What if the pressure to be positive, independent, and seemingly okay becomes another burden to carry?
For playwright Baricuatro, “I Am Normal” is both a theatrical story and a deeply personal undertaking. Written nine months before the staging, the script began with a simple premise—a boy using sitcoms to cope with what he cannot confront directly—and underwent multiple revisions, ultimately developing into a story about grief, mental health, and the complicated ways people protect themselves from painful emotions.
Baricuatro describes Ian as a character written for people who struggle to acknowledge their own feelings, often avoiding confronting inner tumult. The character also reflects the pressure many experience to appear positive and self-sufficient.
“I Am Normal” is Baricuatro’s first play as writer and director. Developed independently with guidance from her directing mentor, 2TinCans managing director Charlene Virlouvet, the work represents a significant step in her theater journey. The result is a family drama that invites audiences to look beyond appearances and consider the emotions, vulnerabilities and unspoken truths that may lie beneath.
The cast is made up of Alexus Libarnes, Ernest Aleonar, Isabella Villarojo, and Vince Lopez, with stage management by Kjaran Dalay.
The production is part of Kulukabildo II: Stories in Direct Light, a monthly theater series presented by 2TinCans Philippines Inc. and The Kabilin Center. Rooted in the Bisaya concept of “kulukabildo,” or informal exchange, the series serves as a dedicated platform for the organization’s directors’ training program, showcasing the distinct artistic visions of eight emerging Cebuano directors.
Through this initiative, Kulukabildo creates space for new voices to develop their work, engage with audiences, and contribute to the continuing growth of Cebu’s theater community.—CONTRIBUTED
“I am Normal” will be staged on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at The Kabilin Center in Cebu City. Tickets: https://2tincans-philippines.yapsody.com/
Content Advisory: Contains mature themes, including mental health and grief. Suitable for audiences aged 13 and above. Younger attendees must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
