"Rhinoceros" by Pangea World Theater at the Southern Theater

"I am not capitulating!" The final line of Eugene Ionesco's absurdist masterpiece Rhinoceros, and in fact the entire play (written in response to the rise of Fascism in pre-WWII Europe), have never felt more relevant. I first saw this play in early 2017 as a response to the first Trump presidency (7th House Theatre's "pop up production"), and again the following year at Theatre in the Round. It felt so timely and urgent then, but here we are eight years later, and everything is so much worse. All around us people are turning into rhinoceroses, falling in line, and trampling over the things we hold most dear. Millions of Americans protested across the country in the "Hands Off" protests last weekend, and Pangea World Theater is doing their part by mounting a production of this important allegory. With a strong ten-person cast, it's well-staged at the gorgeous Southern Theater, and feels like it was written for this moment. A handful of performances remain over the next two weekends - click here for info and tickets.

"Homo Dramaticus" by Teatro del Pueblo and Pangea World Theater at the Southern Theater

Teatro del Pueblo and Pangea World Theater are combining their resources and talents for their new production of Homo Dramaticus, a series of three short plays by Argentinian playwright Alberto Adellach. Written in response to the Dirty War in Argentina (disclaimer: pretty much everything I know about Argentinian politics is from the musical Evita), these plays are a bleak look at the war and violence in his world, and in ours. They're written in the absurdist style, which means they're not so much narrative stories as a series of characters, scenes, images, feelings. It's beautifully acted and directed, and gorgeously designed. And while I didn't always understand what was happening, this production succeeds in evoking feeling of grief, horror, and dismay at the violence that seems to be intertwined with all of human history. This short run concludes on Sunday, with just three more performances at the Southern Theater.

"Hecuba" by Pangea World Theater

Last month, I had the pleasure of interviewing Pangea World Theater's General Manager Adlyn Carreras and Production Manager Suzanne Victoria Cross, along with my fellow blogger Julie from Minnesota Theater Love, for our podcast Twin Cities Theater Chat (listen here or wherever you listen to podcasts). It truly was eye-opening to learn about all of the programs that this organization offers, in addition to what we traditionally think of as theater. I found them to be incredibly thoughtful and passionate about the work of community building and lifting up diverse voices. With this as their foundation, it's no wonder that the theater they create is relevant and inclusive and has something to say about our world. Such is Hecuba, a millennia old story retold by modern day Irish playwright Marina Carr, whose By the Bog of Cats, a loose retelling of Medea, was produced by Theatre Pro Rata last year. Similar to that play, this Hecuba reimagines a mythical figure as a real, flawed, relatable woman who is trying to survive in unimaginable circumstances. The history of the world is a history of war, violence (often towards women), and genocide, and unfortunately the daily news is also littered with such stories. This mythical story about the brutality of war, set at the end of the Trojan War, is all too relevant. It's a beautifully written play, and Pangea's regional premiere production features a strong cast, effective elements of physical theater, and a sparsely beautiful design set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Southern Theater, all elements combining for a powerful and sobering experience.

"Mother Courage and Her Children" by Pangea World Theater at the Lab Theater

Pangea World Theater began in 1995 with the following mission: "Pangea illuminates the human condition, celebrates cultural differences, and promotes human rights by creating and presenting international, multi-disciplinary theater." Inexplicably, I have not seen any of their work until last weekend. I'm happy to jump on board with their thoughtful and thought-provoking production of German playwright Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children, performed at the gorgeous Lab Theater in Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood. Written at the start of WWII, it tells the story of a woman and her children during Europe's 17th Century Thirty Years' War, but its themes translate to any and all wars occurring around the world. Specifically the way some parties seek out war and encourage it because of the profits that can be gained, while others pay the ultimate price. A strong ten-person ensemble and cool design elements effectively tell this important story.