Theater

''Stories of petals and paper wings'' By Alejandra Díaz de Cossío

Stories told in the midst of flowers

The conversation between two flower sellers at the entrance of the cemetery on the eve of the Day of the Dead and Young Souls is the main plot of this dramatized oral narrative directed by well-known storyteller Alejandra Díaz de Cossío.

In this story, two florists from a township in Mexico share memories and anecdotes that show the very deep-rooted traditions Mexican people have when it comes to feasting their dearly departed.

The presence of an angel called Angeliza, who keeps coming in and out and bringing toys, petals and other objects to decorate an altar, makes us ask ourselves if the flower sellers are even alive or if they belong to the world of the dead.

The women talk about their childhood, how they began selling flowers and some other stories such the one about how ''We are on earth on borrowed time'' and the story of the ''boy who ate dirt''.

Alejandra Díaz de Cossío, Conchita Reséndiz and Issa Díaz de Cossío present this show, suitable for the entire family.

50 min. - November 1st & 2nd - 19:10 hrs. - Chapel of Guadalupe

''All Souls Day'' by Maak Mayaab Company

Conversation in the graveyard

A traditional cemetery is the stage of this production by the Maak Mayaab theater Company, (which in Mayan language means ''people the world does not have enough of''), directed by Juan de la Rosa Méndez.

On November 1st of any given year three characters visit and bring flowers to their dearly departed: a widow, a mother who lost her young children and a young woman whose boyfriend died. At the graveyard we also see Cruz, the man in charge of painting the tombs and crosses. Each character talks to the person they have come to see and tell the painter how their relative died and what it was like when they were alive. The mother who lost her children will tell the painter about the ritual done when children die.

The Maak Mayaab Company is made up of people from all townships in Yucatan and people from all ages who have one thing in common: They speak the Mayan language, because one of the objectives of this group is to safeguard the traditions, roots and dialect of the people of Yucatan. This talented company has participated in the International ''Ollin Kan'' World Cultures in Resistance Festival, the ''Maya Zoque'' Festival in Chiapas and the Festival of Life and Death Traditions in Xcaret, Quintana Roo. One of its most important works has been Ma´tinaatikech which means ''I don´t understand'', a presentation spoken 80% in Maya where the danger of losing such an important dialect is brought up.

Juan de la Rosa Méndez studied Integral Art at the Artistic Education Center in Merida. He has taught at the Escuela Normal Superior de Yucatán (a teacher training College), at the Cultural Center for Yucatan Children, at the Social Education School for Juvenile Offenders, among others. As an actor, director and playwright he has participated in several local and national productions. En 2005 he founded the Tiovivo Cultural Center, A.C as well as the Yucatan Community Theater Company ''Maak Mayaab'', with the Yucatan Cultural Institute. He has been granted awards and honors and has been the recipient of the medal of Artistic merit given by the State Government and won first place in the First grand contest of Campeche. He has also been an outstanding grant recipient of the ''Wings and Roots for Yucatan Children'' Program and for his body of work in the Coproduction Program of the ICY * and the FOECAY**. Today he is the Director of the Yucatan Cultural Institute Theater. Roger Pech Sansores, Jorge Escobedo Nuñez, Herminio Guerrero, Rosalba Viana and María Luisa Góngora Pacheco make up the cast of ''All souls day''.

*Yucatan Cultural Institute
** Yucatan State Fund for Culture and Arts

45 min. - November 1st & 2nd, 20:10 hrs. - Esplanade

''The Messenger of the Child Death'' By Apolonio Mondragón

A stage production by well-known storyteller Apolonio Mondragón where the audience is invited to participate and reflect about death.

This presentation is based on the dialogue between a man an a little girl; he is the one in charge of taking the children from the world of the living to the Xibalbá or Mayan underworld and she is the child death on a swing. There is a cave on stage, a symbol of Xibalbá, and a swing, intertwined with the roots of a great big Ceiba tree.

Between swings and sways, we will hear anecdotes about the life and death experiences of the messenger, the story of Jacinto Canek and his friend the child Guy, see the images of the good child turned into an angel, hear lullabies, and, meanwhile, witness the arrival of some children to the Xibalbá, a place where other adventures await.

Apolonio Mondragón was born in Mexico on April 10, 1965. He studied acting and is a member of the International network of Storytellers. He has presented several projects in the National History Museum ''Castillo de Chapultepec'', the National Anthropology Museum, the National Museum of the Revolution, the National Council for Culture and Arts, ''Wings and Roots for children'', at the HERDEZ Cultural Foundation, among others.

50 min. - November 1st & 2nd, 17:40 y 21:30 hrs. - Chapel of Guadalupe

''Stories about the dead told by the dead'' by Martha de Juana

May Death be with you

Every Day of the Dead, Doña Dolores and Don Alegría, two dead people who are cemetery neighbors and whose names* bare no relation to their real personalities; share an altar and their deathly state.

Doña Dolores is a very optimistic woman and Don Alegría is a man who complains about everything. Their conversation is an account of their lives and how they have experienced death.

This stage production is perfect to watch with the entire family. Martha de Juana and Rubén Salazar tell us their characters´ funny, crazy, tender and passionate stories, which will make us go from tears to laughter and back.

*Her name translates as sorrows and his as happiness or joy.

45 min. - November 1st, 21:10 hrs. - November 2nd, 20:30 hrs. - Main Plaza

''Mexican Voice's'' By Ofelia Medina

Mexican actress, scriptwriter and social activist Ofelia Medina presents a stage production featuring poetry and music that synthesizes her work of the past 20 years: ''Mexican Voices.

Texts by poetess Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, writer Rosario Castellanos and painter Frida Kahlo come together to create this production and promote the artistry of these three Mexican women who are a part of our culture.

The first session is made up by fragments of love poetry written by the 17th century Mexican nun accompanied by the music of Rafael Elizondo.

The show continues presenting Rosario Castellanos, a sensitive woman, a scholar, a student of philosophy and literature who chose to become the voice for those who did not have a voice in her land. Medina takes extracts from a previous stage show ''Intimately, Rosario from Chiapas'' which includes texts from the ''Joyful Mysteries'', ''Leave-taking'', among others.

Frida Kahlo comes at the end, with texts from her diaries and letters. This portrayal, which Ofelia Medina has done several times, will be the closing of the presentation with an allegory about life accompanied by Paola Medina, Federico Luna, Julio Aguilar and Angel Chacón, who also does the musical arrangements for the show.

With this glance by Ofelia Medina into the works of two writers and a painter, there are coincidences that stand out: ''To love dying, to die loving''. The three of them are women who died young, alone and suffering from love.

80 min. - November 1st - 21:30 hrs. & November 2nd - 22:30 hrs. - Open Theater