Scenic Design by Leigh Henderson
Teatro Visión (San José, CA), October 2016
Adapted for the stage by Evelina Fernández and Teatro Visión
Directed by Rodrigo García
Macario, originally a novel by B. Traven, was adapted into a 1960 film, the first Mexican film to be nominated for an Academy Award. Teatro Visión premiered its original stage adaptation in 2013 with a script by Evelina Fernández and original music by Russell Rodríguez.
Set in the Viceregal era in Mexico, the story features three spirits who prompt a poor man (Macario) to reflect on his choices when he comes into the fortune of a full turkey to eat. The story is set in old Mexico, but its themes of inequity, sacrifice, and dreams of a better life are just as relevant in the U.S. today
This production is a remount of Leigh’s design, originally for the 2014 production of Macario. A flexible, hinged arched wall evokes the period architecture of the region while allowing the stage space to be re-shaped to accommodate the numerous locations called for in the script. Multiple textures emphasize the divisions between upper class and lower class environments and provide a palette for the vibrant lighting design by Paul Skelton.