A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

El Tigre / Juan Darien

Short Play, Drama  /  4w, 4m, 15any gender (youth)

" El Tigre leaves patrons spellbound." - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

El Tigre / Juan Darien

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 4m, 15any gender (youth)
  • Duration
    Duration
    75 Minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy, Adaptations (Literature), Theatre for Young Audiences, Fables/Folktales, Experimental
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences

Details

Summary

This play is based on the folk story "Juan Darien" told by Horacio Quiroja, relating the moralistic value of "a life for a life" and the transformation it creates in the life of the avenger. An animal becomes a human and then reverts back to an animal by an act of revenge. The play can best be told in dramatically en masque with some choreography. It lends itself to musical enhancement of a Latin, jazz/blues, or ethereal Andean flute music.

The text for this work is but the skeleton upon which the work is co-constructed by the performers in a manner more than is true of most plays. Building it out requires music, choreography, magic and masque. It is also an ensemble piece. The story told in the verse should be enacted in dance, e.g.,  in the sequence of death taking off souls of the village, in the jaguar courting scene, in the school scene, in death taking of the Mother etc.  

History
El Tigre was first presented by the University of Texas at Arlington Theatre Arts Program and the Hip Pocket Theatre on December 1, 2001. It was directed by Diane Simons who also designed the costumes. An ensemble cast was used and the performance was choreographed to an improvisational score.
STORYTELLER
MR. JAGUAR
MS. JAGUAR
(KIT) JUAN DARIEN
HUNTER
MOTHER
SNAKE
TEACHER
STUDENT 1
STUDENT 2
STUDENT 3
STUDENT 4
PALLBEARER
CIRCUS BARKER
TRAPEZE ARTIST
KNIFE THROWER
ANIMAL TRAINER
MAYOR
CHILD 1
CHILD 2

NON-SPEAKING CHARACTERS
SENOR
MR. BONES (DEATH)
GRANDMOTHER
GRANDFATHER
MILK MAID
FARMER
HERDSMAN
PRIEST
BRIDE
GROOM
ALTAR BOY
NURSING MOTHER
STUDENTS
TOWNSPEOPLE
TIGERS

Doubling is possible for many speaking and non-speaking roles.

  • Time Period 19th Century
  • Features Fantasy Costumes
  • Additional Features Mime, No intermission, Play w/ Music, Puppetry, Special Effects
  • Duration 75 Minutes
  • Cautions
    • Gun Shots

Media

"El Tigre leaves patrons spellbound." - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Music

  • Musical Style Jazz, Folk
  • Vocal DemandsN/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $65 per performance

Add-Ons

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Authors

E. Thomalen

E. Thomalen's produced plays include Clara’s Christmas Dreams (2004, St. Clements Theatre, New York City); The Metamorphosis, A Play (2003, Jose Quintero Theatre, New York City); El Tigre (2001, U of Texas at Arlington & Bass Performance Art Center, Fort Worth); Dances of Lif ...
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