Theatre Three presents The Butterfly’s Evil Spell
Written by Federico Garcia Lorca
Translated and adapted by Dante Flores
Directed by Danielle Georgiou, Ph.D.
Music direction and composition by Danny Anchondo Jr.
Assistant Director Alejandro Saucedo
Scenic Designer Jeffrey Schmidt
Choreography by Ani Vera
Additional choreography by Danielle Georgiou, Ph.D.
Lighting Designer Ryan Burkle
Costume Designer Aaron Patrick DeClerk
Sound Designer/Composer Danny Anchondo, Jr.
Cast
Omar Padilla
Leslie Marie Collins
Bradley Campbell
Natalie Young
Shawn Gann
Bethany Mejorado
Elizabeth Evans
Rudy Lopez
Stage Manager Leah Fitzgerald
Production Assistant
Kendalynn Clemons
My thoughts on The Butterfly’s Evil Spell at Theatre Three or…so this is a bug’s life.
Entering the world of The Butterfly’s Evil Spell, one of Federico Garcia Lorca’s earliest works, is like stepping into someone else’s dream. The dream is beguiling, disturbing, sexy, funny, poetic, thought provoking. and a feast for the eyes and ears. It’s other worldly, but really as close by as the ground beneath our feet.
All the characters in the play are insects that Lorca anthropomorphizes. They have all the same emotions we do in their ephemeral lives. The story is deceptively simple, but elevated by Lorca’s poetic language, translated and adapted beautifully by Dante Flores.
A sensitive cockroach boy, played with heartbreaking youthful angst by Omar Padilla, lives with his mother portrayed by Leslie Marie Collins, in yet another superb performance on the Norma Young Arena stage. The boy is being pursued by Silvia, a roach girl played with exuberant earnestness by Bethany Mejorado, but he is not interested. Instead, he falls for a winsome wounded butterfly brought to life (and death) portrayed by Natalie Young whose butterfly is an appealing mix of a flower child and Stevie Nicks. Others in the allegorical fable are the always impressive Shawn Gann who appears as both a threatening scorpion and Silvia’s mother and Bradley Campbell who is a commanding presence as the witch roach/shaman. Elizabeth Evans and Rudy Lopez are also invaluable to the production as they portray numerous characters making them all distinct and add much fun to the evening. Indeed, many of the actors play more than one character in this Our Town for entomologists.
Jeffrey Schmidt’s set with its towering flower, plants, and giant-sized detritus from the human world and Ryan Burkle’s mood conjuring lighting add to the dream like atmosphere of the play as do Aaron Patrick DeClerk’s inventive costumes. Music Director Danny Anchondo Jr has composed some wonderful music and songs and Choreographer Ani Vera provides the choreography with a stunning hypnotically erotic dance by the butterfly.
Dr. Danielle Georgiou directs with a deft hand here and mines all the humor, pathos, and beauty in the play. She keeps the play visually appealing, and her years of choreographic experience are evident in the way she so expertly uses the arena space and has her characters move.
I was charmed by The Butterfly’s Evil Spell and it made me wish I was more fluent in Spanish. Mariposa is a much more beautiful word than butterfly and to hear the play in Lorca’s original language must truly be enchanting. There is much to enjoy and savor in this splendid production and thanks to Theatre Three for bringing this rarely produced work to DFW.
