“…recovers a moment in the life of [a] country and of [a] world which was doomed to oblivion…”

EL RUMOR DEL INCENDIO (RUMOUR OF FIRE)

Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol (Mexico)

THEATRE (In Spanish w/ English surtitles)

Presented by Theatre Junction

March 12-15, 2014

$20-$39

El rumor del incendio (Rumour of Fire) takes on the Mexican political upheaval in the 1960s and ’70s called “the dirty war,” from the perspective of young people whose parents may have been actual participants. Using documents, scale models and figurines, they re-trace the stories of the young revolutionaries who took up arms in a desperate attempt to change society. At the heart of their excavation lies the remains of an unresolved conflict and a generation who believed they could change the world, spending the first half of their lives preparing for revolution and the second half, apologizing for it. Based on real facts, witness statements and archive film, the actors retrace events using lead soldiers filmed in real time as if they were ‘playing’ at war.

Luisa Pardo and Gabino Rodríguez, established stage and screen actors in Mexico, founded Lagartidas Tiradas al Sol (Lizards Basking in the Sun) in 2003. Within the company they work as playwrights, directors, and performers creating theatre that is politically committed, rebellious and meaningful. In El rumor del incendio, they ask questions of the meaning of revolution – what heritage have the elders left for today’s young adults? What does rebellion mean in the 21st century? What should we be resisting and what means should we be using? El rumor del incendio confronts the desire to take action and the difficulty of constructing political projects that carry hope.

“El rumor del incendio…recovers a moment in the life of [a] country and of [a] world which was doomed to oblivion…” – La isla de próspero