and social consciousness
http://www.montereyherald.com/gomagazine/ci_14380081?nclick_check=1
By LILY DAYTON
02/11/2010
It may come as a surprise to find that a theater company founded in
the midst of a United Farm Workers labor strike has always featured
comedy at its center.
But according to Kinan Valdez, artistic director, comedy is central
to El Teatro Campesino not in spite of its origins, but because of them.
"Laughter is so important because it inspires people to action," said
Valdez. "It moves them. You can laugh at something to take away its
pain. Laughter is the vehicle toward liberation."
In this grand comedic fashion, El Teatro Campesino opens its 2010
season with two humorous productions that are affectionately
nicknamed "Los Dos."
"Los Olivos Pits" and "Los Vendidos" previews begin Saturday night at
ETC's San Juan Bautista Playhouse. Previews run through the following
weekend, with an official opening next Saturday (Feb. 20).
There will also be a third show running with "Los Dos," the
ecological movie "Organic Farming in 12 Minutes."
"Los Dos" is two short plays that have been revived and adapted from
the early beginnings of El Teatro Campesino.
"Both pieces have historical connections," said Valdez. "Both have
been updated and adapted to fit more contemporary situations. Both
pieces grapple with social and political issues in a comedic way. And
both pieces are stories of con men."
"Los Olivos Pits," directed by R.G. Davis, is an adaptation of a
classic "paso" (or short prose piece) by the 16th-century Spanish
playwright Lope de Rueda.
The play uses the techniques of "commedia dell'arte," a partially
improvised form that was developed in 16th-century Italy, in which
actors use masks and the characters tend to be based on fixed "types."
Davis, founder of the San Francisco Mime Troupe, directed this piece
for the Mime Troupe from 1966-1969 and for El Teatro Campesino in 1972.
Luis Valdez, founder of El Teatro Campesino, invited Davis to ETC to
revive this historic production.
Luis Valdez worked under the direction of Davis at the Mime Troupe
and has credited Davis with initially inspiring him to start his own
theater company.
After leaving the Mime Troupe and being influenced by Davis, Luis
Valdez redefined Chicano Theater with what would become the
world-renowned El Teatro Campesino.
In addition to Davis, two of the original performers who worked with
him at ETC in 1972 have returned for the upcoming run of "Los Olivos
Pits:" Rosa Apodaca and Eduardo Robledo Jr.
The play also stars "second generation" ETC performers Christy
Sandoval and Adrian Torres.
The story of "Los Olivos Pits" revolves around a hustler who
convinces a family to barter their daughter's dowry for the promise
of a crop of olives planted from the single shoot of a tree.
When the family tries to get help from a loan-shark bank to rescue
them from debt, the plot takes an eerie turn of premonition to the
current banking crisis.
"It's directly applicable to the marketing of expensive houses to
people that can't pay for them," said Davis. "It's relevant to
people's delusions and illusions about how the system can trick them
and make them think they can get ahead. The American dream is good
for wealthy people, but not poor people. Some can make it, but they
have to step all over their neighbors and friends to get bigger and better."
One of the modern adaptations added to this production is the use of
a "calavera," or skeleton, who makes comments and critically looks at
the play itself. He makes social commentary such as, "What is robbing
a bank as compared to founding one?"
The second show of "Los Dos" will be "Los Vendidos," originally
written by Luis Valdez in 1967 (when it was first performed in East
Los Angeles). Directed by Kinan Valdez, this will be the play's debut
run at El Teatro's San Juan Bautista playhouse.
This play also stars Apodaca, Robledo, Sandoval and Torres.
"Los Vendidos," which means "The Sold Ones," is the story of Honest
Sancho and his knick-knack shop that he refers to as "Honest Sancho's
Useful Mexicans." Buyers can manipulate the models simply by snapping
their fingers and calling out commands. But buyer beware!
"It's a satire of the 1969 impression people had of Chicanos and
Mexicans," said Valdez. "We have the farm worker, the pachuco (a
zoot-suit wearing gangster) and the revolutionary war hero. The
identity of stereotypes exists across cultures. The play explores
whether or not these types still exits in today's culture."
Valdez said that one of the big questions of the play is: Who exactly
are the sold ones?
"Are they the models being sold? Or are they the people doing the
buying people who bought into stereotypes and keep repeating them
as part of our consumer culture?"
The third production, "Organic Farming in 12 Minutes," is a paper
movie (otherwise known as a "crankie" because it is a moving picture
on a scroll that is controlled by a hand-crank) that was written and
directed by Davis.
Both Davis and Valdez will star in this show, which has been
performed throughout the San Francisco Bay Area at farmers markets.
Rather than having a historical connection, this short yet poignant
glimpse into the world of organic farming is a reflection of Davis'
more recent work. Along with "Los Dos," it shares the connective
thread of comedy and social commentary.
"Otherwise," Davis asked, "why do you do theater? You might as well
do movies. Theater has to do something socially relevant. Now it's
time for us to take on ecological subjects."
--
Lily Dayton can be reached at montereybaylily@gmail.com
--
THEATER OPENING
·What: "Los Olivos Pits" and "Los Vendidos"
·Where: El Teatro Campesino Playhouse, 705 Fourth St., San Juan Bautista
·When: Previews begin at 8p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, and continue at
2p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, and at 8p.m. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 18 and
19. Show opens at 8p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, and continues at 8p.m.
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2p.m. Sundays through March 14
·Tickets: Special prices: Thursdays $5, Fridays $10, Saturday nights
and Sunday matinees $12 adults, $10 seniors / students, $8 children
under 12, available at El Teatro box office (623-2444)
·Information: 623-2444 or www.elteatrocampesino.com
.
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