“So what was your favorite part?” asked Jake Cuenca, as he greeted his friends and members of the media during the preview of his first-ever theatre play, Lungs.

“The sex,” laughed Solenn Heusaff, who watched the play with Carla Humphries. Also spotted in the crowd were Nikki Gil, Paulo Avelino, and Raymond Gutierrez.

They had nothing but praises for the production. Solenn loved the theatre-in-the-round setting. “It was such an intimate setting. There’s literally no props. They were just in a box, but they were able to hold their ground.”

For Carla, simplicity was key. “I love the simplicity of how they created it; how their acting, the stage, and the lighting changes were done. It highlighted the nuances.”

Carla was part of the production No Filter 2.0 back in 2016, along with Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Lauren Young, Micah Muñoz, and Khalil Kaimo. For Carla, Jake’s performance in Lungs is another testament to how good an actor he really is. “He can do film and TV, but he can also do live performances. He is such a strong actor, but at the same time, it was very honest and real. It wasn’t too much. I think he did justice to the character and it was very enjoyable to watch.”

“He was very natural,” said Solenn. “I’ve seen him in movies and I already know that he’s one of the good actors in the Philippines. I was intrigued about how he’d be on stage, because I know theatre’s a bit louder, a bit more articulate. But everything was just so real! It didn’t feel like watching a play. It felt more like watching a real-life relationship.”

Solenn also had good things to say about Jake’s co-star in the play. “Sab was a revelation,” she said of theatre actress Sab Jose. “She was so charming; annoying when a woman’s supposed to be annoying, but at the same time, you feel the rollercoaster of emotions she goes through.” While Solenn has no theatre experience yet, she thinks that it’s a good challenge for actors. “I’ve always been freaked out about not having a take two or take three, but I think it’s something I’d love to experience at least once in my life.”

This two-person, one-act play by Duncan Macmillan is a 90-minute conversation about love, sex, parenthood, change. “I think it was a real depiction of a real relationship,” observed Solenn. Married for two years now, she could definitely relate to the concerns of the couple. “Not just moments. Maybe the whole play! I haven’t experienced the cheating. Hopefully never. But aside from that, everything was pretty relevant.”

Even Carla, who’s single, was able to relate to the story. The idea of mortality was something that struck her. “For me, I love my parents so much and I can never imagine the world not having my parents,” she shared. “I think it doesn’t only tackle a love relationship but it also tackles human relationships. I think it’s holding on to those highlights of your life and those moments you’d want to remember.”

Lungs is by The Sandbox Collective and 9 Works Theatrical. It runs at the Power MAC Centre Spotlight, Circuit Makati from September 22 to October 7, 2018.