Texas Border Business
“When I first read 27-year-old Seres Jaime Magaña’s adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, by William Shakespeare, I was thrilled and in tears,” said Pedro Garcia the director of the play, The Tragic Corrido of Romeo and Lupe. “The talented writer/poet from McAllen has set our story in the early 1940’s RGV, surrounding the farming industry.”
In this adaptation, a youthful John Campbell came to the RGV, from Ohio, lured by the fertile soil he had heard about. Once here he fell in love with, Elena Martinez, a landowner’s daughter. After the elder Martinez died Elena became Mrs. Campbell and the new proprietor of her father’s land. They established a prosperous farming industry, The Campbell Irrigation Company, and had a son who they named Romeo. Their vast lands, full of prized crops, consisted of citrus, sugar cane, onions, carrots, and cabbage.
On the other side of the tracks lived the Roman Diaz Family and their beautiful daughter Lupe and lots of cousins and neighbors who worked hard on the Campbell land. Lupita’s cousin, Placido, a worker and human rights activist organized a protest against the landowner for better wages and working conditions for the workers. During the turmoil, Lupita and Romeo cross fate and as Shakespeare said, they became a pair of star-crossed lovers.
Sara Lopez, a 19-year-old from McAllen won the role of Lupita at an audition back in February. This is her first play, not to mention a lead role. Studying accounting at UTRGV, this young theater enthusiast has not missed a single rehearsal and learned all of her lines early on, those in Spanish and in English. “She’s a natural in all of its essence; in character as the young Lupita in love. I’m almost afraid to offer her any direction; she’s sweet, sharp, smart and lovely,” says Garcia, of the young actress. “I think everyone will fall in love with her.”
In the role of Romeo, Edgar Rodriguez Tiburcio, recently joined the cast after a search was conducted. The 25-year-old is a drama teacher at IDEA, McAllen. “Edgar fits right in as the dreamy, yet reactive, Romeo”, added Garcia. “He’s going to be interesting to watch, as well as Mercutio, his best pal, played strongly by Oscar Abraham Prieto from Edinburg. I believe we have an ensemble cast and a delightful and poignant script altogether.”
The play is bilingual, about 70% English and 30% Spanish and consists of a cast of nearly 20 local actors and 8 crew members with a special appearance by Tejano/Conjunto singer Veronique Medrano from Brownsville who plays “The Corrido Singer”, and Julian Arizola, from McAllen, on guitar and as “Balti”.
The play opens April 19 through April 29, 2018, at the Pharr Community Theater, 213 W Newcombe, Pharr, TX. Showtimes are Thur-Sat @ 7:30 pm; Sun @ 3:00 pm. Tickets are $8.00 general admission, $6.00 students, veterans & seniors. (PCT seating is limited to 60 persons per show, where every seat is a good one.) The play is equivalent to a PG-13 movie
For advance tickets or more information call 956-239-0412 or 956-655-9308
