Dear Sugar: Stories of Life in Letters

A glimpse into what we loved about the Philippine stage adaptation of Tiny Beautiful Things.

Words Patricia Lanzagarita
Photos courtesy of The Sandbox Collective
December 4, 2024

Dear Sugar,

It all began with these words. In the silence of the theater, the audience’s eyes were fixed on the movements and emotions of the characters, which were so vivid in every expression.

Unlike the typical letters Sugar receives, this article takes a moment to appreciate Sugar and the entire story of Tiny Beautiful Things.

Authentic Stories

Throughout the play, the authenticity of the stories of each letter shines through. The stories were so relatable that audiences couldn’t help but connect with the struggles and emotions each letter sender conveyed.

Tiny Beautiful Things made us feel, for those few hours, that we are not alone in our personal battles. Despite our differences, we all fight similar struggles every day.

Emotionally Resonant

Tiny Beautiful Things is based on Cheryl Strayed’s writings when she took over the role of the anonymous advice columnist for “Dear Sugar,” a column featured in The Rumpus, an online literary magazine.

The letters performed in the play came from real people, each telling their own heartfelt story. Cheryl responded to them with long-form essays drawn from her own experiences, offering wisdom and comfort. This unique blend of authenticity and empathy is what made the performance so powerful.

Starring Filipina actress Iza Calzado as Sugar, the play resonated deeply with the audience, evoking vulnerability, empathy, and the rawness of human emotions—whether through letters or the advice Sugar offered in return.

Valuable Lessons

With its real-life stories, Tiny Beautiful Things imparts real-life lessons. The play created a safe space for the audience to explore a range of emotions—grief, joy, sadness, comfort, and even brokenness. Ultimately, it encouraged us to embrace these vulnerabilities, teaching us valuable lessons in forgiveness and acceptance.

Tiny Beautiful Things is more than just a play. It is a journey of healing. While the emotions it stirred might have been overwhelming, the overarching message was clear: to feel is to be human. And that, in itself, is a beautiful thing to remember.

And so, like the letters, this article too must end with a…

Yours,

Appreciative :)