Cebu play ‘I Am Normal’ explores grief, coping through sitcoms

A play exploring grief and the different ways people cope with loss is set to be staged in Cebu City this November.

Titled “I Am Normal,” the production will run at the Kabilin Center on November 7 and 8, producer 2TinCans Philippines announced in a statement.

Written and directed by Ciara Baricuatro, “I Am Normal” follows the Dimaano family as they navigate grief in their own ways. The story centers on Ian, a young boy who turns to sitcoms as a way of coping with loss.

Written nine months before its staging, “I Am Normal” began with a simple concept: a boy who turns to sitcoms to cope with something he cannot directly confront.

After months of revisions, the script evolved into “a more fully realized story about grief, mental health, and the complicated ways people protect themselves from painful emotions,” 2TinCans said.

The cast features Alexus Libarnes, Ernest Aleonar, Isabella Villarojo and Vince Lopez.

Tickets are available via this link.

“I Am Normal” is part of “Kulukabildo II: Stories in Direct Light,” a theater series that aims to provide a platform for emerging directors.