Missionaries, troubadours and shepherds
By Holly Yasui December 5, 2008 San Miguel de Allende 

IREE Pastorela
Thu, Dec 11, 5pm
The Ring
Hidalgo 25
Donation 50 pesos


IREE fundraiser
Breakthrough
Mon, Dec 15, 5–8pm
The Restaurant
Sollano 16

The Pastorela (little shepherdess) is a Mexican Christmas tradition dating from the colonial period.

At that time, Catholic missionaries in New Spain realized that the indigenous cultures responded more positively to theater than to sermons, so they adapted the medieval European troubadour pastorela play to depict the birth of Christ as announced by shepherds after a struggle between angels and devils. The Mexican pastorela is generally humorous and creative; the basic themes are given but the story details and characters vary depending upon the writer and actors.

The IREE Pastorela, presented to the community every year at the end of the school term in December, engages the energies of all the children.

They not only appear as angels, devils, shepherds and shepherdesses, but also help to write the play and create all the costumes, props and sets. Since the IREE students are deaf, understanding of the spoken word is not necessary, so their pastorela can be enjoyed by non-Spanish speakers as well as nationals. A special treat is a silent rendition of “Silent Night.” Because “black lights” are used, we ask that people in the audience do not wear white, or have a wrap to cover any white clothing.

IREE presents its 2008 Pastorela at The Ring, which contributed its space for the play. A donation to help the school and monthly pledges will be gratefully accepted.

Thanks to the support of the community of San Miguel, IREE has collected enough funds to stay open for at least a couple of months at the beginning of 2009. A major fundraising event, “Breakthrough,” will be held at The Restaurant at Sollano 16. A Friends of IREE support group, including a possible sister school in the US that will send “pennies for pesos” is being formed. For more information, call the school at 152-0913, 9am–1pm (Spanish only) or send an email to iree@unisono.net.mx. 

Athanor Theater Company

Galardiela
Puppets and masks
Sun, Dec 7, noon & 5pm
El Sindicato Casa de las Artes Escénicas
Recreo 4
40 pesos

Athanor the alchemists 

After the success of La Concha last month, Athanor Theater Company returns to San Miguel with Galadriela. The play explores the creative power of mankind with rich symbolism and music by Paul Horn, Stravinsky and Bartók.

Company director Claudio Kremaria invites others to join the Athanor company. “We all can do theater—it’s all about discovering creativity. The most important thing is to have the desire to live life and set free our inner child and have fun. Athanor is ‘the alchemist’s furnace’ where creativity and emotions are transmuted and the result is theater.”