CinemaBravo

Up-and-coming actor Drei Arias is taking a bold leap into the world of theater with Walong Libong Piso, the debut stage play of Bentria Productions.

Staged at Teatrino Promenade in Greenhills, this daring one-man production runs on August 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16, 2025, with 5:30 PM matinees and 8:30 PM evening shows. Written and directed by Dr. Dante Balboa and produced by Engineer Benjamin Austria, the play tackles the complexities of hypersexuality and mental health—topics that are rarely explored with such intensity and intimacy onstage.

For Drei, Walong Libong Piso marks not just a theatrical debut, but a deeply personal milestone.

“It’s a dream I’ve been doing since I was fourteen years old,” he shared in an interview. Landing a lead role in his very first theater outing is no small feat, especially considering the demands of the production.

The play, which also has a film version, is unlike any other in Philippine performing arts history. It unfolds in real time—running for one hour and twenty minutes from 8:00 PM to 9:20 PM—with no cuts, scene transitions, or supporting characters. The entire performance takes place in one sequence, inside a single bedroom, with only one actor on stage: Drei.

“Preparing my body, of course, and the usual rehearsals we’ve been doing for months,” he said of his process, noting that the physical and mental demands of a one-man show are intense. But more than the physicality, it’s the narrative that has impacted him the most. “I think every play has a different contribution to my craft. This one has widened my perspective about the struggles of sexy actors from our past.”

Indeed, Walong Libong Piso is both a celebration and a critique of the hypersexualized roles often assigned to men in art, film, and theater. The character navigates desire, identity, and deception—leaving the audience with haunting questions about who is the predator and who is the prey. The psychological tension builds within the confined space of the protagonist’s bedroom, exposing the character’s vulnerabilities in raw, real time.

With the play’s intense spotlight on male sexuality, Drei admits that while he has always appreciated his physique, embracing it publicly was another journey. “I love my body and I am happy with it. Being loud about it, on the other hand, is a different story. So I am showing up to the gym every day preparing for this role.”

But while the role requires him to reveal skin, it’s the soul of the character that Drei wants to resonate more. “Yes, at some point [men’s bodies sell]. But I always make it a point that what I deliver as a character sells more than my physique,” he asserted.

Walong Libong Piso is not your typical theater piece. With its unique format, it challenges both performer and audience to stay present. It’s a creative risk, but one that Drei is embracing fully as part of his artistic growth.

“Every play teaches you something new,” he said. “This one pushed me to dig deeper—not just into the character, but into myself.”

Catch Drei Arias in Walong Libong Piso at Teatrino Promenade, Greenhills. Tickets are now available at TicketWorld via bit.ly/WalongLibongPiso. For inquiries and SVIP reservations, contact Bentria Productions at +63 927 760 4088 (Atto Canlas) or +63 956 009 6819 (Bryan).