Photo courtesy of Teagan Durkin
Praise! Praise! Praise for the beautiful land I seek (la linda tierra que busco yo).
Produced in collaboration with Latinx Playwrights Circle & Fault Line Theatre, the beautiful land I seek opened on December 21st at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre.
Written by Franklin and Marshall alumni Matthew Barbot, the beautiful land i seek originally began as a thirty-page script and grew into a 95-minute performance directed by the acclaimed José Zayas. Through the generous support of the Lapine Fund, F&M students were able to attend a preview of the production’s world premiere. A description of the play taken from the associated website is included below:
“It’s 1950. Oscar and Gris hurtle towards Washington, DC on a mission: strike in the name of Puerto Rican independence. When their trip goes off the rails, the two men confront familiar faces from the past, new questions about the future, and a tough decision to stay the course or get off the train. If only the other passengers would stop interrupting! Loosely based on historical events and definitely based on recent ones, the beautiful land i seek (la linda tierra que busco yo) is a funny, gripping rollercoaster ride through Puerto Rico’s relationship to the United States.”
Shockingly, although amazingly well done, the play was extremely humorous for a production about two men contemplating if they should assassinate President Truman, as well as national tragedies befalling Puerto Rico.
After the play, Matthew Barbot, José Zayas, as well as several actors engaged in a lively talkback with the audience and encouraged young playwrights on the importance of incorporating their histories and identities into performances.
If one happens to find oneself around 47th Street, visit the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre for a night of wonder that transcends time, trains, and historical travesties recategorized within a comically biting context.
Teagan Durkin is a junior, and the Opinions Editor. She can be reached at tdurkin@fandm.edu.