An International Hit Comedy
Directed by New College Professor Diego Villada
March 11-13
This comedy about a pregnant woman who gives her boyfriend a powerful truth serum was written by acclaimed Spanish playwright, Jordi Galcerán.
(March 2, 2022) CreArte Latino Cultural Center presents “Burundanga,” a comedy by the acclaimed Spanish playwright Jordi Galcerán, March 11-12, 8 p.m., and March 13 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $20. The play will be presented in Spanish. To purchase tickets, visit www.creartelatino.org.
With “Burundanga,” CreArte Latino continues to reach out to the community at large by hosting its first guest director, Diego Villada. Villada is assistant professor of theater, dance and performance studies at New College, as well as a fight and intimacy choreographer, movement specialist, performance scholar, and Equity actor. At first, he was wary of the play despite its good reputation and popularity.
“The word ‘burundanga’ is the name of a drug which has a highly negative connotation in Colombia and Latin America,” says Villada. “But when I read the piece, I realized it was, at its heart, an intriguing truth serum play.”
Villada explains that, in the story of “Burundanga,” Berta is pregnant but hasn’t told her boyfriend, Manuel. She’s not sure he really loves her and she doesn’t know what to do. Her roommate Silvia suggests that Berta give Manuel burundanga, which will force Manuel to lose his inhibitions and tell the truth. But this results in more truth than anyone bargained for and a mass of unpredictable and entertaining consequences that mix love, terror, and laughter.
Instead of adapting the play with local references as many productions have done, Villada decided to keep the piece in its context of Spain. He feels that by letting the playwright’s original words speak, the common human themes of doubting a significant other, having a secret, wanting to keep up appearances, will shine through.
As the son of immigrants and as a first-generation Colombian-American, Villada loves working with CreArte Latino. “It’s important to me that CreArte continues to produce theater in uncertain times,” he says. “It provides a space for the Latino/Hispanic community to learn about theater, practice English, attend musical events, and watch high-level plays. I feel called to do whatever I can to help this artistic mission and I’m proud to be part of it.”
CreArte Latino Cultural Center follows #SafeArtsSarasota Covid protocols.
About CreArte Latino Cultural Center
CreArte Latino Cultural Center was founded in 2012 as a creative hub for the Latino/Hispanic community in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The nonprofit organization seeks to forge a bilingual cultural exchange between Latinos/Hispanics and the community at large through the arts and education, including theater productions, books clubs, classes, workshops and collaborations with artists from the area and throughout Latin America. CreArte Latino Cultural Center is located at 8251 15th St. East, Sarasota. Visit www.creartelatino.org and CreArte Latino on Facebook.