Attractive Street Theater Program at the Book Fair

Attractive Street Theater Program at the Book Fair
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 04/24/2011

The Dominican Traveling Theater is under the direction of veteran actress Carlota Carretero who will be in charge of the street theater this year at the International Book Fair which is opening on May 4th and will run until May 22nd.

The plays that have been selected to be performed are “Asalto Pirata” and  “La Corte de María de Toledo”, with such elaborate scene designs that will remind viewers of the country´s colonial past and events from that era.

The theater group, which belongs to the General Directorate of the Fine Arts Museum, will put on new theater pieces that fuse together different creative disciplines and physical skills with relevant topics of interest for all audiences while recreating different historical periods throughout the country´s past.

The plays that have been selected to be performed are “Asalto Pirata” and  “La Corte de María de Toledo”, with such elaborate scene designs that will remind viewers of the country´s colonial past and events from that era.

“Asalto Pirata” is a recreation of the invasion of Santo Domingo in 1586  by the English pirate Francis Drake which provoked great terror among the city´s inhabitants. It also looks at the negotiations carried out with Governor Ovando. The dramatic story is staged with the active participation of the spectators in mind.

“La Corte de María de Toledo” is an attractive street theater piece that recreates the moment in which María de Toledo from Spain brings the remains of her deceased husband, Diego Colón, and her father-in-law to the Dominican Republic to fulfill the wish of the Great Admiral: to be buried in the most beautiful place that has ever been seen with human eyes.

In addition, “Corazón de Pueblo” is an historic dance troupe piece with texts from Juan Pablo Duarte and Pedro Mir presented in a modern context with the protagonists and antagonists on the National Independence movement. Seven young people march through the streets recreating events that remind us of the commitment assumed by the young people of those days in their struggle for independence.

The play, not unlike a Carnival dance troupe, draws from a contemporary
vision of this liberating event that is still alive in the hearts of the people
as it constantly renews the energy to continue believing in the concept of nationhood.

Finally, the exquisite play by Miguel de Cervantes, “La guarda cuidadosa,” a classic that seeks to connect the audience with their Hispanic roots and mother tongue in a fun loving way. Written at the end of the 16th  century, it narrates the romantic encounters of a poor soldier, in love with the servant of a prudish household. The servant rejects the soldier´s advances as she is in love with a sacristan.
 
The Traveling Street Theater is made up of young actors including Diógenes Medina, Indiana Brito, Rafael Morla, Johanna González, Billy Mejía, Iván Aybar y Cindy Galán, under the direction of Carlota Carretero and Lillian Feliz as production assistant.

The Street Theater presentations at the Book Fair will take place daily at 11:00 am and again at 4:00 pm starting May 5th until May 22nd on different streets within at the fairgrounds. 

The International Book Fair of Santo Domingo 2011 will take place from May 4th to May 22nd at the Juan Pablo Duarte Cultural Plaza. The Holy Vatican is the Guest of Honor at this year´s Book Fair. The Book Fair is dedicated to Monsignor Francisco J. Arnaiz and Father José Luis Sáez in commemoration of 500 years since the constitution of the Diocese of Santo Domingo and La Vega.