Three character full length play, takes place at the home of Andrés in Barcelona as the two women arrive from New York on their way to Avila, Spain.
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TERESA'S ECSTASY at the Cherry Lane Theatre
TERESA'S ECSTASY is a play that explores a mystical journey of change and defiance as opposing sexually charged forces look at love, politics and religion. The setting is Barcelona, where boundaries of culture, race and language dissolve as tolerance awakens within this provocative USA/Iberian triangle.
Directed by Will Pomerantz
Produced by Jack Sharkey & Jim Weiner
Starring Shawn Elliott, Linda Larkin and Begonya Plaza
CHERRY LANE THEATRE
under the direction of Angelina Fiordellisi
Avila Productions LLC presents By Special Arrangement with The Cherry Lane Theatre
Featuring music by Albert Carbonell
AGENT: Lawrence Harbison - LHarbison1@nyc.rr.com
PUBLISHER: Broadway Play Publishing, Inc. Tel: 212-772-8334 www.broadwayplaypubl.com
Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City. March 4 - April 1, 2012 photograph by Teresa Plaza
Carlotta is a New York writer, who influenced by the life of Saint Teresa of Avila, travels with her magazine publisher, Becky, a Jew of Sephardic ancestry, to Spain to write a story about the 16th century mystic nun.
On their way to Avila, the women make a one-night stopover in Barcelona to visit, Andrés, Carlotta’s estranged Catalán, artist husband. Carlotta, needing to resolve her marital issues has brought divorce papers to sign, if by chance they’re needed.
Carlotta’s suitcase with divorce papers inside gets lost in flight which forces the women to return again after their planned week in Avila. But before leaving to Avila, Carlotta and Andrés spend the night alone together after Becky painstakingly pretties herself up for a night out on the town with her local business partner, having completely annoyed Andrés. Through Carlotta and Andrés’ customary liberal intellectual banter, food, wine, and search for what they really want, revelations surface making obvious the comical yet painful kind of forced gender power struggle between these two fragile beings in denial.
Upon the women’s return from Avila, Andrés, resolved to save his relationship with Carlotta, finds to his surprise that it's now too late, the women have fallen in love. Andrés' disparaging reaction to this uncommon union proves that he's not as liberal and open minded as he had so proudly advertised himself to be, or maybe that it's just the logical extreme response for protecting his grieving heart, and macho wounded ego.
The women defend their conviction of love as being pure, and convinced that Saint Teresa, has blessed their genuine transformation, they embark back to New York as true free redeemed spirits.
"Free spirits, are always ready to attack their fundamental beliefs and assumptions, to question their very identity freeing themselves from the prejudices of others." Nietzsche
Becky: "St. Teresa says that God defends true love, above church, worldviews or anything oppressive."
Photographs by Anya Garrett and Teresa Plaza - 2012
Linda Larkin, Jack Sharkey, and Begonya Plaza
Albert Carbonell & Jim Weiner
REVIEWS:
Barry Giffor, Begonya Plaza & Willem Dafoe
Darmia, Donna Murphy, Begonya Plaza, Robert Rose, Shawn Elliott, Linda Larkin, & Yul Vazquez
David Grossman, Ashley Fellman, Xanthe Elbrick, Begonya Plaza & Jack Sharkey
LINKS to other reviews & feature stories:
CAT RADIO CAFE interview with Begonya and Albert March 12, 2012
THE JEWISH WEEK - TERESA'S ECSTASY
T&B ON THE AISLE A THEATRE DIARY
ZACKCALHOON PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW
ADAM SZYMKOWICZ INTERVIEW WITH PLAYWRIGHTS
ZACKCALHOON INTERVIEWS SHAWN ELLIOTT
Opening Night Reception is sponsored by Socarrat Paella Bar Nolita
A letter from our Executive Director:
"There's a little miracle about to be worked March 4th through April 1st at New York City's historic, magnificently renovated Cherry Lane Theatre in the form of a world premiere comedy/drama entitled TERESA'S ECSTASY, penned by and co-starring Begonya Plaza. She sharing the stage with Shawn Elliott and Linda Larkin, the esteemed Will Pomerantz at our directorial helm.
TERESA'S ECSTASY stands among some twenty theatrical endeavors I've been honored to help make possible since donning my "angel wings" in late middle-age, that once-pastime quickly evolved into a most gratifying second career, one which you've enthusiastically and graciously supported in recent years by means of your attendance and/or prayers and well-wishes.
This project bodes my most ambitious commitment to date, a beautiful, bold creation whose journey I've been proud to walk from developmental infancy to full fruition.
