Native son, native culture
Play about Portuguese immigrant experience comes home
By David B. Boyce, Standard-Times Correspondent
While Greater New Bedford is known for the diversity of its visual artists, especially in the last few years, the SouthCoast has also spawned several writers, with a few playwrights among them. Produced and directed under the aegis of New Bedford's Culture*Park, and sponsored by the UMass Dartmouth Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture and the New Bedford Cultural Council, "Amarelo," a play by New Bedford native Paulo A. Pereira will have a two-performance run, at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. "Amarelo" will be staged in Room 153, the recital hall of the College of Visual and Performing Arts building on the UMass Dartmouth main campus. The Sunday matinee performance will be followed by a discussion with the show's author, Mr. Pereira, director Patricia A. Thomas of Culture*Park, and the play's cast members. Ms. Thomas first became aware of Mr. Pereira when he was a student at Bishop Stang High School and she was directing its drama club. After his graduation, Mr. Pereira went on to MIT, where he held a double major, one in theater arts. "The play originated there as Paulo's thesis work," Ms. Thomas states, "and about five years ago, when he was living in New York, there was a production of it mounted there. When I read it, I thought it had such a significant amount to say about the Portuguese immigrant experience in New Bedford that it was a natural for us to produce it locally." "It's a memory play about making life choices," Ms. Thomas continued, "and it's about home life, family expectations, and our connections to our native cultures. We all have our own versions of this kind of story, so everyone can relate to it. Its universal messages are strong." Though Ms. Thomas stresses that "Amarelo" is an ensemble piece that requires a well-meshed cast, its focus is the tale of a passionate Azorean woman named Conceicao, who struggles to achieve her dreams through the unexpected joys and sorrows of her life. Asked about how she is staging the play, Ms. Thomas replies, "Well, the physical production is done simply, with a minimum of sets and costumes, which puts the onus on the actors. It's a sweet story and the simplicity here works to its benefit. Ivone Rego is the assistant director of the play, and her insights have been very helpful." Three local performers in the cast are Shannon Gracia as Natalia, Michael Ventura as Lu�s, and Matthew Lecuyer as Manuel. Both hailing from Providence, Susan Perfetto plays Conceicao, and Ben Jolivet is Alexandre. Rounding out the cast is actor Fred Cabral, a New Bedford native living in New York City, who plays the Man. Asked what he feels the reaction of the Greater New Bedford audience will be to "Amarelo," Mr. Pereira is hopeful, generous and direct. "Some Azorean-American members of my parents' generation may see parallels to their own experience, but others may have a very different reaction. As a writer, it would be a benefit to the Azorean-American community if contrary reactions to 'Amarelo' prompted people to write their own experiences. I feel we need more representative writers from our community, especially writing in English, to help build stronger bridges to the larger English-speaking community and to get our stories out there. I hope the play is inspiring for all who see it." Mr. Pereira and his wife now live outside Boston and are expecting their first child soon, which will likely alter their lives. Will this development affect his writing? "I don't write as much now as I once did, but I do pen some poems and lyrics occasionally," Mr. Pereira states. "Theater keeps re-entering my life in somewhat unexpected ways. Last year, I produced MIT's first-ever alumni show, and now this New Bedford (area) production of 'Amarelo.' If I were to devote more time to writing, it would probably be play writing." Tickets for the Culture*Park production of Paulo A. Pereira's "Amarelo" are priced at $5 and can be purchased at the door, or reservations can be arranged by calling Culture*Park at (508) 990-7779.