Community members dance as artists Elia Arce and Rubén Martínez perform in the back. Photo by Stan Weinstein.
Part concert, part communal meditation, “Little Central America, 1984″—directed by Elia Arce and written and performed by Elia Arce and Rubén Martínez—uses song, film, and spoken word (both Spanish and English) to revisit the tumultuous 1980s in El Salvador. They consider the many ways that era is still shaping lives—both in El Salvador and among the U.S.-based diaspora.
…haunting reminder of lives unlived, lost to U.S.-financed violence, arduous journeys northward, and the water, unrelenting in its power and wrath.
Set in the sanctuary of All Souls Church Unitarian, Arce and Martinez tell the story of their war-torn homeland as images flash on a screen featuring soldiers and terrorized civilians, interspersed with aerial views of the miles-long U.S.–Mexico border wall. They are assisted by a lively and soulful trio that includes Jorge Perez (Bass), Felix Felix Carrera (Trumpet), and Hermidez Benitez (Percussion). Actors tell stories attesting to the suffering, as well as the hope and resilience, that has sustained the Salvadorean community.
Powerful symbolism runs through the narrative. Rushing water reminds the audience of the natural borders that separate nations and the risk of attempting to cross such an unforgiving barrier. Amidst the music and poetry, young girls appear at milestone moments to dance with their father, one dressed for her first communion, another to celebrate quinceañera, and yet another in graduation cap and gown. It is haunting reminder of lives unlived, lost to U.S.-financed violence, arduous journeys northward, and the water, unrelenting in its power and wrath.
The production, which is dedicated to the memory of GALA Hispanic Theatre co-founder, Hugo Medrano and all who perished while attempting to cross into the United States, ends with a candle-lit moment of silence.
Running time: Approximately one hour and 30 minutes with no intermission.
“Little Central America, 1984” ran July 21-23, 2023 presented by GALA Hispanic Theatre at All Souls Church Unitarian , 1500 Harvard St NW, Washington, DC 20009. For more information about GALA Hispanic Theatre’s upcoming productions, click here.
