Theater company welcomes back veteran director for revival of
‘Los Olivos Pits’ and ‘Los Vendidos’
El Teatro Campesino’s latest stage productions,
”
Los Vendidos
”
and
”
Los Olivos Pits,
”
are opening Feb. 12, at the Playhouse in San Juan Bautista.
Mime Troupe (pronounced
”
meem
”
) founder R.G. Davis is directing the Spanish comedy, adapted by
Peter Burg and Peter Cohon from an original work by Spanish
playwright Lope de Rueda. Davis has returned to work with ETC for
the first time in 38 years.
Theater company welcomes back veteran director for revival of ‘Los Olivos Pits’ and ‘Los Vendidos’
El Teatro Campesino’s latest stage productions, “Los Vendidos” and “Los Olivos Pits,” are opening Feb. 12, at the Playhouse in San Juan Bautista.
Mime Troupe (pronounced “meem”) founder R.G. Davis is directing the Spanish comedy, adapted by Peter Burg and Peter Cohon from an original work by Spanish playwright Lope de Rueda. Davis has returned to work with ETC for the first time in 38 years.
“Los Vendidos” (Spanish for “The Lost Ones”) is a one-act comedy that’s essentially an examination of the-oh-so stereotypical Californians and how local, state, and national governments manipulate people. The play was originally written in 1967. It takes place in Honest Sancho’s Used Mexican Lot and Mexican Curio Shop, a fictional Californian store that sells various “models” of Mexican stereotypes that Chicanos (Mexican-Americans) can manipulate by a snap of the finger and a few simple commands.
As for “Los Olivos Pits,” the story revolves around a small Hispanic family living off an olive tree plantation run by a rich “Hustler,” and according to Davis, most people have had an experience with a hustler.
“Los Olivos Pits” is a performance of the art of cheating others after being cheated oneself. Davis said he believes that because of the receding economy and trickster bankers, there is only one thing to do that would make sense and that is try to cheat the system.
Davis joked about robbing banks since banks have, in essence, robbed many people.
But that’s only the tip of the iceberg with the latest production. “Los Vendidos” features Rosa Apodaca and Eduardo Robledo Jr., two El Teatro actors who worked with Davis back in ’72 and are now working with him again in 2010. Some of the newer additions to the troupe include Adrian Torres, Christy Sandoval and Norberto Franklin Escobar. The group performed “La Pastorela,” or the Shepherds’ play in December, and the charm of acting with the production has grown on them.
“After awhile you kinda stick around,” Sandoval said.
The idea of blending the aged-like-wine-old and the new youngbloods is the whole idea behind making this work, according to Robledo Jr.
“We are getting back into the roots of what made it work along with integrating our style,” he said.
According to Davis, “Los Olivos Pits” relates to current times as much as it did when it was performed back in 1966-1969 due to the intangibility of the American Dream and the dog-eat-dog intentions people have toward each other.
“I don’t know how anyone can stay good if they wanna survive,” Davis said.
Zack Freitas is a San Benito High School student and the opinion editor of the Baler. He can be reached at pi****************@gm***.com.
Show opens soon
Previews for “Los Olivos Pits” and “Los Vendidos” begin on Feb. 12, with the shows’ official opening on Feb. 20. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Special ticket prices for Thursdays are $5, and Fridays are $10. Ticket prices for Saturday nights and Sunday matinees are $12/adults, $10/seniors and students and $8 for children under 12. Special group rates available for groups of 20 or more. Tickets are on sale now. For tickets or more information call 623-2444 or visit www.elteatrocampesino.com. Box-office hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. El Teatro Campesino Playhouse is at 705 Fourth Street in Historic San Juan Bautista.
