Historical Fiction Takes the Stage in REVOLUTION at Teatro Paraguas

Teatro Paraguas presents Revolution, a play about Fernando Reyes' journey involving Love, Self, and Tierra y Libertad, by Alix Hudson, directed by Malcolm Morgan, and running September 29 - October 16.

Revolution is the story of trans man Fernando Reyes' life growing up on the hacienda and joining the Zapatistas in the Mexican Revolution. What follows is an a-spatial, a-chronological examination of Love, Self, and Tierra y Libertad.

Colonel Fernando Reyes is inspired by Amelio Robles. Amelio Robles, born Amelia Robles, was a decorated Zapatista officer. Unlike many women - the well-documented soldaderas - who cross-dressed only for the duration of the war, Robles took the opportunity of the chaos of the bola to transition. He lived the rest of his life as a man.

The playwright discovered Amelio Robles during research for a Chicana Literature studies course; her final paper was titled "Malinche Redimida: Marimachas en la Frontera" and explored the identity politics of butch Mexicanas. Hudson was struck, in the midst of more modern and explicit sexual revolutions such as Moraga and Castillo, how a century before Coronel Robles had quietly enacted his own transition vis-à-vis the chaos of the bola. His presence stayed with her, and she is proud to pay homage to him, and to the millions of historically-silenced LGBTQ narratives (including but not ending in Orlando), with Fernando Reyes and Revolution.

The play is historical fiction. Xochitelco is a fictional town; all characters are fiction, though The Dance of the Forty-One (a raid of gay men in Mexico City in 1901) was a real event - as was the battle of Chilpancingo. As such, the play is rooted firmly in the culture of southern Mexico in the 20th century. It is primarily in English, though there is Spanish and Spanglish integrated as well.

As an old man, Fernando Reyes (JoJo Sena de Tarnoff) reflects back on his own life in Revolution; the play takes place between the years of 1910 and 1962 and moves through many locations throughout Central and Southern Mexico. When he was a young girl (Cristina Vigil), he meets wealthy and unapologetic transwoman Alejandra (Giacomo Zafarano) - whose strength and insight change his life. As a Zapatista revolutionary (Roxanne Tapia), he literally and figuratively battles the homogenization of the hacienda structure. The sameness of the hacienda is juxtaposed with the verdant polyculture of the forest and his beloved, Ana Maria (Alix Hudson). The Revolution becomes the freeing space for Reyes to realize his transition.

As acclaimed local poet, Gary Worth Moody, states, "Simply put, Alexandra Hudson's play Revolution is pure genius, and a primer for ALL writers of any gender or genre: drama, poetry, fiction, memoir, history, as to how to discern human shadows from those of the natural world, even in the finest distilled moonlight. If you EVER get a chance to read or see a production of this work, be prepared. Your heart WILL be pierced, with or without body armor."

The director, Malcom Morgan, began his theatrical training in Texas before venturing to Santa Fe, New Mexico to finish his BFA in Musical Theatre at Santa Fe University of Art & Design (SFUAD). His first directed production was Stones and Bones at SFUAD, and since he has directed two other shows in Santa Fe that are unique in style and challenge his audiences emotionally and mentally. The most recent were She Kills Monsters at the Santa Fe Playhouse and now Revolution at Teatro Paraguas. Morgan's first show with Paraguas was Fortunato; he designed the hair, makeup, and costumes while completing his senior year at SFUAD. When Morgan is not on stage, he costumes productions, teaches Improv classes at the Adobe Rose and continues his degree path. Recently, he received his Masters in Higher Ed and looks forward to starting his Doctorate soon.

Alix Hudson is a theater maker and bilingual, special needs preschool teacher living and working in Santa Fe. Her work has been produced at Colorado College, the Santa Fe Playhouse, Teatro Paraguas, Fusion, Teatro Serpiente, the Los Alamos Little Theatre, and Wabash College.

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