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Carlo Orosa captivates audience as
Benjamin
 MANILA, Jan. 22 (Sunstar) -- Veteran stage actor,
concert performer and singing star Carlo Orosa once again
captivates the hearts and minds of stage aficionados in
“Joseph The Dreamer.”
As Benjamin, brother of Joseph,
Carlo convincingly acts out the conflict reflected in the
heart of the youngest of the 12 sons of Israel. He is caught
in between two contending forces. He considers it right to
listen to Joseph, to follow his every word, to join his
brother and their father in worshipping God. And yet, Benjamin
fears his other brothers (Reuben, Simeon and the jealous
ones). He cannot stand being ostracized by them, not wanting
to suffer their scorn and brute force. This is the conflict in
Benjamin’s heart, which Carlo dramatizes
superbly.
Carlo also earned rave reviews as Mr. Tumnus
in “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” and as the villain
Kooni in “Rama At Sita.” Prior to that, he had the privilege
to appear with Lea Salonga in a Maxi-Media production of
“Grease,” not to mention his topnotch performances in other
Trumpets musicales such as “Pamilya Maleta” (a Tagalog play
that has traveled in other countries like Japan, Hongkong and
Malaysia), “First Name,” and many others.
Last Dec. 11
and 12, Carlo performed with Martin Nievera, Jaya and Zsa Zsa
Padilla at the Folk Arts Theater in SK Productions’ “One for
the Soul.”
He was in the original cast of “Joseph The
Dreamer” when it first ran in 1989 in Cebu which explains the
deftness in which he portrays the role of Benjamin. Offstage,
Carlo is a newly-elected board member of Trumpets.
“I
am excited about the fact that Trumpets is moving to a new
home on the 5th floor of Shangri-La Mall (formerly Quantum
X),” he says.
Carlo brings to the fore Benjamin’s
simplemindedness, his lack of conviction and some element of
humor in the character’s mannerisms. Benjamin’s actions were
not the result of evil design. Most of it was propelled by
fear of his brothers’ wrath so he silently agreed with them
into deceiving Jacob into thinking that Joseph was dead. Deep
within, he bled for his brother. He went along for his
brothers, yes. But, although he was with them, he was not
really for them. And Carlo was able to show all these
idiosyncrasies.
Carlo’s singing prowess was also
prominently displayed in the tightly-arranged song numbers,
interacting well with the two Josephs—Gary Valenciano and
Audie Gemora.
“Joseph The Dreamer’ is simply about
family, their joys and complexities, about God and life, about
patience and forgiveness. Whatever happens, God is faithful to
forgive and restore,” says Carlo.
And through the
acting prowess of Carlo, Benjamin’s short meaty moments in the
spotlight makes “Joseph The Dreamer” not just a musical with a
message but an entertaining musical experience as well.
(SNS)
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