“V.I.V.A” at the Ancon Theatre Guild
So last night I went to see a play. It had been years since I last saw one and I had that itch I needed to scratch so when the opportunity came I snatched it. There was also the definitve factor of having a few friends participating in the production, and the production itself held a very interesting premise… that of social satire. The Ancon Theatre Guild has been going strong for more than 50 years and that’s pretty remarkable considering how uninterested the populace is concerning anything that stinks of culture and even though this would be their 56th season it seems they’re on the verge of closing down, and they’re trying to raise funds in order to keep the place open. It’s a small, very charming place where the people who run it quickly give you a sense of family I particularly enjoyed very much and I suppose that’s kind of a natural progression since the guild is ran by EX-PATS and other members of the Ancon community who are mostly American or fluid English speakers… I feel right at home whenever I run into people like these so they had me at “hello.” Here’s a synopsis of “VIVA” along with contact information for reservations and the like via CulturaPlus:
“VIVA” escrito por Andy de la Tour
Fecha: 10, 11, 12 y 17, 18, 19 de agosto de 2006
Hora: 8:00 PM
Lugar: The Theatre Guild of Ancon
Donación: $10.00
RESERVACIONES: 212-0060 o
Email: m_alcoriza@hotmail.com
Tel: 260-4737
“VIVA!” – Una farsa satirica escrito por Andy de la TourEn el Hotel Intercontinental de la republica ficticia de Puerto de Oro, una dictadura respaldada por la CIA se encuentra bajo sitio por guerrilleros a cinco millas de la capital. Escondiendose en el hotel hay una variedad de gente rara y extraña: un arzobispo corrupto; un general demente con su chica de reputación dudosa; el gerente del hotel esquizofranico; un presidente chiflado y el agente de la CIA tratando de salvar los intereses de su pais en una comedia satirica que no esta muy lejos de la realidad.
“VIVA!” – A satirical farce written by Andy de la Tour
In the delightfully tacky Hotel Intercontinental in the fictional banana republic of Puerto de Oro, a CIA backed dictatorship is under seige by guerillas who are within five miles of the capital. Hiding out inside the hotel are an assortment of oddballs and weirdos: a corrupted archbishop; a crazed general with a leftover Miss July from a recent Playboy shoot; a schizoid hotel manager; the obligatory CIA man conniving to hold everything together, but of course to his best interest.
The play is funny as hell and all of the actors involved do great in their roles. This little outing set me out to do two things: First, to consider going to plays again since the theatre scene is apparently much different than what it was 5 years ago and second, maybe I should dust off that script I’ve had lying around for a few years and see if a theatre guild deems it worthy of a production. Speaking of scripts, here’s some info about the play’s playright Andy de la Tour, via PFD:
Andy de la Tour’s first stage play VIVA! was first performed at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East and then later at the Eureka Theatre in San Francisco in 1988. His second play, HERE WE GO, a farce set during the 1984 miner’s strike was performed at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield in 1987. SAFE IN OUR HANDS, a satire on the state of the health service, was premiered at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 1990 after winning the 1989 London Weekend Television Plays on Stage Award.
His adaptation of Dario Fo’s THE POPE AND THE WITCH was also premiered at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 1991 and later transferred to the Comedy Theatre in April 1992. His play LANDSLIDE premiered at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and transferred to the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1997.
For television he wrote and starred in his own TV play, CLEM for Channel 4 and his written extenisvely for various TV series, including episodes of LOVEJOY, BOON, LIFEBOATS, CATS EYES, TECX, many episodes of the first series of PEAK PRACTICE and two episodes of KAVANAGH Q.C. He devised and wrote his own series, THE VET for Ikona Films/BBC.
He hasy written two plays with Tariq Ali and Howard Brenton which he also directed. COLLATERAL DAMAGE, a response to the NATO war in the Balkans, was presented at the Tricycle Theatre in May 1999 and SNOGGING KEN, based on the London Mayoral election campaign, was performed at the Almeida Theatre in April 2000.
As an actor he has made many appearances on television and stage, most recently in the revival of Harold Pinter’s, NO MAN’S LAND at the RNT.
Andy has adapted the French play UN AIR DE FAMILLE by Agnes Jaoui and Jean-Pierre Bacri for English-Language stage production. The resulting adaption A FAMILY AFFAIR, which he also directed was presented at the Theatre Royal Bath Autumn 2000 and also toured.
Andy directed NOBODY’S PERFECT starring Rick Mayall, which toured nation wide in 2001/ 2002 for Paul Farrah Productions.
A new translation of THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARURO URI premiered in a production by Steam Industri at The Bridewell Theatre, London in July 2002.
QUESTION TIME, published by Oberon Books played at the Arcola Theatre 24th February – 20th March 2004 in a production directed by Andy.
Check the play out, if you can. If you’re slightly cynical and socially conscious you’ll very much enjoy it. This weekend’s the last shows so if you want to catch it, now’s the time… you won’t regret it.
Check Out These Related Posts!
- The Theatre Guild of Ancon:
The Theatre Guild of Ancon, in its current incarnation, was founded by Alberto Motta and spouse, Ralph Lindo and spouse, Stanley Findanque and spouse, Roy Glickenhouse and spouse and other members of the culturally-conscious amongst Panamanian society in the year 1950, making it the longest-running theater operation as well as...
- Guildstock 2008 at the Ancon Theater Guild:
Just a quick heads-up for those of you in Panama City; as a member of the Theater Guild of Ancon Board of Governors, it's my duty (to please that booty) and honor to humbly invite you to get to know one of the oldest theaters in Panama City, and the...
- Grainjaus Session 3 – Bruce Lee and Tony Jaa:
Porto Diao marches on with his ongoing cult/exploitation film festival at the Theatre guild of Ancon. This time, it's a celebration of chop-socky, closed-fist destruction as two of the most incredible martial artists in the history of cinema square off in a battle where only the best man (and those...
- Grainjaus Session 2 – GRINDHOUSE:
It is with great pleasure that I present to you, dear reader, a Porto Diao project that's close to my heart and has been on my constant watch list on things to resurrect for some time: "Grainjaus!", Porto Diao's exploitation and cult film festival. First started in La Casona with...