The spirit of Don Juan, played by James Peck (center), is surrounded by the young actress Isabel , played by Sara Fay Goldman (left), and Margarita, played by Nurys Herrera, in ¡Viva Don Juan!, Miracle Theatre Group’s bilingual Day of the Dead celebration.
Photo by Kenneth Aaron
Day of the Dead play tweaks Don Juan tale
What happens when Don Juan, a most devilish and infamous romantic, appears in spirit form to disrupt a Day of the Dead street theatre performance? ¡Viva Don Juan!, of course!
Milagro Theatre’s original, bilingual play is set in the late 1800s – just prior to the Mexican Revolution – when a troupe of poor actors has arrived to present its annual street theatre production of Don Juan Tenorio (a play that has since become a día de los muertos tradition in Mexico).
But amidst the actors’ preparations enters the spirit of Don Juan himself, quite upset that no one has remembered him on this special day.
Directed by Olga Sanchez, the production plays with the themes of love, discovering a new perspective on life and second chances.
An exhibit of Day of the Dead altars created by local Latino artists will be on display one hour prior to each performance.
¡Viva Don Juan! runs through Sunday, Nov. 14; Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., and special shows Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit milagro.org or call 503-236-7253.
