Just in time for Valentine's Day, Teatro Nuevo MÇxico will open its production of "El Jard°n," a play that depicts the first match made in heaven, Adam and Eve.
Written by Chicano scholar Carlos Morton, the play tells the classic Genesis story of the first woman and man with a 20th century spin on the tale.ˇInstead of remaining constricted to the B.C. time scale, Morton moves his story to the Chicano era of the '60s and '70s, adding a refreshing element to a traditional storyline.
Actors Daniel Cornish (Dios/God), Michael Baldonado (Adan/Adam), Crystal Thomas (Ava/Eve), James Chavez (El Serpiente/The Devil) and Jacob Salazar (Taino) make-up a cast that is sure to impress an audience with its zeal and talent.
The story traces the lives of Chicanos Adan and Ava, through the beginning of their creation in Eden until they are expelled from el jard°n.ˇAfter speaking with el serpiente, or the devil-in-disguise as we know the story, Ava grows continually unhappy with her life in Eden because she wants to experience the rest of the world.ˇ
She's finally seduced by el serpiente, who convinces her that the fruit of the cactus plant holds the key to a life better than the one she has.ˇAfter she persuades Adan to join in on her sinful indulgence, the two are banished from el jard°n and are transported to another place and time.
The second part of the play surrounds the seemingly assimilated Adam and Eve, who are living in Albuquerque.ˇ
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When Adam loses his job, he is led to question whether the loss was onset by of the color of his skin. In an attempt to reassume his Chicano identity, Adam joins the Chicano Revolution.
The latter part of the play focuses on the couple's identity struggle as Adam and Eve are compelled to decide whether they will assert themselves or further assimilate into a dominant group.
While the play is comical and uplifting, it deals heavily with the seriousness of minority power struggles within societal structures. According to the program for the play, "El Jard°n" captures the mythic dimension of Latino life. Not only does the play raise awareness about these issues, it does so in such a way that is both enjoyable and entertaining.
Although the show is only Teatro Nuevo MÇxico's second production, the company is showing a promising future.ˇ With talent in all areas and aspects of production, the company deserves recognition for the types of plays it is making available for audiences.
According to director SalomÇ Martinez-Lutz, who is also president of the board of Teatro Nuevo MÇxico, the company started about a year ago with the intention to promote a new type of theater.
This type of theater has proven to be delightfully educational, helping to bring important minority issues to the forefront of conscious thought.
"El Jard°n" opens tonight at the Wells Fargo Space located at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and will run for two consecutive weekends.ˇTeatro Nuevo MÇxico will be host to "An Afternoon with Carlos Morton" in the same space on Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. in which the playwright will lecture on dramatic writing and Chicano theater.ˇ
