Vol. xxxix # 3
December, 2018
Festival
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tlf news |
Vol. xxxix # 3 |
December, 2018 |
Festival | |||
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The latest summer festival has closed at teatro la fragua, the Honduran cultural Mecca. As hoped, the festival stirred together earth, air, fire, water, actors and audience to form teatro la fragua. At the festival's final curtain, the actors raised their arms, waved to the crowd, and smiled contagiously. Their faces reflected a successful festival, and a commitment to the cultural long haul. The audience members looked back with ageless faces that spanned generations. They had blended into the stage, mixed with the performers, and blurred the lines until they had become one with actor, audience and script. teatro la fragua combined their applause with thousands of other clapping hands and with thousands of hours of cultural hard work, that they might together bring fame to this city, reconstruct this Honduras, and reinforce the dignity of this people. But this harbor that provides the anchor for our culture has not had it easy. It is not easy to make art in times of unculture. It is not chance that makes an art committed to the people, in a country where the people's voices have been cut to the bone. It is not a given to make art that builds community in a country where security is business, where peace is another throwaway product in the marketplace of war. From its beginnings, slowly but persistently, persuasively and independently, teatro la fragua has positioned this city in the world. la fragua proposes a city beyond the banana companies and their harvest of loneliness, abandonment and ecological collapse. Beyond our dearly departed rail system, now a beautiful relic on display in a museum. A city beyond coups d'etat and coup resistance, beyond eternal strikes and utopian conquests. Over all these years, teatro la fragua has managed to forge a culture and a distinct name for the city of El Progreso. Each festival season, this iconic stage draws a wide range of artists who cherish this space. Proof of this are the diverse and polished offerings that spring up each festival season, and this season paid homage to that tradition: this year's rich cultural menu featured music, dance, concerts, magic shows and theater (of course!). In that diversity, voices echoed life. The artists displayed mutual respect, shared dignity, hard-earned equality and liberty. The performances, like the artists, were likewise intentional, saying something specific, demanding something explicit, and fighting for a tangible vision. And because art has no borders, these artists came from several countries in Central America and Mexico. In this way, teatro la fragua resembles an octopus, whose many tentacles touch the world and bring the world to celebrate our culture and our hope on this stage. Those of us in the audience indulged ourselves in this rich celebration, we embraced each other knowing that each encounter was more telling than a photo, each hug more meaningful than a simple flexing of muscles. This was life itself, expressed through culture itself. That's why the summer festival is always special and that's why a growing number of people want to be part of it. When we go to the teatro and revel in its work, we know that a certain resemblance to reality may not be mere coincidence. The actors do not approach a script at random, they do not develop a role simply to grandstand. In fact, these young actors and actresses have committed themselves to their life's work and to the life of their native land. Their newest play, Coup on the Farm, illustrates this commitment and that of teatro la fragua. It is an adaptation of the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, in which the author indicts the corruption of socialism under Joseph Stalin. With this original adaptation (entitled Golpe en la Granja) we experience a play perfectly suited to these people, to this time and place: we relive the coup d'etat in Honduras in 2009, the consolidation of dictatorial power, and the subsequent orgy of institutionalized national corruption at the highest levels. Golpe en la Granja highlights teatro la fragua's authenticity, and underscores the teatro's enduring commitment to a Honduras for all. These actors are courageous and coherent. They prefer to work with meager budgets rather than to accept dirty money from corrupt institutions that have colluded with organized crime or have looted the coffers of the State. They prefer that you and I, from our own limited means, put some extra pesos in the envelope we receive at the box office, to declare for ourselves the value of their work. At this moment in my life and in light of the tremendous joy brought about by this company, I am absolutely sure of one thing: now, today, more than ever, all of us are called to consider ourselves part of the work of teatro la fragua. Right now, as the theater is in the eye of the hurricane and the target of media campaigns coordinated by the forces of darkness. Right now, as the teatro takes the side of the poor, as the teatro questions, through art, a civic model that is drowning us. Look at Jack, almost imperceptible there in the background. Edy, dropping the curtain on the season and asking that we remain one with the teatro, that we not walk out on next season's crusade. Look at Chito Inestroza, the incomparable acting legend, bringing the same passion and still-growing sensibility, mentoring a gaggle of boys and girls who follow closely in his footsteps. For these and many other reasons, I believe that today, more than ever, we should understand that we -- you and I -- are teatro la fragua. And you my friends -- wherever you are, with whomever you find yourself -- you share a sacred vision that bridges the geographical distance that separates us. To those who have been lucky enough to experience the teatro directly, as audience or as artist, I invite you to come and touch again teatro la fragua. Collaborate with us, build on our possibilities, continue to bring the glad cultural tidings of our name, proclaim our cultural identity across the confines of the world. And I invite you to reflect on my words. We of the teatro are honored that our audience can speak as one with teatro la fragua. Try this: raise your arms, wave to the audience, break into a big smile, and proclaim proudly:
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--Chaco de la Pitoreta. |