Student-written plays to premiere at Metropolitan State University

“Ripped Dress” and “La Prubera Makes a Good Day,” two one-act plays written by Néstor Amarilla, an international student from Paraguay, premiere at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, at Metropolitan State University’s Minneapolis Campus in the Whitney Fine Arts Black Box Theater located off Loring Park at 1424 Yale Place. Additional performances are Nov. 12, 16 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m. on Nov. 12 and 19. General admission tickets are $10. Call 612-793-1550 to make reservations as seating is limited.

Amarilla, a Metropolitan State senior who grew up in Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay, came to Minnesota at age 17 on a full academic scholarship. “Ripped Dress” was written for his mother, who was desperate to see one of her son’s productions, but unable to afford to travel to the United States.

Amarilla says, “I decided to write something that could be produced in Paraguay when I was there last Christmas. We first did it in my hometown where my family, friends and neighbors took a bus to experience theater for the first time.” Paraguay is located in South America and is roughly the size of California; more than one-third of its residents live in poverty.

“Ripped Dress” was inspired by a string of suicides that occurred last year in a Paraguayan town of 7,000 people. Rewritten in English, it tells the story of two young men as they prepare to end their lives in despair over their lack of opportunities in rural Paraguay. “What do you do,” adds Amarilla, “when you have no hope? When all faith is lost? When even prayers won’t help you through life? In ‘Ripped Dress’ you see how powerful family dynamics can unintentionally intensify an already devastating despair.”

“Ripped Dress” was invited to perform in Paraguay’s capital city of Asuncion, where it received national media attention and spurred dialogue about the devastating suicides that have become an epidemic throughout Paraguay.

The other play, “La Prubera Makes a Good Day,” tells of the search for a stolen scooter, for lost love and other things that make the world go ’round, suggesting to many in the small town where it occurs, that life is mystically blessed. Amarilla said, “This story really happened to me. My scooter was stolen and the police suggested I contact a voodoo lady to get it back.” The play begins there, but as art imitates life, it asks, What role does faith of all kinds play in our ability to keep our lives together?

Directing both plays is Gail Smogard, Metropolitan State theater program director. She relates, “Following the initial premiere in Paraguay, Néstor brought me the script and we sat in my office as he translated from the original Spanish and Guarani. I was impressed, not only by the tragedy of the story, but also by the sensitivity of the writing. Shortly after that, Néstor told our playwriting class another story of his encounter in Paraguay with the voodoo lady. By that time, many of us were ready to pack our bags and head out to the poorest country in South America.” Smogard traveled to Paraguay in June 2005, along with Amarilla and local storyteller, Maren Hinderlie, to become better acquainted with some of the characters, places and political questions represented in Amarilla’s work.

“At first, we didn’t necessarily see any connection between the two pieces, but now they form an interesting pair,” said Amarilla. Metropolitan State and its student organization, Theater Underground produced both plays.

Metropolitan State University offers a B.A. in theater performance studies with an emphasis on original student work. Contact Smogard at 612-659-7156 for more information on the theater program.

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