Hudson playwright's theme is human rights in Cuba By Summer Dawn Hortillosa The Jersey Journal August 30, 2013
Local playwright and director Alex Perez’s 15-year journey to find his roots has blossomed into a new play coming up in New York. Perez — who was born in Jersey City, grew up in Union City and lives in North Bergen — found out while researching his Cuban family’s history that his grandfather was held as a political prisoner.
“It opened up my ears and eyes,” said the 39-year-old. “In the late 60’s, there were these camps that Fidel Castro put aside for anybody he deemed unfit for society. They’d live in prison cells and work in labor camps.
“I fell in love with the human rights issues in these stories and newspaper clippings and wanted to write a fable representing the voices of the people,” he said.
The result is “Julian and Romero,” a tale of two young Cuban men set in one of these camps. One of them is a communist soldier under Castro’s revolution and the other a closeted gay man. While the two were best friends growing up, they are now at odds with each other’s beliefs.
Perez hopes the play educates audiences about important social and political issues.
“I don’t think a lot of younger generations really understand what has been going on in conflict between Cuba and the U.S. This exposes a lot of the darker side of the political sphere,” said Perez. “And even though it’s set in Cuba, it’s more of a universal message. This play eerily resembles what’s going on right now in Russia where they are putting people in prison for their beliefs. “This play is to wake audiences up about human rights and awakening the senses” he said. “There’s a lot of connection to what’s going on right now and it’s important to share.”
The show will also feature Cuban music, dance and culture. “We have music from artists of the time, some well-known and some obscure ... and our dream sequences evolve into dance,” he said. “So many newer generations were not exposed to that and for me it was about finding my roots and reconnecting.”
“Julian and Romero” opens as part of the Dream Up Festival Tuesday at 9 p.m. at the Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave., New York City and runs through Sept. 8. Tickets are $12. For information visit DreamUpFestival.org/JulianRomero.html.
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