As part of its 34th season, Off-Broadway's Repertorio Espanol has begun a project devoted to showcasing plays about the Jewish-Latin American experience. Four productions and twelve readings are promised over the next three seasons, with playwrights hailing from Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil.
The Festival of Jewish Latin-American Theatre kicked off Oct. 11 with Eduardo Rovner's Volvio Una Noche ("She Returned One Night"). Directed by Alejandro Samek, the Dybbuk meets-Marquez piece tells of a dead Jewish mother returning from the tomb to check out her future daughter-in-law. Teatro Andamio 90 is coproducing the play with Spanish Rep.
Volvio was scheduled to run through Oct. 28 but has now extended to Dec. 23, owing to "overwhelming audience demand," according to spokespersons at the Springer/Chicoine press office.
A second festival offering, Nov. 8-18, was to be singer-storyteller Cipe Lincovsky's one-woman show of music, dance and poetry. That run has been cancelled.
Like Cocteau Rep, shows at Repertorio Espanol usually run in a modified repertory, with several plays (Chronicle of a Death Foretold, La Gringa) turning into perennials. As such, Chronicle (aka Cronica de Una Muerta Anunciada) returns this season, as does Jorge Gonzalez's comedy Vieques and the gay-meets-straight comedy Fresa y Chocolate. Operating since 1968, Repertorio Espanol presents new and classic plays (e.g., Lorca, Marquez) in Spanish, very often with English translation available via headsets. The theatre also presents theatre companies from around the Latin-American world, as well as participating in various community outreach programs, such as "Dignidad!", which introduces young people to Hispanic theatre and culture.
Tickets range from $25-$40 depending on the show. Certain discounts apply. The Gramercy Arts Theatre is located at 138 E. 27 St. (between Lexington and Third Avenues). For reservations, call the box office at (212) 889-2850 or visit www.repertorio.org.
—By David Lefkowitz
and Murdoch McBride
