Vol. xxviii #2

June, 2007

Photographs of Past and Present:
Perspectives of a Gringa

For three weeks, I had the fortunate experience of visiting teatro la fragua in El Progreso, Honduras. I have been familiar with el teatro for many years, as long as I can remember. My parents and Padre Jack studied theatre together at the Goodman School of Drama and so, all of my life, I have received calendars and newsletters, visits from Padre Jack on his trips to the U.S., and even had the company of actors stay at my house in Chicago during their tour of the U.S. about six years ago. Padre Jack had always told me I should come visit, so when I decided to study abroad for a semester in Nicaragua, I thought a trip to Honduras would be an excellent way to start brushing up on my Spanish and experience Central America with a group of people who have lived there all their lives. My time with el teatro taught me much more than just Spanish.

teatro la fragua offers a space for a variety of cultural activities.

Two players practice guitar backstage.

I make a new friend on our way to Guatemala.

Setting the stage. The group hangs lights and curtains for a show.

El peón who becomes el patrón teaches a lesson.

I lived and worked in El Progreso. I stayed with Wilson Gómez, an actor in el teatro. Everyone in his large family was very patient as I stumbled through my Spanish and I realized that a lot can still be shared even through a language barrier. During the day I volunteered for el teatro. I was quickly put to work - under Padre Jack's guidance - organizing old photos and negatives. This was a remarkable way to view el teatro's long history, its evolution through the years, and the variety of cultural enrichment activities that they give to El Progreso. There were photos of many shows in locations I did not recognize, testimony to how much el teatro travels and shares its works not only with El Progreso but with other parts of Honduras and even other countries. I saw not only the large number of plays they have produced, but also many shows that were presented year after year with changing casts. I saw actors now in their 30's or older when they were in their youth. El teatro has given these individuals not only a job but a home.

There were also faces I did not recognize, and many in the present company did not appear at all - they had only joined after the switch to digital photography. However in the chronology of group photos, I saw that the smiling and lively group might have different faces through the years, but they remain always the same company of actors and friends. In Honduras, where jobs are scarce - and jobs that are secure and rewarding even more so - the opportunity to express one's self and one's culture and simultaneously be able to support one's family is a true and rare gift. It is an invaluable service that el teatro provides not only to these individuals but to their families and to the community as a whole.

In the photos, I saw that el teatro not only produces its own variety of theatrical productions but brings countless other cultural opportunities to the community. They incorporate not only theatre, but also dance and music into their shows. They bring other groups from around Honduras and even from other countries to the theatre in El Progreso. While I was there, a group from Tegucigalpa performed Molière's Tartuffe for a packed audience. They even offer dance lessons for children in the afternoons and screen children's movies on the Sundays. I was surprised to return to the theatre after lunch my first Wednesday to find little girls in ballet slippers and tutus excitedly skipping and leaping across the stage. These types of activities are essential for the well-being of a community and for children who are not offered other opportunities for after-school enrichment. El teatro has provided a safe space for artistic and necessary cultural expression for individuals who otherwise would lack this experience.

During my stay, I accompanied el teatro to Guatemala City for a week-long tour. They had performances at schools, universities, and cultural centers. This was an incredible way to see teatro la fragua in action: their sphere of influence expands far beyond just El Progreso. They have a remarkable ability to turn a lecture hall, cafeteria, or dark and dingy room into a theatre with curtains and lights. They can transform a space, no matter where it is, with ease.

The show for the tour was in three parts: the first adapted from a work written by Luis Valdez, a Chicano in California who was a pioneer of the Latino theatrical movement in the United States. The second was an original classical guitar piece written by one of teatro's own musicians, German Barahona. The final part was an old work that teatro la fragua has done for years about a land owner and the campesino who works in his fields. The interchange between characters displays the stratified society and its inequalities, but also the irony that when they switch roles, oppressed becomes oppressor - except even worse - and then finally gives up all his power after correcting the injustice. These plays speak directly to the experiences of the audience. They touch on issues that affect their communities and speak to the audiences on a heart-to-heart level. The themes carry great social significance for the lives and history of the Central American people. By showing these works at schools, they are educating youth about the importance of their own culture, history, and art. They show students their own potential.

We also visited a theatre class and the actors and musicians spoke to students about why they do what they do and the pride they have in doing it. We spoke to potential future actors who wanted to know what the life and work were like. We discussed how an actor comes to understand and to transform himself into the character, how the actors first got involved in the theatre, and the importance of the shows' messages. In this way, teatro la fragua is cultivating a larger society that is more aware of art and theatre.

Most importantly, I saw in el teatro's work a remarkable way of relating to its audiences. They combine life and art, history and society with theatre, and daily experiences with cultural enrichment in an environment that, in the past and still today, has little time or money for the arts. teatro la fragua provides a sense of cultural identity and pride. Through old photos I organized and new photos I've taken, I have come to know what may only be a small sliver of el teatro. They are an incredible group who have realized their potential and are helping each other and their communities to make their world a better place. I feel privileged to have come to know these people, and to have been welcomed into their lives and work. I owe a big thanks to all of them and I hope to return in the future.

--Eleanor Fort