Ina is playing the female lead role in the William Shakespeare’s theater classic "Romeo & Juliet," which goes onstage beginning Jan. 13 at the Teatro Aguinaldo (AFP Theater).

"Romeo & Juliet" has been staged countless of times in all parts of the world and it never fails to enthrall audiences with the emotional and tragic tale of two young lovers from two feuding families, the Capulets and the Montagues.

This season’s theater production by the Metropolitan Theater Guild Asia offers a fresh spin on this stage classic, fusing contemporary design and Filipino nuances to better project the story to the younger audiences and theater enthusiasts who always seek for something new.

Needless to say, Ina feels so proud and honored to have been given the role of Juliet. The 20–year-old Ina, is a Creative Writing major at the Ateneo de Manila University. On being the daughter of celebrated film director Laurice Guillen and noted veteran actor Johnny Delgado, Ina said "it helps a lot in a sense...that I know it’s in my blood to be able to be a good performer. I like that I can ask all I want in relation to acting and they never run out of things to say."

But before she got into acting, Ina’s passion was dancing. In fact, she’s a member of the famed Bayanihan Dance Troupe with whom she has toured in various countries. She also has two Tanghalang Ateneo plays to her credit. Ina also said she totally can relate to Juliet because she can also be very strongwilled in love. "My favorite scene is when Romeo and Juliet spend their last moments together. I invest so much emotion each time we do the scene, and I pour every ounce I have...it’s like jumping off a cliff well aware of what I’m getting into."

Playing Romeo is Yan Yuzon, member of Ely Buendia’s band Pupil. Yan is also writer of the youth-oriented ABS-CBN TV show "Goin’ Bulilit." With years of theatrical credits locally, Yan has played the clown "Feste" in Shakespeare’s "12th Night..."which was liberating because I’m not known to be funny..." and the Baron in Carlo Goldoni’s "Mistress of the Inn," which Tanghalang Ateneo staged on tour for four years. He graduated in AB Social Science from Ateneo, with a minor in Hispanic Studies, and now teaches Theater Direction at the Ateneo Loyola School of Humanities for the Fine Arts Department. His band Pupil has just released its first album, "Beautiful Machines" under BMG Records Pilipinas. Artistry seems to run in his family as his younger brother Yael Yuzon also figures out in another band called "Sponge Cola," not to mention a distant relation with actress–singer Donna Cruz. "I hope to continue teaching, theater, music, basketball...and I hope to make films in the future."

The two are not really involved with personal relationships now – Yan was but no longer is, and Ina has not really found the one great love of her life. Yan relates that as an actor, he avoids relating to other people as much as possible. "It’s dangerous because you can lose your objectivity, or your sanity if you’re not careful." When asked what they won’t do for love, Ina says "I wouldn’t kill myself for love...I have gone through so much for me to think that I am left with no other choice but to kill myself." Yan responds, "betray friends...kill myself...run for President...I won’t do those for love."

Dr. Ricky Abad, Artistic Director of Tanghalang Ateneo and Metropolitan Theater Guild Asia, directs this season’s staging of "Romeo & Juliet." At age 19, he directed his first play – Agatha Christie’s "Ten Little Indians" while teaching theater arts in Notre Dame in Sulu. Years passed before he engaged full time in Teatro Pilipino, Tanghalang Ateneo, and the World Theater Project (with Anton Juan), as an actor and as a director. Ricky first directed "Romeo & Juliet" in 1992 for Tanghalang Ateneo, with Ron Capinding as Romeo (Ron has a role in this season’s run), and Pauline Suaco (now editor–in–chief of Preview magazine) as Juliet.

Asked what’s new about this "Romeo & Juliet," Ricky could cite three things that the whole creative cast and crew worked on to show a new approach to the stage classic. "It’s contemporarized...it’s not strictly Elizabethan English but its still the poetry of Shakespeare, spoken more comfortably." The stylized costumes and the glamorized aglobe theater (true to Shakespearean times in England) were designed and rendered by National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal. The pacing is notable faster, like its "edited for TV," with one small scene after another. This staging is also peppered with "edited for TV," with one small scene after another. This staging is also peppered with Filipino nuances, like the popularity of basketball, and the use of arnis in leiu of swords as weapons. Thirdly, Dr. Abad employed a few "visual jabs" that attempt to take the play out of its literal context, and make a symbolic and mythic statement in the course of a normal realistic situation. "If you see half a dozen monks with candles and an angel hovering above in the corner of the stage when it’s not really related to the ongoing scene, that’s the mysthic symbol." Romeo and Juliet are not just your regular love team, but they are eternal symbols of true love, arche-types of two lovers, whose story has been reprised by lovers throughout the ages.

"The way to a passionate life is a dangerous one, where life and death are always on the verge," explains Ricky. Defying society for what one holds true is the mark of any compelling love story and Dr. Abad exemplifies this in the play. Romeo and Juliet love against all odds, innocently, and above the conventions and artificiality of the "real" world. "Watch out for the death scene, it is the supreme statement of what I feel is the sweetest, most important things about all things said about this theatrical classic."

Steven Uy, president of Metropolitan Theater Guild Asia and executive producer for "Romeo & Juliet" uses this production to mount a pipe dream – the MET Academic Partnership (MAP) – a campaign that seeks to contribute to the development of campus theater in the country. "A lot of talent thrives in the high schools and colleges and it would be an exciting venture to engage these young people in lectures, grants, and stage festivals, so that watching or acting in a stage play would become a preferred pursuit," Steven relates. Last year’s staging of "Midsummer Nights Dream" was an artistic success, and Steven feels that with productions like such and this time, "Romeo & Juliet," we would all benefit from having a new company that joins all the Filipino theater groups in making the theater arts scene a better place.

Metropolitan Theater Guild Asia’s "Romeo & Juliet" goes onstage on Jan. 13, 14, 27, 28. Feb. 3, 4, at 8 p.m., Feb. 1, 2, and 3 at 3 p.m., Teatro Aguinaldo (AFP Theater), Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, EDSA, QC.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Jan. 11, go to Roger Serafica, president of Burgundy Realty Corp., hotelier Anos Fonacier, Atty. Malou Sarao, Dr. Manny Palabrica, Atty. Eric Aguiluz, Jojo Bacasmas of BMG, Dr. Fernando A. de Mesa, Sheila Lina, TienTien Soriano, Marlon Czar A. Esteba, Dr. Harry Lockhart, movie columnist Nap Alip, PR man Tony Molina, Glenny Calleja, Las Vegas-based Lyn D’Amor, Gourmet Café proprietor Jun Palces, and talent manager Butch Dans...Happy wedding anniversary to Winston and Noreen Marbella...