The Copper Children—Oregon Shakespeare Festival—Ashland, OR

                                                “Journey of Tears”

    This searing, dramatic, true story is written by Karen Zacarias and directed by Shariffa Ali.  It is a world premiere at the Bowmer Theatre, playing, in repertory, through October 31^st.  For more information, go to their site at www.osfashland.org or call 1-800-219-8161.

    Intrigue, mystery, intolerance, hatred, lies, family dynamics, religious prejudice, poverty, children torn from homes, disasters, alienation, class struggles, loss of innocence…all ingredients for a soap opera?  No, a true story of another ugly time in our history, where minorities were discriminated against (continuing through to this day).

    In our country’s infancy, this intolerance for other cultures, was present even then, by our treatment of the Native Americans, African Americans, Japanese Americans (being the most glaring example) et. al., and now with Hispanics and Latinos, seeking a better life.  If we haven’t solved the problems of the Past, we are bound to repeat them…and so we do, ad nauseum.  “When will [we] ever learn…”  It seems, never.

 

    And yet, there is a glimmer of hope…a rainbow in the distance…with our young folks, who seem to be wiser than the adults leading them.  Those young men and women, who are speaking out for environmental change, ending violence against women, advocating for stricter gun laws, et. al.…those people I applaud…for maybe they can make a difference for the future of this planet…maybe, just maybe….  Our very existence depends on it!

    This complex story takes place over several years, from the 1800’s to the present day, chiefly in New York and Arizona.  To give a thumb-nail sketch of it, it seems that an abundance of Irish folks, because of the famine in their country many years ago, were coming in droves to America, leaving many orphans to be cared for by the Catholic orphanages, but they were soon overwhelmed.  So, a caring businessman, Mr. Swayne (Armando Duran), sought to place them in good, Catholic homes, primarily out West in Arizona.

    He was assured by Father Mandin (Eddie Lopez) there, and the Sisters, Francis (Sarita Ocon) and Anna (Carla Pantoja), that they would indeed go to good Catholic homes, and did, in the Mexican-American community, primarily Catholic, who worked in the Copper mines.  One such family, Margarita (Caro Zeller) and her husband Cornelio (Christopher Salazar), and their cousin, Gloria (Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey), were without children and happily took in a red-headed baby named Katie.  But the white, primarily Protestant, families were having none of this mixing of the races.  One such family, also childless, was the supervisor of the mines, Charles (Rex Young), and his wife, Lottie (Kate Hurster).  Many painful episodes would occur and finally, a trial was held to determine custody of the children.  You’ll just have to see it for yourselves the many conflicts, and the conclusion to the story.

    Like I said, a hugely complex story over several years, told in a rather short playing time.  But Ali has managed to pull it together, with a small cast playing several roles, and yet they do manage to make it understandable.  Bravo!  The story, too, is topical, with all the strife going on with undocumented people in our country and more at the borders seeking asylum...and no clear solution in sight… “when will it ever end….”

    Kudos to the actors, as they have a monumental task in playing at least three roles each.  Zeller and Hurster standing out as the chief adversaries in this battle for the children’s future (and souls?).  Both very convincing and powerful in the characters they portray.  And the set, by Mariana Sanchez, and Lighting, by Stacey Derosier, made to resemble (to me) like a giant Erector set of old, or a jigsaw puzzle, with pieces missing…under construction…waiting for the creator’s hand to smooth it out and make sense of it all.

    I recommend this play.  If you do choose to see it, please tell them Dennis sent you.

--DJS

LITHIA PARK:  You can’t leave Ashland without visiting the beauty of the natural wonders contained here.  Next to OSF and going on for a couple of miles of trees, trails and creeks, is a tribute to Nature.  There are picnic grounds, a duck pond, a playground and, as I said, plenty of trails for hiking and jogging.  Do not leave Ashland without experiencing it!