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"Anna in the Tropics" opens Thursday, April 3. |
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Cigar factory up in flames over modernization
By Melora B. North
Banner Staff
When Nilo Cruz penned “Anna in the Tropics,” now playing at The Provincetown Theater, 238 Bradford St., he ignited a Pulitzer Prize-winning symbolic fire on stage that just keeps building until a final burst of flames flares in a powerful dance of will. Then, in the flash of an instant, poof, they’re out, and all the characters’ lives have changed forever, including those in the audience who are drained from this dramatic offering — hot, hot, hot.
In the opening scene you can see the passionate personalities as they socialize in some friendly gambling in the Ubor City section of Tampa, Fla., where Cuban immigrants flourish and congregate in a friendly enclave. Egged on by Eliades (played by Susan Modrak), it is here that Santiago (John Keller) and his wife, Ofelia (Glynis Bell) have built a life and a cigar factory where they not only work but are joined by their daughters Marela (Valerie Stafford) and Conchita (Braunwyn Jackett), along with her husband Polomo (James Shannon).
Things are uneasy in the family business, which is falling apart due to Santiago’s gambling problem and the unhealthy relationship he has with his illegitimate brother, Cheche (Justin Campbell), who is hot on updating the business. Cheche is unsettled — he wants to bring the factory up to modern-day codes. But Santiago is pleased with things as they are. He doesn’t mind hand-rolling cigars; he enjoys the old ways and presumes his family feels the same way.
In preparation for the cigar-rolling scenes Grilli arranged for the cast members to travel to the Norwalk Cigar Factory in Connecticut where they learned the art of hand rolling from an expert who has been in the business for several years.
Other special homework for this production was tutoring on the Spanish accent with Angie Galiano, who successfully taught the cast a believable dialect.
In keeping with the old-fashioned theme, Santiago even lets the factory workers hire a lector to read to them each day while they are rolling — a decision that proves to be the downfall of the factory and the workers.
Spouting off the words of Tolstoy from his novel “Anna Karenina,” Juan Julian (Bob Carnavale) both inspires and frightens his listeners who are caught up in the tragic love story that is not only unfolding on stage but giving birth to new angst in the factory workers whose lives are anything but dull. Rather, their lives become more turbulent; an upheaval on all fronts is imminent.
Fanning the fires for a meltdown are a little love affair, a mighty dose of jealousy, aggravated marriages and general malaise among an extended family of people who were relatively happy before being exposed to the future.
Taking place on a monochromatic set, this production is directed by Susan Grilli, head of the production company Counter Productions, who has ably led her cast on a dramatic adventure that coaxes the audience on a trip back to the first quarter of the 20th century when an industrial tug of war was in full force. With little sub plots and undertones, this play moves along smoothly and never bogs down. It isn’t light fare but it’s pretty easy watching and the actors seem to have a handle on their roles. Costumes are dowdy 1920s dresses for the women and either crisp white suits or tidy shirts and slacks for the men. No outfit is extraordinary. However, in one scene a jazzy dress enters and highlights one of the subplots and, indeed, the entire production.
“Anna in the Tropics” plays Thursday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. through April 6 at The Provincetown Theater, 238 Bradford St. Tickets are $18 to $22.
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Final tribute turns into town event
Galleries, galleries, galleries
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Apr 3rd, 2008