Flight Of The Quetzal

Flight of the Quetzal

A Review

by Stephanie Harrell

   Rene, a Central American taxi driver serums a Beatles' tune on his guitar. Christopher, an omithologist from the U.S. asks him how he knows so much American music. Rene, looking surprised, replies, "Were the Beatles from the U.S.?"

   This is "Flight of the Quetzal," the play written and performed by Los Muchachos. The play, while often funny and always entertaining, could make any content U.S. citizen a little uncomfortable. "Flight" is a multi-media performance incorporating drama, music, and slides. It tells the story of Christopher's journey to an unspecified Central American country in search of an endangered bird, the Quetzal. What he actually discovers is far more shocking.

   The play opens with Christopher presenting his findings to the National Geographic Society. As he is about to begin, the lights dim and a slide lights up the screen behind him: "This is the Story of a People."

   The story is told mostly through the experiences of Christopher (David Perrigo) and driver/friend Rene (George Sanchez). It centers around their attempts to reach the cities where the Quetzal is said to be found. Within a short time period, Christopher discovers not only the friendship of René, but the horrors that take place daily in Central America. In one act, he and René stumble upon some rotting bodies. Christopher says, "We should tell the police." René replies, "I think they already know."

   Sanchez plays seven of the eight characters. He is a strong and consistent actor, drawing the audience to each character as if each one were played by someone different. As U.S. Embassy Vice-Consul, he puts a golf ball around his office and complains that the press "never gives us credit for how far we've come in this country." As Colonel Castillo, he sits behind dark sun glasses and explains the power and control the guerillas have over the people.

   It is through these charactcrs as seen by Christopher that the play advances. Each act is a short experience in patience and learning. Between acts are slides, sometimes of beautiful birds and wide-eyed smiling children, others of rotting corpses and men and women carrying semi-automatic weapons. This array of contrasts intensifies the reality of the lives of a people who amidst the births and love must face death and violence.

   Perrigo's 19 years of acting, directing, and writing experience are evident in his portrayal of Christopher. Christopher is a character who is a bit funny in his ignorance. Due to Perrigo's acting skills, it does not seem to be inconsistent with the seriousness of the story. Even after Christopher learns the reality of the situation, the humor continues, in a sense reminding us of the joy in life that is, in part, what is being fought for.

   The growing friendship of Christopher and René is a strong point in that it represents the need for under stand ing between the peoples of the Americas.

(see QUETZAL, page 11)

QUETZAL from page 5

Rene subtly challenges Christopher's naivete, as in one of the last scenes when he says, "You think the violence is fun for us? Sometimes we don't have too much choice." He points out things that Christopher has never thought of, like the fact that people ín Central America need come to eat while the U.S. feeds corn to its pigs. This fictional friendship perhaps is reflective of the many trips Los Muchachos has made to Central America, where they say the friendships they have developed, "have strengthened (their) understanding of the region and provided much of the inspiration for (their) work."

  "This is the Story of a People" that alarmingly receives little attention from major media sources. Los Muchachos performs it around the country because itneeds to be told and has proven to genérate dialogue and understanding. "Flight of the Quetzal" does so, and does so extraordinarily well.