That night, after facing many obstacles, I managed to get to the theater. The new play invited us to make a parenthesis in our busy days, to give us a present on the stage.
After the affectionate welcome from the public relations officer of Teatro del Viento —who passionately commented on the many values that the play defends, a very contemporary version of Shakespearean love, with the nuances and negative balances that resentment and violence bring— we entered with many expectations after having changed tickets twice, due to rain and other events.
Already seated, my daughter accompanied me to the left, who dreamed of seeing the director in person and being able to enjoy this show -because it is her favorite literary work. On the right, my faithful squire, my husband, who is always ready for all my cultural adventures.
In his welcoming words, Freddys Núñez Estenoz, director of the group, thanked the audience present for the decision to want to attend the theater despite the sorrows; but gratitude is ours because this “wind of the stage” does not stop resisting. With blackouts, economic needs and their headquarters under construction for a long time and with no close prospect of completion, they continue to dream and create for those of us who have decided to stay on our land and face adversity.
The play
Romeo y Julieta.cu is an appropriation of Shakespeare’s work, in a way that it can be the current story of any two families in Camagüey, Havana, Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba or any city on this Island.
Between love and texts from the central story, the last best-known cases of femicides and murders are remembered, which are moving above all because if something has been a privilege of this social system, it is precisely citizen peace.
The work also draws attention to the issue of emigration, which lacerates families so much. It shows the feeling of those who move away looking for a better economy, and leave behind their loved ones, their home, their identity…; which brought tears to the eyes of many spectators.
The blackout
As the play progressed, the electricity stopped working. With cell phones and auxiliary lamps, an attempt was made to continue, but sound elements and lights were missing. Freddys decided to stop the show and wait ten minutes. The heat was pressing, until at last electric power returned. With a titanic effort, the actors resumed the common thread, the scene returned.
This happened four times, until already overwhelmed by the heat and outraged by the inconvenience, they apologized to us. It was not necessary; we were grateful and moved by their heroism, since the actors are mostly recent graduates and friends from the province of Ciego de Ávila who came to support the group. In sweltering heat, her period costumes and melted makeup gave us a lesson in stamina for wanting to present her work at all costs.
In the final scene, a blackout again. The people did not move from their lunettes; There was a deep silence, they took out their cell phones… We all wanted to see the golden closure. The lovers wanted to change the outcome, we were waiting. Beside me, Roxy was reciting the dialogues from Romeo and Juliet on the balcony. The lovers were leaving a message of pain and the decision to continue against the tide. Tears, silence… the outcome was cut short.
In the gloom, the director’s voice rose: there is no way to close without sound or light, excuse me again, come back tomorrow, please.
Suddenly, closed and sustained applause. Thanks, they’re great. The end I can imagine; but the resistance lesson of this theater group to continue betting on art from the current reality, from their land, is their greatest merit and the best ending for this work.
Thank you Teatro del Viento for continuing to blow without fearing the dark.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
