Mitch Valdes plays popular storytelling grandma in Ballet Manila’s ‘Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang’

March 19, 2024 Ballet Manila Archives

By Leah Salterio

Veteran singer-actress and comedienne Mitch Valdes is stepping into a turf that is new to her. In Ballet Manila’s forthcoming production, Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, Valdes essays the iconic role of the grandmother reading stories to her grandchildren.

Mitch Valdes says it’s an honor to portray the iconic storytelling grandmother in Ballet Manila’s Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang.

Although Valdes has yet to be seen officially onstage as Lola Basyang, she is thankful to be essaying the title role in Ballet Manila’s second offering for its 26th performance season – although she won’t exactly be dancing in it.

She jokes that she is still in training for the company’s 27th season next year. “I’m still learning my pas de deux. And if they can find a guy who will lift,” Valdes laughs.

The ballet adaptation is actually based on three stories written by Severino Reyes – Philippine literature’s original “Lola Basyang” – as retold by award-winning children’s book author, Christine Bellen Ang, and released by Anvil Publishing. These stories are: Prinsipe ng mga Ibon, Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya and Mahiwagang Biyulin.

“I’m very happy that there is a Filipino repertoire and that we can reach a new generation in bringing Lola Basyang to life,” Valdes says.

Admittedly, the singer-actress had not seen the previous performances of Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, particularly the portrayal of veteran actress Luz Fernandez who was not only in the ballet when it premiered in 2008 and its succeeding runs but also played the character on TV before.

“I will never compare,” Valdes insists. “Luz Fernandez was a colleague of mine on television. I know she did a fabulous job playing Lola Basyang.”

For the premiere of Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang in 2008, Luz Fernandez played Lola Basyang while Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde was “Ate Lisa” who helped string the three featured stories together.

An accomplished actress on television and film, as well as a veteran radio talent, Luz Fernandez passed away in 2022.

For her turn as Lola Basyang, Valdes is thinking of inserting a little humor and comedy into the character. But she says it is up to the director to decide if it will be a good approach. She recognizes that her portrayal, after all, must not digress from the beauty of the ballet itself.

Valdes says she had a conversation with Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde on the treatment of Lola Basyang and how to prepare for this classic.

“I will ask Lisa if Lola Basyang can get up from her rocking chair for some choreography,” Valdes teases. “Maybe up on pointe for five seconds.”

Seriously speaking, though, she already has a game plan for her debut as the storytelling grandmother. “I shall immerse myself into the Kuwento ni Lola Basyang literature which I have not delved into since high school. I’m very, very excited to work with young people, to work with Lisa Macuja and to work in the ballet world,” Valdes enthuses.

Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang will have performances at Aliw Theater on: May 11, Friday, 8 p.m.; May 12, Saturday, 5 p.m.; and May 18, Saturday, 8 p.m.