Why transforming into the evil Rothbart in ‘Swan Lake’ is Mark Sumaylo’s biggest challenge yet
In 2017, real-life partners Mark Sumaylo and Abigail Oliveiro made their full-length debut in the lead roles of Swan Lake.
By Jv Ramos
Photos by Giselle P. Kasilag
In making his debut as the evil sorcerer Rothbart in Swan Lake, principal dancer Mark Sumaylo says his goal is to achieve a commanding presence on stage.
Principal dancer Mark Sumaylo has played all sorts of villains throughout his career: There’s the third-party figure in the love triangles, such as Hilarion in Giselle and Sultan Ali Adab in Florante at Laura. There’s the royal brother Don Pedro who’s consumed by jealousy and ends up harming and leaving the youngest prince Juan to die in Ibong Adarna. And we’ve seen him twice as a father who refuses to accept the man his daughter has fallen in love with, specifically in the Lola Basyang story, Ang Prinsipe ng Mga Ibon, and as Juliet’s stern father in Martin Lawrance’s Romeo and Juliet.
But while he’s familiar with turning oneself into the bad guy, transforming into Rothbart, the evil sorcerer in Ballet Manila’s Swan Lake, is admittedly his biggest challenge yet. “It’s easy for me to show anger when I’m the villain, but that’s just not enough. Being a villain is all about having presence, and with Rothbart, you’ll have to retain that presence for three acts.”
Mark (right) welcomes portraying villains – such as the hateful father, Sultan Ali-Adab, to Noah Esplana’s Aladin in Florante at Laura – as it allows him more freedom to explore the characters.
Mark describes the kind of presence he hopes to exude. “When I portray Rothbart, I always think big. I think that I’m in control of the whole stage, since my character has all the white swans at my fingertips. To achieve a commanding presence onstage – that even the farthest audiences in the theater can see it – I give it my all in rehearsals. But I’ve got to admit, there are times when Prince Siegfried would step in.”
Here, Mark explains that since he’s partnered with wife and fellow principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro in so many gala showcases of Swan Lake since the full-length in 2017, he sometimes cannot completely shake off the habit of acting like a prince.
“I think it’s happened twice during rehearsals – that when I took a step, it was something Prince Siegfried would do. I guess the reason behind it is, I’m not just working on my Rothbart. Since Nathaniel Remez [of San Francisco Ballet] came a week before the actual shows, I’d been dancing Siegfried so Abi can practice her partnering. But definitely, the Rothbart you’ll see during the show won’t have princely steps,” Mark assures.
In this scene from Swan Lake, Mark as the sorcerer Rothbart and San Francisco Ballet first soloist Katherine Barkman as Odile are about to crush Prince Siegfried’s heart by revealing their deception.
He has actually been enjoying turning himself into Rothbart. “I like the fact that, compared to prince roles, you don't have to be too straight when you play the villain. I love that he’s the polar opposite of Prince Siegfried too. This way, I can explore more ways to characterize and challenge myself more as an artist.”
By challenge, Mark is also referring to getting the right look for the obsessed sorcerer. "There have been so many costumes over the years, including old ones that look new, which makes the dancer look like something na pansabong (game fowl),” he chuckles. “That just doesn't speak to me, so I reached out to [former Ballet Manila soloist] Alfren Salgado and requested for an image of the correct look."
Alfren sent Mark a photo showing himself as Rothbart, looking very sinister with bright red eyes completing the look. “I'm not used to contacts but I will try dancing with it since the red eyes add to the character's look. There's also his makeup which I have yet to master,” says Mark. Much like his partner on stage and off, Abi, he believes that to get the character right, every detail – from his expressions and dance steps to his cape and makeup – must be nailed.
Having danced with Abi in many gala showcases of Swan Lake since the full-length in 2017, Mark sometimes can’t completely shake off the habit of acting like a prince.
Asked how he feels about being the Rothbart to the two Swan Lake casts, Mark shares, “It’s exciting to work with [San Francisco Ballet guest artists] Katherine Barkman and Esteban Hernandez again. I think that with them, I could easily bring out the character of Rothbart. But for Abi and Nathaniel, let’s see what happens. It’s very rare to for me to dance beside someone who is so much taller than me,” jokes the danseur, referring to Nathaniel’s 6’2” height.
“Really, dancing with both casts and playing Rothbart is nothing but a privilege,” Mark underscores. “I look forward to bringing what I’ve been doing in rehearsals to the stage. I can’t wait to for everyone see the evil smile I do as soon as I hear the music for Rothbart, the moments wherein I’m the only one wearing black on stage, and when I am able to command the swans and toy with the prince. There really is no villain role like Rothbart. I’m very blessed to be given the opportunity to play him.”
Noting that there is no villain role like Rothbart, Mark says, “I’m very blessed to be given the opportunity to play him.”