Beyond your valued presence as audiencemembers, I'm privileged to extend an invitation to join me as full participants in this worthy venture.
Kindly visit TERESA'S ECSTASY, there meeting our phenomenal cast and creative team, there likewise linking to our IndieGoGo wherein you may make a tax-deductible contribution, qualifying you as a full-fledged member of "Team Ecstasy," perks included, the ultimate benefits of which you'll realize, deeply so, in mind and heart when the curtain rises on a much-anticipated four-week run, your role as benefactor as vitally essential as the those played out on stage.
Additionally, please search "Avila Productions" and "like" our Facebook fanpage entitling you to updates and behind-the-scenes information as we progress.
With heartfelt wishes, I thank you in advance while welcoming you to the magic which is TERESA'S ECSTASY."
Most warmly...
Jack.
Video by Ryan Garrison and Taji Ameen - 2012
TERESA'S ECSTASY is a play that explores a mystical journey of change and defiance as opposing sexually charged forces look at love, politics and religion. The setting is Barcelona, where boundaries of culture, race and language dissolve as tolerance awakens within this provocative USA/Iberian triangle.
INTAR theatre produced three "29 Hour" workshop readings of "Teresa's Ecstasy". These are some of the audience responses:
"I will keep in mind ways that i can keep word out about your play, "Teresa's Ecstasy, which was simply phenomenal: it is about so many things, but what really struck me is the way it speaks to tensions both past and present, for instance those between physical and spiritual, feminine and masculine, lesbian and straight, Christian and Jew. But in speaking to them, it never does so in an abstractly explicit way, it hints at them, speaks them, plays with them, lets these tensions push in whatever directions they need to go, such that one sees something both intellectually intense and absolutely personal. It was, in any case, a pleasure to watch." Daniel Barber PhD - professor at Marymount Manhattan College and La Guardia CC
"Stunning play, full of wit, fire, and most especially, revelation: in relation to the other, the past, one's heart, and the divine. A must-see!!!" Naomi Stone PhD Candidate in Cultural Anthropology, Columbia University
"The Play will be on Broadway - evokes emotions like Pinter's "Betrayal". Dana Blanchard
"What a wonderful play you've written! Thought provoking, stimulating! Really enjoyed myself last night. Your actors were terrific too. Continued success tomorrow night so people can spread the word about "Teresa's Ecstasy". Good luck and God bless! xo Mercedes Hall - Cabaret Singer
"Shawn: “Teresa’s Ecstasy” stands as probing a psychological treatment as it is thoroughly engaging entertainment. In the reading experience one bonded instantaneously with each of the characters, actually projecting far forward envisioning a full production featuring “these very actors, please God.” The lead question the play poses for me is “When a man loves a woman unreservedly, how much of himself is he willing to sacrifice to ensure her happiness to the detriment of his own?” What touched me throughout was the consistently limitless depth to which Andres worships Carlotta and the absolute extremes he’ll employ in an effort to win her back despite, in truth, never having lost her… not really. I look forward to Teresa’s Ecstasy’s eventual fully-staged realization, one in which the visual artistic imagery can only beautifully complement the magnificence of the words we heard so vividly brought to life by means of your exceptional, and generous talents. Peace, Jack" Jack Sharkey - theater producer and our first generous supporter.
SCULPTURE- Bernini is praised for his synthesis of sculpture, painting, and architecture. The church was extended so that a hidden window could be added to cast light upon the sculpture, as if from the Holy Spirit. Cherubs painted on the entrance arch bear a banner inscribed with the words Jesus spoke in one of Teresa's visions: "If I had not created heaven, I would create it for you alone."
ANGEL - "He was not tall, but short, and very beautiful," related Teresa of her vision, "his face so aflame that he appeared to be one of the highest types of angel who seem to be all afire."
SWOON - Bernini brings all the passion and rapture of Teresa's story to represent, perhaps for the first time, the now-immortalized image of a swoon: head thrown back, eyelids half-closed, mouth slightly open as she moans in ecstasy.
GARMENTS - Teresa is covered in monastic habit, yet through Bernini's genius, the heavy garments reveal rather than conceal Teresa's internal state.
FOOT - Her dangling bare foot is emblematic of the Disclaced ("Shoeless") Carmelites, the reformed religious order Teresa founded (from Matthew 10:10, "no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick").
CLOUDS - In translating Teresa's mystical vision into stone, Bernini first captured Teresa's reports of levitation by having her borne on a bank of marble clouds. (The clouds are hollow, to decrease the weight of the wall-mounted sculpture.)
You may also contact me directly with inquiries regarding: "Teresa's Ecstasy" E-mailing me at: begonya@begonyaplaza.com
