"About Us But Not About Us" [2026]

""Sometimes, feelings are more important than the truth." - Lancelot

Stage

Romnick Sarmenta, Elijah Canlas,

Epy Quizon, Andoy Ranay

Playwright: Jun Robles Lana

Directed by: Tuxqs Rutaquio

Power Mac Center Spotlight

Blackbox Theater

Idea First Live!

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RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5

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NO SPOILER

SYNOPSIS:

A casual conversation between a literature professor and his student over a meal quickly devolves into a tense psychological confrontation as secrets, lies, and unsettling truths unravel in a gripping drama that dissects identity, hidden trauma, and the complex, manipulative nature of human narrative.

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INTRODUCTION:

I can still remember the first time I watched its original film adaptation. I wasn’t really planning to see it, but the intriguing trailer piqued my curiosity, so I decided to give it a try. I was left in awe of how the two actors, Romnick Sarmenta and Elijah Canlas, portrayed their characters. The word magnificent hardly seems enough to describe how intelligently the story was written.

When it was announced that the film would have a stage adaptation, I was excited because the story’s setting naturally suits the medium. Since it takes place in a single location, staging it would not be much of a challenge. Moreover, the narrative primarily revolves around two main characters, making the transition to a stage play feel both practical and appropriate. Still, the real question was whether it would translate smoothly to the stage or end up being a waste of time, money, and effort.

STORY:

The main plot of the story remains the same. We have two main characters: Ericson (played by Romnick Sarmenta), and Lancelot (played by Elijah Canlas). They meet at a restaurant to discuss and clarify certain matters following the death of Eric’s husband, Marcus, a famous writer and Lance’s idol (this time played by Epi Quizon).

The most obvious difference between this stage play and the movie is that this time, we are not just watching two people converse with each other. In the film, the third character, Marcus, is now visually represented through the characters perspectives as narrated by Eric and Lance.

The flow of the story may shift slightly from one event to another, but this stylistic choice contributes to the film’s overall theme. I truly appreciate how the flow of the narrative was presented to the audience. It may not have been perfectly smooth, but it was not all over the place. The lines and dialogues were clear, and the words were properly enunciated, despite being delivered in English, which contrasts slightly with the Taglish lines used in the movie.

Another difference I noticed between the two mediums is that the stage play incorporates additional comedic moments, which are properly place in certain moments of the play that provides slight relief from the tension of the moment.

Overall, I think the stage adaptation is more fleshed out than the movie. As Romnick mentioned in one of his interviews promoting the project, those who were left with questions after watching the film may find answers in the stage adaptation, and hopefully, it will give audiences a deeper understanding of the story.

If you were to ask me which version I prefer, I would say the movie appeals to me more. For me, the psychological aspects of the story are better expressed through the shifting lights and close-ups. For some reason, I also prefer Marcus to remain anonymous in the movie rather than being visually presented to the audience.

Despite this preference, it does not diminish the efforts of the entire team behind the stage adaptation. It is still a great play, and I encourage people to watch it.

CHARACTERS:

Romnick Sarmenta (Ericson)

At this point, no one can question Romnick Sarmenta’s acting abilities. He has been in the industry for many years and has delivered numerous unforgettable performances. This play is no exception. I admired how he expressed every emotion with such depth and passion. The anger, the desperation, his determination to stand by his decisions, and the underlying hurt and pain were all executed convincingly. I also want to commend his delivery of lines—they were clear, well-enunciated, and flowed naturally.

Elijah Canlas (Lancelot)

Elijah, on the other hand, seemed to put even more effort into the stage adaptation, particularly in how he delivered his lines. From what I observed, he exerted extra effort in projecting and delivering his English dialogue, yet he still managed to give an impressive performance. In the film version, I appreciated how his character transformed from an innocent young student into a more dominant figure who attempted to manipulate Eric to serve his own motives. However, in the stage play, the impact I expected from his character felt slightly less powerful compared to the movie.

Epy Quizon (Marcus)

While Romnick and Elijah both delivered outstanding performances, Epy Quizon stood out to me the most. His portrayal of a queer, dominant partner who prioritizes his reputation above all else was strikingly effective. The nuances of his behavior, his intensity, and his passion were all evident on stage. His presence left a strong impression, and I cannot emphasize enough how significant his impact was on the overall story. I highly suggest watching him and see it for yourself.

PRODUCTION DESIGN:

Stage & Props

I admire how the team behind the play thoughtfully connected the stage design to the story itself. The crumpled paper effect was particularly striking, as it subtly highlighted Marcus’s profession as a prolific writer. It was a simple yet meaningful visual choice that reinforced the narrative. A more detailed explanation of the stage design can also be found in the play’s playbill, which is available at the front desk.

As for the props, they were mostly positioned at the center and on the rightmost part of the stage. While the arrangement worked well overall, I personally wish there had been elements placed on the left side as well to create a stronger sense of visual balance but that’s just a personal nitpick on my part.

Music

Music was effective and provides tension in the story. It was not annoying nor unnecessary.

CRITICISMS/SUGGESTIONS:

From my experience watching the play, it was evident that the stage lighting still needs some refinement. During the first few scenes, one of the spotlights was not properly focused and briefly shifted in the wrong directions, which became a bit distracting. Fortunately, it was corrected right away. It wasn’t a major setback, especially considering that it was the first show when I attended.

I would also suggest better crowd management outside the venue. The ushers could have organized a proper line for those waiting to enter. At the time, there was no clear queue, so people were scattered around the hall and unsure whether they should go inside or continue waiting outside. A more structured system would definitely improve the overall experience.

CONCLUSION:

The stage adaptation of About Us But Not About Us is arguably one of the strongest film-to-stage translations I’ve seen so far. While the movie leans more into mystery and psychological tension, the play offers a fuller and more detailed narrative, one that answers questions the film may have left unresolved.

That said, if there is one lingering question after watching the story unfold, it would be this: Who is the real manipulator, and who is the real victim—Eric, Lance, or Marcus?

(About Us But Not About Us play adaptation will run from February 14 - March 8, 2026. For tickets, just go Ticket2Me.com )

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