“Is there something you don’t like about yourself?” asks Jan Rey Escano’s Dr. Beaumont Batocol, a renowned cosmetic surgeon, as his eyes scan the audience with glaring intensity. This question rings through the whole venue and lingers until the curtain call. Vincent De Jesus’ Skin Deep circles around this motif of appearances and change. With unflinching immediacy, Ateneo Blue Repertory’s (blueREP) adaptation takes no prisoners as it drags audiences into the pristine, yet austere enclosure of Dr. Beaumont’s beauty complex.
The story follows the journey of seven individuals as they seek the help of Batoctol to attain the beauty they supposedly lack. Maia Dapul’s Isah (alternate Senanda Gomez) was an exercise in calm authority, as every word out of her mouth commanded the audience’s unnerving attention, dragging them along the undertow of her inner turmoil. The culprit for most of these emotions was Isah’s primadonna husband, Siso, whose brash character was brought to life by Anton Peralta in scintillating fashion. Conversely, the other five participants of Dr. Beaumont’s circus, Chonggo (Miguel Bongato alternate Joviell Sta. Maria), Kit (Nikki Cadiz alternate Sofia Santelices), Amor (Marynor Madasemila), Happy (Pia Marie Paulican alternate Sofeea Catignas) and Pipay (Jason Tan Liwag), masterfully weaved humor into the mix, using each of their inherent flaws as the sparks for hilarious dialogue.
To add to all this, the members of the ensemble were stars in their own rights, as their eerie voices helped create the grandiose fantasy of Dr. Beaumont’s world. Musically, the whole cast did not miss a beat. Each cast member had a distinct tonal flavor to their vocal delivery, allowing the individual personalities to shine through even in song. This fusion of dynamic vocal tones prevented the song numbers from delving into a zone of monotony.
However, no star shined brighter than Dr. Beaumont himself, of whom Escano was in complete control—and with chilling effect. The enthralling oscillations between his moods created an air of mystery that surrounded his character. His performance ensured that, contrary to its name, Skin Deep’s impact cuts straight to the bone. The alluring, yet enigmatic smirk plastered across his face leaves one utterly charmed, but also cautious. Dr. Beaumont embodied the voice of insecurity in our heads, as if every word out of his mouth was always addressed to an audience member. With one eye constantly on the crowd, no soul in the venue was spared from the clutches of his judgement.
This connection with the crowd underlies the aching viscerality of the plot’s conflict. One’s insecurity deepens along with the that of the seven participants, as their masquerade with self-doubt becomes one’s own. In turn, Skin Deep brings to life the ambiguity that lies in a concept such as beauty. Through the use of self-deprecating humor and soliloquies of doubt, the participants conveyed how often the search for beauty leaves one grasping at air, perpetually circumventing the ideal in mind. This ideal is also elusive in form, as the beauty that resides in the heart is often the farthest from our reach—and also the one most forgotten.
For a play that centers on appearance and beauty, the set is decisively frugal with its props. That isn’t to take away anything from the set design: its layout created horizontal stage divisions which elevated the overall effect of the blocking, adding depth and layering to the viewing experience.
In all its grandeur, Skin Deep essentially boils down to an inward experience; a guided meditation on our conceptions of beauty that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The play does not impose anything on its audience; the simple plot belies the complexity of its message. One is left to ponder on Dr. Beaumont’s initial query: “Is there something you don’t like about yourself?” Skin Deep leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, but rest assured, you’ll be asking for more.