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Plays 1990's |
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1991 Terra Incognita Amalia, 28, 'a delicate and intelligent American of Spanish decent', Georgia, 'a curious and thoughtful American' and her brother Rob, 'sensitive and intelligent [who is going through] a difficult time emotionally' are American tourists in Palos, Spain. Saetas is heard as from a promontory they watch a ship with black sails, pulled by a monk, approach and disappear. At a cafe Amalia updates her holiday journal and proposes a visit to the remains of the castle from where Portugal's Prince Henry the Navigator planned voyages of discovery. She and Georgia exchange examples of different Spanish/English pronunciations of names, and speculate about differing perspectives, which affect our sense of identity. Georgia recalls differing understandings of Edward Albee's Zoo Story to propose that it is wise to avoid rigidity, not always to insist on one's rights but to think of alternatives. They see that Rob has become distressed reading his newspapers. He reads aloud from 1991 Gulf War accounts concerning American soldiers advancing along the road to Basra and bulldozing retreating Iraqi soldiers. He reads various accounts of torture, riot and murder, and of the use of child soldiers. The trio become troubled about how they, as Americans, might now appear to others. Amalia speaks of the need to accept difference, to look outside the self, and approach others with curiosity. Burt, a homeless man, 'cheerfully demented', approaches and speaks of mysticism and alternative understandings of life but they laugh at him. After he leaves, Steve, dressed as a monk, who has been silently sitting apart, quotes extensively from Fray Bartolomé de las Casas' History of the Indies, giving details of Spanish cruelties towards defeated native peoples. Amalia reads from her holiday journal and they enjoy recounting their holiday experiences until a quarrel develops. Burt returns to socialise but is rejected. He speaks of the beliefs of pre-Columbian societies and other ways of understanding the world. A ship with tattered black sails and carrying sacks of rubbish passes. Unable to tolerate accounts of cruelty, including abuse of himself when younger, Rob is led to the car and the Americans leave. ___________________________ May 25th -26th 1992 - The libretto was developed for presentation as a play at the Dionysia World Theatre Festival, Siena, Italy. Date Unknown - Presented at the Yale Drama School Cabaret, director John Moscone. July 1994 - Padua Hills Playwrights Festival. A 92 minute video can be seen at the Billy Rose Theatre Collection, New York Public Library. See Billy Rose Theatre Collection. |
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