Beatriz, la Divorciada (Rosie Rodriguez), front, is confronted by Gloria, La Vegetariana (Juliana Acosta) during a rehearsal of Teatro de las Américas' presentation of Gustavo Ott’s “Divorciadas, Evangélicas, y Vegetarianas” (“Divorcees, Evangelicas , and Vegetarians”). The play opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8 at Oxnard College's Black Box Theatre. Photo by Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805.
Teatro de las Américas presents“Divorciadas, Evangélicas, y Vegetarianas”
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805
One has guy problems, which is usual when dating a married man.
Another is twice-divorced is a ready to end it all.
Another puts her faith into a higher power, but suffers a crisis in conscience after losing her husband.
Combined, they create a powerful, but diverse trio who seek to find a way to survive life’s problems through a mixture of comedy and drama.
Gustavo Ott’s “Divorciadas, Evangélicas, y Vegetarianas” (“Divorcees, Evangelicas , and Vegetarians”) will open at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3 at Oxnard College’s Black Box Theater, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard.
The play, performed in Spanish with an English translation projected above the stage, is presented by Teatro de las Américas, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year in Ventura County.
Iriany Sánchez, who plays the Meche, la Evangélica, said men shouldn’t be scared off by the title or the performance of the play.
The dark comedy, which she likens to a little “Desperate Housewives” and “Sex in the City,” “Is a play men can relate to.”
It demonstrates the power of these women to survive, which is evoked in the poster photo by Robert Gray, which shows the trio of women in a “Charlie’s Angels” pose in front of an image of the Statute of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.
“They have each other and they support each other,” Sánchez said.
Sánchez said Ott, who also comes from Venezuela, is well known in his country.
The play, set in New York City, opens when the Gloria, la Vegetariana played by Juliana Acosta, comes across the Beatriz, la Divorciada (Rosie Rodriguez), who is standing on a metrorail platform contemplating dark thoughts.
For Rodriguez, who prefers comedy roles, the play is a challenge at times due to its often dark subject matter.
“I do enjoy doing comedy more than drama. I’m more of a happy person,” said Rodriguez, who is also playing against type since she herself has been married for more than 21 years.
Both Sanchez and Rodriguez are returning to performances with Teatro after a long absence.
Sanchez previously appeared as Blance in Teatro’s presentation of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” with Rodriguez previously appearing in “Tranvía llamado deseo” and “Primavera con una esquina rota.”
Acosta previously performed as Death in Teatro’s “Adam, Eve and the Other Woman.”
Magaret Cortese, Teatro’s executive director and producer of the latest performance, said she is happy that the play was chosen as part of Teatro’s 20th anniversary celebration.
“We did one of (Gustavo Ott’s) plays six years ago,” she said. “We looked at doing another one of his plays, but Robert Sanchez liked this one better.”
Sanchez is directing this performance.
“What drew me immediately to ‘Divorciadas, Evangélicas y Vegetarianas” is how hilariously funny this dark comedy is,” Sanchez stated in the program. “Looking for love in all the wrong places, domestic abuse, suicidal thoughts, religion and the bonds of sisterhood are themes that are explored.”
Teatro came into being with a performance in Spanish at the Santa Paula Teater. Over the years, it has performed in a number of venues, including Oxnard’s Petit Playhouse and Café on A, before finding a more permanent home at Oxnard College’s new Performing Arts Center.
The 20th anniversary celebration continues this year with an actor’s training workshop scheduled for this fall, and a holiday performances by students from Rio del Valle Middle School who will present their own take on the classic Pastorella story, Cortese said.
Like all the plays performed by Teatro, Cortese hopes it leaves a lasting impact on the audience. As stated on her business card:
“Teatro es una experiencia de crecimiento, autoconocimiento, reflexión profunda en el pensamiento y en la emoción para todos (“Teatro is an experience of growth, self-discovery, thoughtful and emotional reflection for all”).”
“Divorciadas, Evangélicas, y Vegetarianas” (“Divorcees, Evangelicas , and Vegetarians”) will be performed at 8 p.m. Aug. 3, 4, 10, 11 and 18, with a final performance set for 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25 at the Plaza Playhouse Teatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria.
Tickets for the Oxnard performances, $10 to $15, can be purchased at Burrito Express, 230 So. Ventura Road, Oxnard and the Law Offices of Richard L. Francis, 711 So. A St., Oxnard. Tickets for the Carpinteria performance can be purchased at The Curious Cup Bookstore, 929 Linden Ave., Carpinteria.
Call 805-616-6039 or visit www.teatrodelasamericas.org or reservations or more information.
Gloria, La Vegetariana (Juliana Acosta), left and Meche, la Evangélica (Iriany Sánchez) deal with problems of the heart during a rehearsal of Teatro de las Américas' presentation of Gustavo Ott’s “Divorciadas, Evangélicas, y Vegetarianas” (“Divorcees, Evangelicas , and Vegetarians”). The play opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8 at Oxnard College's Black Box Theatre. Photo by Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805.