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Accame's 'Venecia' an obscue story of romance and aspiration

The play takes place in the sweltering streets of a remote town in Argentina in front of a brothel. The old “madam” of the brothel and her three “girls” and their best customer are all trapped by their poverty with little hope for romance or even a better life. Their liveliness and imaginations keep their spark alive and change their lives in a way that none would ever have imagined. 

The play opens with the “madam,” La Gringa, played by Janet Eller, talking about a long-lost love that she left in Venecia, Italy. La Gringa is blind and deaf and relies on her girls to help with her daily needs. La Gringa is haunted by a loss love in her youth, and her final wish is to go to Venice and be with him one more time before she dies. 

The first act takes place in the present in front of the brothel, but the second act takes shape in La Gringa’s imagination. Not only does she flee, but she leaves with all her lover’s money, and seeks his forgiveness.

The three “girls,” Marta, Rita, and Graciela, played by Rebecca Stewart, Laine Gillespie, and Rose Catalona respectively, have been enslaved by poverty and ignorance their entire life. Sex is the only qualification for their jobs, and not one they necessarily do very well. 

While the girls know it is impossible for this “ship” that La Gringa envisions to come in because of their lack of proximity to the ocean, they decide to fly to Italy, but the cost of tickets are beyond their price range. 

With the help of their best client Chato, played by Skip Cady, they build a makeshift plane to take La Gringa to Italy. They build the plane out of planks, an electric fan, and some hairs. As La Gringa boards the plane with her girls, Chato holds a big light, acting as the sun.

Eller is exceptional as La Gringa. In the beginning of the first scene, we see her walk on stage, guided by her cane, and barely able to stand up. It is here when we see her begin the transformation into the illusion aspect of the play, stumbling toward a chair, gaining her composure, and talking to whoever will listen to her. 

The real illusion comes to light at the end, when the “plane” comes into port in Italy.The question remains however, if La Gringa will find what she traveled all that way for.

All the actors demonstrate great chemistry amongst each other. The three “girls” constantly fight for business and show their distrust for each other very well, but are quick to band together to bring their boss’s dream to light. 

It is their chemistry, and the chemistry they have with Chato, that brings this somewhat obscure story line forward and makes it believable. 

Shows are Aug. 21-23 and 28-30 at the theatre on the third floor of Whitney Hall on Main Street in Enfield. All shows begin at 8:00 p.m. To reserve tickets, contact the theatre at 603-632-4013 or visit reservations@shakerbridgetheatre.org. 

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