Student’s play seizes national acclaim in Paraguay
Student spotlight: Nestor Amarilla

-- Margaret A. Pribel

Nestor Amarilla is from Paraguay, South America. He comes from a poor, farming family. They live off the land. His father earns about $800 a year, and his education went only as far as the fourth grade; his mother graduated from sixth grade. With families so poor like Amarilla’s, just purchasing the shoes and uniforms required for school is difficult; Amarilla never wore shoes until he had to wear them for school.

Amarilla’s father came from a large, poor family too. He always told Nestor and his two brothers, “Study hard so you don’t end up like me, working hard for so little money.” Amarilla got straight A’s in school. When it came time to decide if he wanted to continue his education beyond the sixth grade, Nestor jumped at the opportunity, and he’s been jumping at opportunities ever since.

Today Amarilla is the vice president of the Student Senate, he works in the Student Life and Leadership office, the University Activities Board and with the Theatre Underground student organization. He is always interested in helping other students, especially those from other countries. Amarilla teaches affordable Spanish classes through Student Life and Leadership, and he was the originator and editor of the now defunct, but tremendously popular student newsletter, Hey!!!

Last summer his play, “Americana Rose” was produced at the university. In May of this year, “The Waters of Dijla,” his play about the effects of the war in Iraq on a woman’s dream of motherhood, will be produced in the shared theatre at MCTC.

Amarilla has found that asking for what he wants works for him. He dreamed of showing his mother what kind of work he does in the theater. She could not fathom his work because it was so far from her reality.

So when Amarilla went home to Paraguay over winter break, he arranged the use of a theater in the city of Oviello. He also arranged a bus to transport his neighbors and family to the theater for their first visit. His guests experienced a live production, written by Amarilla, in the languages they know: Guarani, the native language of Paraguay, and Spanish. The play, “Vestido Roto,” translates in English to “The Ripped Dress.” The play is a journey of self-discovery that reflects Paraguayan social and economic issues including teen suicide and teen pregnancy.

In November 2004, there were 17 teen suicides in Paraguay, unemployment rates hover around 33 percent, and the bleak and hopeless future drives young people to take their lives rather than starve. Amarilla was unafraid to bring these issues out into the open. Reviews in local newspapers raved about the play. The cultural office of the U.S. Embassy invited him to perform his show in their theater, widely considered the best in Paraguay. “Vestido Roto” played on January 5 to an audience that included the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Youth, the U.S. Ambassador and local film producers, directors and actors.

Five national papers ran stories about Amarilla and his play, each including a picture. When he went to the airport on January 7, people were still talking about the production.

Amarilla went home to Paraguay, shook things up, and came back to Minnesota to finish his degree. When asked if he would return to Paraguay to live, Amarilla quickly responded, “I miss the simple life; yes I could go back, but only to write for a couple years—it’s so peaceful there.” It remains to be seen if things will be so peaceful for Amarilla; he’s home, ready to challenge the political system and shake things up again.

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