Rosita's Day of the Dead
This was an entertaining performance; it sent a real message under the guise of a humorous diversion from reality into the perceived (or believed?) world of the 'previously living,' otherwise known as calacas, or the 'bony ones'.The main character - Rosita - is originally from Mexico; she has since moved far from her birthplace and her family, not as far geographically, but certainly worlds away emotionally. As the story opens, we hear a calaca say "levantase!" We then see calacas coming from every direction into Rosita's kitchen; lively music plays as they seem to discover that they can touch solid objects without passing through them. Some carry suitcases; one sits down and drinks a cup of coffee, another seems fascinated with a sugar dispenser. As sunlight comes, they quickly scurry away, out of sight. Now, as at other times, one is a little slower than the others and narrowly escapes discovery. We get a taste of Rosita's sassy side when she greets the customer from Clovis, who becomes part of the audience, thus signifying, in my view, that the character is not as significant as the reason why she is there (Was this really an actor, or merely a patron of the theatre, tapped to be our customer
Later, after they enter the pueblito where those who made sacrifices reside, such as Cesar Chavez and Harvey Milk, she enters the area for souls with unresolved relations - and her father is there. She is told that "If hate bites you like a snake, you have to cut it out right away - otherwise, it gets in your heart and you'll never make amends." Later her dad tells her that her heart is poisoned; obviously, she has not cut out the hate - she has covered it up instead - she has covered that wound in many insulating layers that prevent the pain from entering easily. She says that she could not forgive her father, yet she does leave for Mexico, after her mother offers her some "Mictlanesque" coffee (which is what the reverse people, those who only cared about themselves, drink to sleep) and she beseeches the customer to talk to her dead relatives - even those she doesn't like. I would recommend this play to many people, but not to very young children, as this is a little mature in nature, and one would have to be able to handle not only the subject matter but some foul words and descriptions of sexual improprieties. The calacas are portrayed in a way that may or may not be frightening to a young one, also: although they are distinguished as calacas by pajama-like costumes with bones to signify them as 'the bony ones', the makeup may be scary to some. Others, such
Some common words found in the essay are:
Marisabel Rosita's, Day Dead, Harvey Milk, Rosita Mictlan, nail shop, day dead,
Approximate Word count = 926
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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