Q & A with director of threater play Beauty of the Father

Beauty of the Father runs from February 4 thru 28, 2010 at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th Street, NW, 20010. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m.; Sunday shows are at 3 p.m.

Just four metro stops away from University of Maryland, The Grupo de Artistas Latinoamericanos (or GALA Hispanic theatre), located in Columbia Heights, is currently presenting Beauty of the Father, the last play published by Cuban American and Pulitzer Prize-winner, Nilo Cruz. The director of this production, Abél López, talked to a reporter about the play and the importance of theatre as a space to express feelings and thoughts that sometimes are not easy to convey in day-to-day life. López has been GALA´s associate producing director for over 25 years and has directed more than 70 productions. He is also currently president of the board of directors of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture.

1. Beauty of the Father explores current controversial issues like immigration to improve quality of life, marriage as a way to obtain legal citizenship and homosexual tolerance. Do you think that, in a certain way, a reflective dialogue is created between the play and the patrons as a means to develop critical thinking about issues that affect everybody in a political, economic and social context?

That is the power of art and theater. Sometimes it is an artist who creates the “safe” space and the vehicle to address issues that society has difficulty addressing. Theater also allows people to participate and consider other views in a manner that considers the humanity of people. A play creates a silent journey that may be unspoken initially. But theaters and arts organizations have also created multiple mechanisms to be available for individuals to participate in a dialogue about those themes raised in plays.

2. Are these types of subjects what made you chose and work with this play?

I chose the play because it raises the question about what “family” means in contemporary times and how various perspectives on love and sacrifice are presented in the play. As legislatures and courts look at same sex marriage and civil unions or adoptions by same sex couples, the issue of family and love are raised. How immigrants are treated and the measures they may take in order to remain with a loved one are also addressed. However, ultimately the play is about unconditional love and the sacrifices one makes for that love– whether it is by a gay father, a daughter, a lover or a companion– as they all try to find family.

3. GALA Hispanic Theatre has been promoting the Latino arts and cultures for more than 34 years, and although this theatre entertains a diverse audience, patrons from a Latino background seem to be its main target. How do you think this community, which is said to come from a very strongly gender-differentiated culture, is going to react towards an issue such as homosexuality considered for many as taboo?

This is not the first time that we have produced a play that has gay themes or includes gay characters. We have neither avoided the issues nor found that audiences were unreceptive to these themes or characters. In the past, we have had post-performance discussions with the artists involved in the production, the director and experts on the issues. Audiences were enthusiastic about engaging in dialogue. I am certain that not all were in agreement with all of the perspectives included in a production, but it did not preclude them to engage in dialogue. This demonstrates that theater and art are spaces where complex and difficult issues can be addressed and that underscore the role that the arts play in civic engagement.

4. I understand that one of the characters of Beauty of the Father is based on the Spanish writer Federico García Lorca. In past seasons, Hugo Medrano, GALA’s artistic director, took upon himself the direction of Lorca’s tragic trilogy of rural plays, which includes The House of Bernarda Alba, Yerma and Blood Wedding; Nilo Cruz also wrote a memory play called Lorca in a Green Dress. How do you treat or work with a character that has been inspired in a person who has such a great influence over literature and history worldwide?

It is always a challenge to work on a character that has had such rich and known life. However, I believe that we have to treat the character as any other character. We have to understand who they are and what motivates them to behave in the world of the play. Clearly, this is made more challenging when all that is said by the character or how he or she is presented is viewed through the lens of their experiences. But, presenting the legacy or history of the character is not compelling. They must be brought to life.

5. How do you think the students at University of Maryland can benefit from attending this production?

I think UMD students will have an opportunity to see another play by Nilo Cruz that shows his journey as a playwright. Last spring, the Department of Theatre at the university produced Anna in the Tropics, also by Mr. Cruz. He won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for that play and he has  become one of the most important Latino and American playwrights in the United States. He recently was named a 2009 USA Fellow in Literature for his work, only one of 50 artists in the United States to receive this honor.

In English with Spanish surtitles, Beauty of the Father runs from February 4 thru 28, 2010 at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th Street, NW, 20010. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m.; Sunday shows are at 3 p.m. Discounted parking is available at the Giant Food garage on Park Road, NW with GALA validation. Tickets for students are $20 (Thurs/Sun) and $26 (Fri/Sat). Additional discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

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Posted by admin on Feb 20 2010. Filed under Entertainment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry