At a time when women’s health is so politically divisive, Yerma is more relevant than ever. The original play written by Federico Garcia Lorca was recently adapted by Maria Goiricelaya and was translated into English for the first time by May Farnsworth. This translation was then brought to the Le Moyne College stage through a partnership with the Spanish Embassy on September 11th.
The adaptation of Lorca’s original 1934 text, while retaining the original names of the characters, places the setting in post-Covid pandemic Spain. The play centers around themes of infertility, societal expectations, mental health, and motherhood as it details Yerma’s struggle to conceive a child. With abrasive language and frank discussion, characters have confrontations about sex and marriage as they navigate broken relationships. The updated time period and modern colloquial language allows for a depth of raw emotion as Yerma tries and fails over and over to receive successful fertility treatment.
This is not the first play that Le Moyne has staged in partnership with the Spanish Embassy. Matt Chiorini, the Interim Chair of Visual and Performing Arts and Director of Theatre Program, stated that the partnership has existed for years, fostered through the efforts and connections of Professor Josefa Álvarez. The Embassy’s desire to “promote contemporary Spanish art and artists,” according to Chiorini, was the main catalyst for the recent collaborations in the Performing Arts Center. “They’ve been a pleasure to work with, and we’re planning more events for the future,” Chiorini stated.
The director of the reading, senior Chloe Budziszewski, was given the script over the summer. A veteran of the stage with both acting and directing credits under her belt, Budziszewski’s direction for this reading helped bring the show together in an incredibly short amount of time.
With only a few days between cast auditions and the actual performance, according to Budziszewski, the show would not have been possible without the cooperation and dedication of the cast and crew. Because the show was not fully staged, the actors’ focus was put not on memorizing lines and blocking, but instead on exploring the depth and psychology of the characters, according to the post-show Q&A. Each actor was able to experiment with line delivery and discover nuances in the script that might not have been possible in a fully staged performance.
The opportunity to dig into characters’ psyches allowed for space to embrace the emotional journey Yerma embarks on throughout the show. Sophomore Mary Medina-Guzman’s performance as Yerma sent chills down the spine and tears down the cheeks of every audience member as she flawlessly embodied each part of Yerma’s internal turbulence. From drunken revelry to coy flirtation and heartbreaking cries of anguish, Medina-Guzman’s ability to shift between emotions truly brought the show to life. The supporting cast around her were no less stellar – from her manipulative and absent husband to her overbearing mother and a childhood ex, the characters around Yerma added color and dynamism that could only be accomplished through a dedication to the character and the show.
Impressive lighting by Elena Kantor and Medina-Guzman’s choice of using glitter eyeshadow for each character in colors that would reflect their personality, were the final elements that pulled the show together and allowed for a truly moving emotional experience according to the post-show Q&A. While the show handled some incredibly dark and difficult subjects, the production was handled with sensitivity and sincerity.
The entire cast and crew of the show deserve a round of applause: Chloe Budziszewski, Nicholas Connelly, Jalynn Guido, Elena Kantor, Tim Kelsey, Ola Kraszpulska, Mary Medina-Guzman, and Sarah Strauss.
The Performing Arts Center’s next stage production, being performed at the end of October and beginning of November, is Evil Dead: The Musical. Based on previous productions, this one is surely one to look forward to.
