TERESA'S ECSTASY - Synopsis:
En route to Avila, Spain, for a writing assignment, Carlotta and her enamored New York magazine publisher, Becky, make a stop-over in Barcelona, where Carlotta attempts to reconcile with her estranged artist/husband, Andrés. They unexpectedly have to delay their stay due to lost luggage. After clever bantering, sprinkled with subtle chauvinist innuendoes, the deep-seated differences are revealed, proving laughter, food and lust insufficient. Carlotta and Becky continue on their journey of inquiry to Avila. It is inside the 16th Century walled city, surrounded by mysticism and Saint Teresa's feminist message that Becky and Carlotta accept their feelings for each other. Forced to return for their luggage, Carlotta’s confession of love to Andrés, the staunch self-proclaimed atheist, is met with sanctimonious judgment, and unrelenting regret, but by now it is too late.
Through this triangular dynamic truth is uncovered, which language, culture, gender, religious or political beliefs can't resist as the heart has no boundaries.
Saint Teresa was an empowered Sixteenth Century mystic, and a heroine of the highest order. During a time when the Inquisition was in its fervor, and the Saint’s spirituality could easily have been interpreted as heresy, she single-handedly reformed a branch of the Catholic church; the Discalced Carmelite Order, returning to its strict original intentions of fraternity, silent prayer, and service.
This story is of the collective unconscious, searching for the female, intuitive, caring mother.
Teresa's Ecstasy is about the female architype (caring, nurturing, creator) versus the male architype (destroyer, deserter, punisher). We all have both archetypes, so keep in mind, it's not man against woman. Carlotta becomes inspired by the message of Saint Teresa of Avila and begins to look at her self differently. While she explores the Saint's life as a writer, she realizes the parallels with her own personal experiences.
TERESA'S ECSTASY had an Off-Broadway production, March 4 through April 1st, 2012, at the historical Cherry Lane Theatre, under the artistic direction of Angelina Fiordelisi.
“Beware of having unintended spiritual epiphanies. Begonya Plaza’s new play, TERESA’S ECSTASY, is about the unexpected influence of Saint Teresa of Avila, a 16th-century Carmelite nun, on modern-day Carlotta, a Spanish writer… The well-written, touching and often funny drama…” Jennifer Farrar, Associated Press
“…TERESA’S ECSTASY, a sumptuous three-person comic drama about sex, love and spirituality…” Erasmo Guerra, New York Daily News
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
"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, and worldly justice."
Photographs by Anya Garrett and Teresa Plaza - 2012
Linda Larkin, Jack Sharkey, and Begonya Plaza
Albert Carbonell & Jim Weiner
REVIEWS:
Barry Gifford, Begonya Plaza & Willem Dafoe
Darmia, Donna Murphy, Begonya, 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
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.
"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