REVIEW: 'About Us But Not About Us’ turns grief, manipulation, and memory into an intimate stage thriller
Some stories leave you with answers. About Us But Not About Us leaves you with questions.
Originally an acclaimed 2023 psychological thriller film by Jun Robles Lana, the stage adaptation brings Eric (Romnick Sarmenta), Lancelot (Elijah Canlas), and Marcus (Epy Quizon) together in a story about grief, relationships, and the complicated ways people remember those they have lost.
When UP English professor Eric sits down at a restaurant with his former student Lancelot after the death of his husband, Marcus, a simple check-in quickly turns dark. Unpacking those old memories takes them into a tense, emotional confrontation. A web of hidden intentions and half-truths about their respective connections to the late Marcus emerges.
There is a constant sense that something is being left unsaid. Conversations shift from casual to confrontational, with each revelation changing how the audience understands the characters. The manipulation doesn't feel forced—it gradually creeps into their exchanges, making it increasingly difficult to determine who is being sincere and who is trying to control the narrative.
Marcus' presence adds another layer to the story, allowing the audience to see the person at the center of Eric and Lancelot's complicated memories and emotions. His character becomes more than just someone being talked about; his presence gives the audience another perspective on the relationships and conflicts unfolding around him.
It also raises one of the play's biggest questions: How much can we really know about someone through the people who remember them?
The intimate theater setting works well for a story driven largely by dialogue. There is nowhere for the characters—or the audience—to hide from the tension. Pauses, changes in tone, and moments of silence carry weight as the characters slowly reveal more of themselves.
And while the story deals with grief and conflict, it remains deeply human. Beneath the mystery are people dealing with resentment, affection, loss, and relationships that clearly haven't been resolved.
The play's biggest strength, however, may be its refusal to provide an easy answer.
By the ending, the audience may think they finally understand what happened—only for the story to leave another question hanging. Instead of neatly tying everything together, it ends on an intentionally mysterious note, almost like a final cliffhanger.
It can be frustrating not to have everything explained, but that uncertainty is also what makes About Us But Not About Us linger after the curtain falls.
At its heart, the play asks more than what happened to Marcus.
Maybe it's asking whether we can ever know the complete truth about another person—and whether the stories we tell about them reveal more about them, or about ourselves.
Disclaimer: PhilSTAR L!fe was given a free ticket to About Us But Not About Us, which runs until Oct. 25 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Circuit Makati. Tickets start at P2,800 and are available through Ticket2Me.