“Adarna in the City”
As the classic Ibong Adarna centers as the mythical bird that possesses magical power, “Adarna in the City’s” modern interpretation centers on how a mom transforms into a “superhero like-bird” to save and protect others and his three sons. Comparing the play and the classic story that we used to know, the notable contemporary adaptations of the performance were in fact, numerous. First, I noticed that the classical ones where all about the three princes trying to catch the mythical bird in order to save their dying dad which is a king. On the other hand, the modern adaptation showed a twisted story using ordinary people of our time. An ordinary mom who transforms into a “bird” in order to watch the lives of his three sons working on a construction site. Second, the classical ones showed how the three princes sacrificed their lives. While in the modern adaption, the mom was the one who sacrificed everything for his sons and at the same time doing her obligations for others. Lastly, the modern interpretation uses “Adarna” to symbolize how a mother’s love can be so profound and unconditional. I think that it is a necessity to modernize this classic tale because we are in the modern age with readers having different perspectives and motives in life. It was very effective that “Adarna in the City” was inspired into the lives of our ages associating it with the love of a mom which is timely and relevant in our time today. Thus, it will let us understand and appreciate more of what we have from the past by modernizing and giving life to a whole new classical tale.