CASA THEATRE FESTIVAL to 27 September.
London.
CASA THEATRE FESTIVAL.
Our Lady in the Clouds
book by Arístides Vargas/Teatro Malayerba (Ecuador).
Seven Degrees of Tropical Entropy
Book by Roberto Azuaje (Venezuela).
Union Theatre 204 Union Stree, Southwark SE1 0LX To 27 September 2008.
Barceloneta:
5pm Sep 20.
7.30pm Sep 10, 13, 1h, 19, 25.
9pm Sep 9, 12, 18, 24, 27.
Our Lady in the Clouds:
5pm Sep 13.
7.30pm Sep 9, 12, 18, 24, 27.
9pm Sep 11, 17, 20, 23, 26.
Seven Degrees of Tropical Entropy:
5pm Sep 27.
7.30pm Sep 11, 17, 20, 23, 26.
9pm Sep 10, 13, 16, 19, 25.
Runs 2 hrs 40mins. One interval.
TICKETS: 0207 261 9876.
http://www.uniontheatre.org/
Review: Geoff Ambler 12 September 2008.
CASA Theatre brings a mix of Latin American drama to South London .
For three weeks only Latin American theatre makes its home under the railway arches of Union Street, SE1 at one of the most dynamic of London’s fringe venues, the Union Theatre.
This years festival includes three plays, Barceloneta at Night, Our Lady in the Clouds and Seven Degrees of Tropical Entropy. The latter two were featured on the first press night, however each evening features two of the three plays, with all three on a Saturday (and performance lengths will vary accordingly).
Our Lady in the Clouds from Ecuador (performed in Spanish with surtitles) is a meandering yet beautifully thought-provoking piece which mixes magical abstract prose with the dramatic, unexpected humour, as two strangers, exiled from the same country, discuss the land that has abandoned them. The two actors play all the parts, with the conductor’s rehearsal scene a particular highlight for the pair as a brief period of levity lightens their memories of an, at times, dark homeland.
Seven Degrees of Tropical Entropy is a more traditional narrative biopic following the life of Dr Humberto Fernandez Moran, a Venezuelan scientist, and later a national hero, whose discoveries led to him being offered the Nobel Prize, which he declined owing to political pressures. The enthusiastic cast bring energy, verve and passion into a quite remarkable subject, without which it could have erred towards being more than a little dry.
Casa Theatre and the people behind the marvellous Union have bought an intriguing mix of Latin American drama into London’s innovative fringe and opened a window onto some new and exciting writers and actors. Two very different plays both elicit differing emotions; I would have preferred Our Lady to follow Entropy as it provoked thoughts and discussions I wanted to pursue. However, I’ll be off to catch the third play as soon as I can.
Our Lady in the Clouds:
Bruna: Florencia Cordeu.
Oscar: Gergo Danka.
Director: Omar Elerian.
Seven Degrees of Tropical Entropy:
Felix Andrew.
Daniel Curshen.
Bryan Hands.
Robert Carragher.
Miguel Oyarzon.
Lorna Beckett.
Director: Mike Tweddle.
2008-09-14 23:37:32