SASKATOON — With cooler temperatures in the air, theatregoers will enjoy a little sunshine on stage this fall with Persephone Theatre’s opening play, Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías, which will be on the Main Stage Sept. 25 to Oct. 6.
This comedy about neighbours disagreeing with a long-standing fence line puts the adage “love thy neighbour” to the test. Between hose fights and midnight spy missions, the two couples – one a senior anglo-white couple and the other a millennial Latinx couple – resort to hilarious antics in the pursuit of the garden of their dreams.
“I’m delighted to be opening our 50th anniversary season with this incredible comedy,” Artistic Director, Heather Cant, said.
“We have a hilarious cast of actors, and knowing how passionate people on the prairies can be about their plants, I just know our audiences will have a fun night out with this show – and maybe even a better relationship with their neighbours when they go home.”
The comedy in the production is appealing to all, regardless of age or their relationship with home- ownership.
“This play is unlike anything I’ve read before. Karen Zacarías is a fantastic playwright and can navigate and explore complex conversations through a neighbour's dispute between two couples with very different lived experiences,” explains Alexandra Lainfiesta, who plays Tania in the production.
“The wisdom lies within the absurdity. It is a well-written (comedy) that will make you laugh, gasp, reflect, and have long post-show conversations to dissect the themes explored.”
Lainfiesta said this play speaks to everyone and explained the playwright, Zacarías, said in an interview, “Most conflicts in the world can be boiled down to differences over property, taste, class and culture.”
Native Gardens does not shy away from any of those topics, with the characters clashing over disputes that are symbolic of conflicts we see every day.
“The playwright does so with humour and nuanced characters that challenge stereotypes: The young Latino immigrant is an accomplished lawyer, the Latina whose family has been in the United States for generations is finishing her PhD in anthropology, the older woman is an accomplished engineer on her way to full retirement and her husband is an avid gardener who worked for the ‘service’ in his past life,” Lainfiesta explains.
“The goal of the play is not for the audience to judge these characters but for the audience to see through humour, a mirror held up to their nature, and have them ask how good of a neighbour am I?"
Persephone Theatre is happy to support Latinx artists, from the playwright to the actors on stage and those behind the curtain, as well. This is one of the first times Persephone Theatre has had a production with the focus on a Hispanic couple.
“I am thrilled! I have been living in Saskatoon for 11 years and this is the first time I see a Latinx production at Persephone, let alone on the main stage,” Yulissa Campos, who plays one of the garden landscapers, said.
“I feel content to see more representation in our community, and I am hopeful that this would be the first with more to come.”
Campos has a theatre company in Saskatoon, Ay, Caramba! – with the mission to "aspire to create inclusive stories, inspire minority actors and diversify Canadian theatre through Hispanic tales."
“Representation matters,” Campos added. “Universal storytelling matters. Latinos come in all colours, shapes and forms and that’s what makes us unique. My toddler is Latina-Métis. She is growing up in a bilingual-multicultural home. She is the reason why I create art that showcases diversity, to show her she belongs in this community. This is why a play like Native Gardens is so important in this community.”
The representation of different cultures is important to see on stage, as it helps everyone see past stereotypes, Lainfiesta said.
Lainfiesta immigrated to Canada from Latin America as an adult and speaks Spanish with her family, but worked hard to be fluent in English, much like the character of Pablo.
“When you are an immigrant, constantly questioned or congratulated on your level of English comprehension or execution, you quickly learn to work extremely hard and that nothing, absolutely nothing, is given to you,” Lainfiesta said. “Immigrants are the workforce and bedrock of the United States, and there is a reason for it.”
Campos also identifies with Tania, and said she often finds herself educating people about her “background and skills,” she said. “Moreover, there have been instances where I found myself proving to people that if they look beyond the accent I can be smarter than they would think.”
They both encourage everyone to come see this comedic play at Persephone and think everyone will find something to enjoy and relate to.
“I guarantee that the audience will have a blast coming to see this show,” Campos added. “Imagine watching Gloria from Modern Family having a feud with the Johnsons. That’s how hilarious this show is.”
Tickets are available at tickets.persephonetheatre.org or by calling the box office at 306-384-7727.
