Los monstruos

My first production at the International Hispanic Theatre Festival. The festival is one of the main reasons I came to Miami. Where else can I get such top notch quality theater in Spanish, than in sunny Miami. This particular production of "Los Monstruos" comes from the Compañía Criolla in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Emiliano Dionisi wrote this musical at a playwrighting conference, which lasted three months. He's acquired quite a CV as a playwright and director. I learned this information during the talk-back session after the show, moderated by Teatro Avante's director: Mario Ernesto Sánchez. The play is reminiscent of God of Carnage, written by Yasmina Reza, and originally produced in 2006. Accordingly, the subject matter is about societal expectations of parents, parents who have a hard time dealing with their kids' behavior, and the ultimate breakdown of the parents in the face of conflict. I find it a little conflicting that the subject matter is such by a young playwright who is not a parent. But hey, everyone can branch out a bit. And, this musical won a lot of awards in Argentina.

Here "Los Monstruos" won the award for best musical in the 2016 Premios Hugo. Photo by Alfredo Luna.

The play follows the lives of a single dad, Claudio, and his son, paralleled with a mother, Sandra, and her daughter (the dad is a deadbeat who is only referred to). Claudio was played by Argentine actor Mariano Chiesa, while Sandra was played by Argentine actress Natialia Cociuffo. Both have "exceptional" kids: "Ni peor, ni mejor...distinto". Obviously, this is in the eye of the beholder. It's true. Each parent tends to believe their children are unique and outstanding. But their uniqueness creates problems at school. We learn that the dad has a problem with his son because he doesn't defend himself and others bully him. The mother has a hard time with her tomboy daughter who is invited to parties out of "pity". Each parent tries to make the best with their current situation, but they begin to unravel as the play develops. Eventually, the father snaps, and we learn at the end that instead of a life-threatening fight at school, he's actually the reason his son is in the hospital. On the other hand, the mother is in the hospital, awaiting the recovery of her husband, because her daughter pushed him down the stairs. At the end, we learn that the parents are the ones with the problems, and not so much their children. Or, their children were to become a product of their parenting. Either way, it's definitely not a happy ending.

Mariano Chiesa as Claudio, next to Natalia Cociuffo as Sandra. Photo taken from: El Mostrador, Argentina.

The scenery is exactly what you see in the picture above. It's rather simple, which, for me, is always welcome. I like this minimalist feature because I can focus on the acting and the dialogue. There's nothing worse than watching a flashy spectacle with absolutely no story. And there was a story here! If I could add a little more, on top of the minimalist stage, they never left the small square that encapsulated them during the entire musical. Much like God of Carnage, mentioned above, as the play progressed, the parents slowly opened up to the audience and revealed their innermost desires for fame, sexual satisfaction, etc. It was like watching a boxing match where the players bloody themselves verbally more and more, reaching the climax when one is knocked out.

I have to be honest. When I see productions like these, it makes me reevaluate my own position as husband and father. Their kids, on the surface, are everything to them, but underlying it all is their forgotten selves. You could almost argue that their children become their obsessions that end up hurting both their children and themselves. After seeing this production, I've reflected on moments when I raise my voice or get frustrated with my children. How far away am I from becoming like them? It's a scary thought, but I at least find solace in the fact that I can reflect on this development before it is too late. And yes, my kids mean the world to me. And yes, they are special.