Over the past two days I had the pleasure, and mostly a coincidence, of watching two plays, both directed by Jose Zayas, that are currently being produced in Repertorio Español and INTAR. These two premiere theatres have brought Latino, Latin-American, and Spanish theatre to American audiences in both English and Spanish for over many fifty years. This month INTAR premiered Pinkolandia by Andrea Thome, a Chilean-Costa Rican-American playwright.
Pinkolandia is set in Reagan's '80s Wisconsin and it is about an exiled family from Chile. Their two daughters, raised in the US, take us to their fantasy world. One in which they deal with Nazi soldiers, polar bears and a never ending search to define who they are and where they come from. A family torn apart by a political past and a nostalgia for the country they had to suddenly leave behind is reflected in the social and private lives of the daughters. It is a very emotional play in terms of politics and the love for a motherland, but at its core, it also deals with the struggles of adjusting to a new country and society with different rules, language, and freedom values they were unable to find in Chile. It is an Immigration tale. A chronicle on Identity . A story everyone can relate to.
The cast includes Maria Helan and Heather Velasquez as the sisters, Anne Henk and Carlo Alban (whom I had the pleasure to meet afterwards and found we have a story in common!) as the parents (excellent job with the Chilean accents!!), Jose Antonio Melian (heartfelt and passionate Tio Ignacio, my favorite character) and Gabriel Sloyer.
The best part about Pinkolandia though, besides the cast, besides the story, besides the themes, is the SET. What an imaginative, innovative and dynamic set! With the help of visually stunning, projected images and an interactive set, we were able to feel like we were part of the fantastical, child world of Gaby and Beny.
Pinkolandia opens until May 26th so hurry up!!On Wednesdays the tickets are sold for $5!
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Last night I went to Repertorio Español to watch their latest production and world premiere of 21 by Vincent Toro. Vincent Toro was the 2011 winner of a playwriting competition sponsored by Metlife and Repertorio called "Nuestras Voces." He not only wins a significant amount of money, he also gets to see his play be produced by Repertorio. Something which I think is incredible and miraculous in the world of Live Theatre in NYC. Anyway, The reason why I ended up attending was because Marco Antonio Rodriguez, the playwright of La Luz de un Cigarrillo, won the 2012 competition of "Nuestras Voces" and his ceremony took place right before the play started last night. I can't wait to see his play Barcelo con Hielo be produced in Repertorio next year. He is one talented Dominican writer (what's up Junot Diaz, you're a different kind but equally talented.)
21 is performed simultaneously in English and Spanish, which I think it's cool because I understand both, and those who don't understand one language or the other, can now read super titles from a small screen placed in the front seat. Also, since I was by myself, I got to seat first row... not bad sister, not bad.
21 is about a crazy Puerto Rican family whose son has graduated from college and they collectively decided to celebrate at a casino of the son's choice. I thought that was a weird present (don't like casinos) and so did BJ, the son, so at least we have some things in common. Once the family starts spending time together, the family issues and the repressed feelings start to come up among each other, but mostly between the son and the father, whose relationship looked like it had always been unstable and unspoken. There's also a crazy-but matter-of-factly-uncle in this play as in Pinkolandia, who oversees the conflicts between parents and son and eventually jumps in in the fun (if you can call arguing "fun"). There's redemption, unconditional love, and lots of laughter in this play. I loved the parents' and uncle Puerto Rican accent, its full of sabor and rhythm.
The production stars Dalia Davi, Abdel Gonzalez, Sandor Juan and Frank Rodriguez and opened May 16th until June 7th.
Two different productions about family, that one wise uncle you can't get rid of, and identity to enjoy this month and feel like you're in a different place. Interestingly, they both happen to be spoken in English and Spanish simultaneously. It's the richness of our diversity that makes us who we are. Looking forward to watching more plays in which languages and cultures are intertwined.
