Set in Venice on the day of the death of Orson Welles, “Orchids in the Moonlight” by renowned Mexican writer, Carlos Fuentes is a multi-layered play in which two older chicanas submerge themselves in the roles of two actual, celebrated Mexican actresses from the Golden Age of cinema, Dolores del Rio and Maria Felix. So fanatic are the chicanas in playing their roles that they even criticise the real-life actresses for not being faithful to their cinematic selves, and the conversations between the two chicanas become an interchange of the dialogue spoken by Félix and Del Rio in their films. Whilst paying homage (albeit parodic ) to these two actresses, Fuentes also criticises the Hollywood machine (in the persona of “mummy”) which nurtures the blossoming careers of its young starlets but cruelly dumps them when they reach their use-be dates. Written with beautifully lyrical language inlaid with the use of magic realism, a technique beloved by Latin American authors, Fuentes structures his play in a genre favoured by the Golden Age of Cinema, the melodrama. This extraordinary play stretches the audience's imagination, leaving them with a lasting experience.
Once again, the production of Orchids in the Moonlight by Carlos Fuentes has had to be cancelled on medical grounds, this time with four of the production team falling victim to the corona virus two weeks before the show's opening. Undeterred, we intend to carry on and look forward to presenting the play in the first half of the New Year.
Further details will be forthcoming soon.
Female actor aged 45+ is invited to express interest in the next production. Please ring Liz on 0477827752 or write to lizdek1@hotmail.com
drawing by John Ellison
Enquiries Liz on 0477827752
Theatre Mamusidom
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scenes from The Picasso Affair
Orchids in the Moonlight
drawing by John Ellison
Expressions of interest
Please support Theatre Mamusidom
Would you like to get involved - as actor, director,lighting/sound, front of house, promotional, sponsor etc. Contact Liz de Koster. at lizdek1@hotmail.com or on 0477827752
Sound and lighting technician
Theatre Mamusidom is requiring a sound and lighting technician for its production
Please ring on 0477827752 or write to Liz at lizdek1@hotmail.com