Last March 12-15, Tallahassee Hispanic Theater will presented an evening of Argentine at Goodwood Museum & Gardens. Two plays wll were performed by a group of local actors.

The first play was “Verona,” by Argentine writer Claudia Piñeiro, known for her novels Elena Knows (adapted into a film on Netflix) and The Cracks of Jara (also adapted into a film available on Amazon). “Verona” was written in 2013 and was performed for the first time in its English version, translated by THT’s artistic director, Alejandra Gutierrez. This piece is a dramatic comedy in which three sisters lock themselves in the bathroom to argue in the middle of their mother’s 70th birthday celebration. This play explores the complexities of love and sisterhood. The three sisters must cope with their mother’s illness and their own personal problems. In this intimate and familiar family setting, the characters laugh, confess, criticize, hurt, and reconcile with each other. The visit of their younger brother, who lives in Verona, will change the fate of these women. The play was directed by Marlene DuBois.

The second play was “Mother by Trade,” a piece by the renowned Argentine writer Graciela Gambaro, one of the most important figures in 20th-century Latin American theater, whose work has been published, translated, studied, and awarded prizes around the world. “Mother by Trade,” written in the 1990s, deals with abandonment and reunion, resentment and forgiveness, and love relationships between women. It raises questions about motherhood outside of established norms. The play depicts the reunion of a mother, Matilde, with her daughter, Leticia, after more than thirty years of separation.  Another character completes the scene: the mother’s partner, Eugenia. The three women embark on an exploration of feelings that range from the absurd to bitter resentment, from empathy to irony. This play was directed by Tahirih Lee.

Contemporary Argentinian theater has been recognized for its high quality, diversity, and strong focus on experimentation and historical memory. On this evening of theater, the audience had the opportunity to enjoy the works of two contemporary playwrights who explore the complexity of family relationships with captivating characters with whom we can easily identify.

The audience also had the opportunity to enjoy authentic Argentinian food from “Empanadas Miles.” Argentinian wine was also be available to complement the food.

This unique event provided our audience with the opportunity to enjoy the quality of Hispanic theater, specifically Argentinian theater, with two plays that will undoubtedly have a lasting impact.

Verona

Mother by Trade