By Ricky Talbot
Theatro Milagro returned to the Little Theatre in a captivating bilingual performance. Milagro’s “Bi-” tour, is based in 2089 in the new nation of Tierra Plana.
In a production led by two languages, Spanish and English, Bi- presented a world that crossed cultural barriers in a cry for help from their secluded nation.
Inspired by the book “Flatland,” by Edwin Abbot, actors danced and sneaked across the stage. Creepy mystical music set the scene, as “squares” from 2089 sent out a distress call for help from the nation of spheres.
Before this era, the U.S. Government created a “United States Census Bureau” to record memories that were used to define the era of the squares.
Now, stuck in this new era of government control, the four characters embark on a journey in search of Professor Y and a hope of freedom from government “labels.”
The captivated audience, guided by a well choreographed production, participated through lively laughing and cheering.
Implied topics such as letting a wall be torn down to create jobs, citizens being forced to fit into the mold of society, and sexual orientation were peppered throughout the story line. As a bilingual play, “Bi-” was well received by speakers of both languages.
According to Prof. Kate Reavey, “people who see (the) performance are often inspired,” the actors were also influenced by the play.
Like others on her team, Cindy Angel, who plays Hex and Professor Y, grew up with a bicultural background.
Now, living in America, her “bi-dentity” speaks to the message of the play.
She explains, “I sorta fit somewhere along the middle in that spectrum, but no matter what… I still have to put down one or the other on any sort of box that I check.”
Eduardo Vazquez Juares, who played Noir, the Mayor, and Planicio also commented on what the play meant to him.
“As a society, we are trying to like take those labels and use them less and less… I want to be whatever I want to be. Why do I have to be whatever other people are telling me to choose from?”