In the Milwaukee Rep’s Espejos: Clean, the story isn’t just split between two characters, but two languages.
Spanish-speaking Adriana (played by Regina Carregha) is the director of maid services at a Cancún resort, and English-speaking Sarah (played by Dylan Brown) is the sister of the bride at a destination wedding. Their lives and tragic pasts converge during a heavy storm.
“I’m always looking for the emotional truth,” says director Juliette Carrillo. “Regina, who is a Mexican national, actually worked as a maid in that part of the world. It’s a nice connection that she’ll bring to the room.”
Espejos, written by Christine Quintana, is the Rep’s first fully bilingual play in an effort to reach more local Spanish-speaking audiences. Promotional materials are in both languages, and supertitles will translate the dialogue in Stiemke Studio.
“If I’m doing my job right,” Carrillo says, “audience members will be lost in the storytelling and not even notice that they’re reading the words.”
Espejos: Clean runs April 8-May 11 at Stiemke Studio.
