It’s a new play. It’s queer. It’s trans. I’ve seen some of the artists involved in other projects before, both scripted and improvised, and I enjoyed their work, so… that, plus all the information below adds up to something I want to put on my schedule and would recommend for others as well. If it sounds like it might be your kind of thing, too, give it a try!
La Tunda: A Reimagining of a Colombian Folklore
JexArzayus Productions
Written by Jex Arzayús and Ora Jay
Venue: Mixed Blood
Show Description:
Join Dario on his journey to uncover the truth behind the feared ancient Colombian shapeshifter known as La Tunda. When the daytime shrimp shack turns queer bar at night, Dario faces unexpected realities.
La Tunda is a shapeshifter that lures people into the jungle by looking like a family member or friend. Some say La Tunda entraps its victims in the jungle by feeding them their special shrimp; others say La Tunda kills those who disobey. What La Tunda will you encounter on the MN Fringe stage?
JexArzayús Productions debuts at the Minnesota Fringe Festival with La Tunda: A Reimagining of a Colombian Folklore, told through a queer-Latinx lens. Co-written by Jex Arzayús, who stars as Dario, and Ora Jay, who makes their directorial debut, La Tunda, follows a journey to Colombia to uncover the truth behind the ancient folklore. Blending suspense, humor, and storytelling, the show explores queerness, identity, and cultural roots. Featuring a diverse cast and crew of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and allied artists, this show introduces new folklore to your repertoire with a playful modern spin.
Genre & Content:
Comedy, Drama, Horror, LGBTQIA+ Content
Warnings:
Adult Language, Crude Humor, Abuse/Physical Violence, Loud Noises, Sexual Content, Violence
There’s more monster lore on the More Information tab of their Fringe show page:
What is La Tunda's origin story?
La Tunda is a folklore about a shapeshifting creature that originates from the Pacific coastal region of Colombia and Ecuador, specifically the Chocó department, which is populated by the Indigenous Emberá (Colombia) and Awá (Ecuador), as well as Afro-Colombian people. La Tunda bears similarities with other famous Colombian folklore, including La Pata Sola and La Moana. Queer studies writer, María Amelia Viteri, discusses how "La Tunda is a gender ambiguous character," and a folklore we should look to understand Latinoamericano queer studies. Ibsen Hernández Valencia argues that La Tunda symbolizes resistance and rebellion against colonial oppression in his discussion of emancipation. Due to the nature of oral storytelling, there's no exact moment in history where we can pinpoint the inception of La Tunda; rather, it embodies layers of cultural fusion. Focused on creating a story that centers a trans first-generation American-Colombian, we drew from many retellings of La Tunda, discussions of Latinoamericano queerness, and interpretations as a liberation symbol to craft a reimagined story of La Tunda for the queer Latinx-American 'no sabo' kid, and we are so excited to share it with you!
Also some words of reassurance:
Is the play in Spanish? I don't know Spanish, will I be able to follow?
We recommend this play for individuals who can understand English or those who are bilingual in English and Spanish. The play is primarily in English, and to ensure that all audience members can follow along, we pair the Spanish lines with English lines that provide context for non-Spanish speakers. For all our 'no sabo kids', this play is for you!
Here’s some handy links to my Fringe Top 10, Top 11 to 20 and Returning Favorites lists for this year, as well as all the coverage of this year’s Minnesota Fringe Festival.
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