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Another Part of the House
By Migdalia Cruz
Re-imagined from Federico Garcia-Lorca’s
La Casa de Bernarda Alba
Directed by Cecilie Keenan
Produced by Tearo Vista theatre with a view
At Chopin Theatre
1543 W. Division
Chicago, IL
Call 312-494-5767, tickets $22 - $30
Thursdays & Fridays at 8 PM
Saturdays at 5 & 8:30 PM
Sundays at 4 PM
Running time is 2 hours 15 minutes with intermission
Through October 22, 2006
Treato Vista mounts a provocative re-imagining of suppressed passion
Featuring an exquisite set and lighting (sets by Rick Paul, lighting by Jesse Klug) and effective sound design by Misha Fiksel, Teatro Vista Theatre efficiently utilizes Chopin’s large main stage in Migdalia Cruz re-images Federico Garcia-Lorca’s famous House of Bernarda Alba. But Cruz takes the play deeper into “another part of the house” where suppressed passion, anxieties and sexuality color the world of the eight woman who inhabit the Alba house in rural Cuba.
This provocative play is well staged and acted and builds toward the ultimate tragedy hinted throughout. After the death of their father, the five sisters are forced by tradition and their fierce mother, Bernarda (Julia Neary) into eight years of morning. They must stay home with closed windows and sow their wedding garments. Bernarda is a tyrant who passionately protects her girls from the trappings of pleasure, especially sexual ones. The girls want to escape but seem trapped by their values and traditions.
But the grandmother, Maria Josefa (Lauria Crotte in a terrific performance) sows the seeds of discontent to the girls telling them to explore sexual pleasures and their freedom before they turn old ladies. Poncia (Lily Mojekwu) is the servant/housekeeper who commands respect from Bernarda and the five daughters. Each of the sisters has their heartache and fantasy. The oldest finally finds a suitor willing to marry her but the youngest sister is enjoying sex with him in the barn each day. Two of the sisters are in a passionate lesbian affair while Bernarda recently banished the middle daughter’s lover.
The play works through the grandmother’s passion and delusions to inspire each of the daughters to struggle to acquire the pleasures of life including companionship and sex. We see Bernarda as believing that self-discipline and absence are virtuous while Poncia warns the girls about giving away their virginity too quickly to any man. But the grandmother is the soul of passion that fuels the girls, especially Adela, the youngest. She motivates them to escape Bernarda control.
I enjoyed this sensually provoking, intelligent play. Laura Crotte’s Maria Josefa and Julia Neary’s Bernarda were excellent while Lily Mojekwu’s Poncia added fine moments. This show has fine lighting and sound design that enhances the mood of the piece giving depth to the fantasy contained.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2006
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