Lo que queda de Cielo

What interested us in attending this particular play (What remains of Cielo), besides the fact that it was written by a Mexican (Camila Villegas), was the theme of the disappeared (los desaparecidos). It´s a topic of grave importance in Latin America, especially since the Dirty Wars of the 70’s and 80’s. For example, a recent case occurred in 2014, an event for which Mexico is still in mourning: 43 students from Ayotzinapa disappeared in the state of Guerrero. We were a little disappointed, however, because the play dealt with the disappearance of a young girl, and even then she really doesn’t disappear; her mother sells her. What the play dealt with on a larger scale is the idea of youth prostitution. Unfortunately, the two subjects, disappearing and prostitution, sometimes go hand-in-hand. For example, youth are stolen and sold into sex slavery in Mexico, and in many, many parts of the world.

Doña Cirila & Cielo

The venue in which the play occurred is extremely small (Espacio Urgente 2); we’re talking maybe the size of a large bedroom. The stage itself probably ranged from 8’ by 20’ and the audience was packed in the room like sardines. The main prop used throughout the show was a mannequin, which represented the idea of Cielo (the daughter’s name means “heaven”). It stayed on stage throughout the play, didn’t move, and centered the action of the play. On the mannequin was a dress used for a quinceñera (the equivalent of a “Sweet Sixteen” party). Other than that there were stars that glowed when the lights turned off. The stage was small, hardly any scenery, and to top it all off, standard lighting from the ceiling illuminated the stage. In circumstances like these the dialogue and acting have to be stellar.

Unfortunately, the text seemed to be in a very premature stage. Or maybe it was the directing. Either way, both Tim and I left with many, many questions about the structure of the play. What we did learn was that the mother, Doña Cirila, had been a prostitute in her youth (mentioned in passing), and that the decision to sell her daughter was made out of desperation. However, it’s hard to feel any sympathy when the desperation behind the decision isn’t shown, or if shown, not developed. Cielo’s hometown boyfriend, Tony, ends up joining Cielo’s uncle’s prostitution business in order to find her, only to find out at the end that she was sold to one of the top dogs in the business. From that point on, he refuses to continue looking for her, as well as quits the business. From the tough character of the uncle, Don V, I assumed that by quitting the business he was basically committing suicide. And that’s when the play ends.

Don V, Doña Cirila, Cielo & Tony

It left me with so many questions, too little sympathy, and a hunger for more developed characters. I would have like to see the mother’s struggle more than Don V’s manipulative behavior. I told the playwright afterwards it was difficult for me to approach this play, in part, because I come from a society in which prostitution is not seen or hidden away, and, in my own experience, I didn't grow up in extreme poverty. I also think it was also difficult for me to feel any sympathy for the mother because she was so poorly developed as a character. She shows up on many occasions, only to be bossed around and then leave. Maybe this simple fact demonstrates the fact that the mother didn’t have any choice and was manipulated into selling her daughter. Either way, her character could be much, much stronger.

I can appreciate the effort put into this show, and the important theme this play begins to discuss. I think it just needs some more love and devotion.