Zorro in Hell

Zorro in Hell is a satiric play by Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza, collectively known as Culture Clash. It is a profile of the legendary hero Zorro from a Latino viewpoint.

Zorro in Hell
MusicCulture Clash
LyricsCulture Clash
BasisZorro

The play had its initial productions at Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the La Jolla Playhouse in 2006. It then ran at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood from July 11 - August 19, 2007.[1]

Characters
  • Nameless writer
  • Don Ringo the first Chicano
  • Kyle the Therapist Bear
  • Whiskey Pete the desperado
  • Austrian governor
  • 200-year-old woman

Reception

Bob Verini of Variety said the play "is overlong and not as consistently funny as it wants to be, largely because of the troupe's habit of site-specific name-dropping as a substitute for wit."[2]

Tony Taccone, artistic director of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre described Zorro in Hell as a "bold piece of agitational propaganda" in a world capable of change. Taccone also analyzed the protagonist's humanity and role as a professional Fool.[3]

Anne Marie Welsh of the San Diego Union-Tribune discussed the play's development in California's political climate from 2003-2005. Welsh notes the potential tension caused by the 2003 election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of California and the 2005 election of Antonio Villaraigosa as the first Mexican American Mayor of Los Angeles in 130 years. According to Siguenza of Culture Clash, the play asks "Who is a terrorist and who is a hero? Who is a Californian?"[4]

Karen D'Souza of the Knight Ridder Tribune critiqued the middle of the play for its overuse of pop references and racial stereotypes. D'Souza noted that the play "starts and ends so explosively, you almost forget that the center is a mess."[5]

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References
  1. "Playbill.com, July 11, 2007". Playbill.com. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  2. Verini, Bob (2007-07-22). "Variety, July 22, 2007". Variety.com. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  3. Taccone, Tony (2007). "Culture clash's zorro in hell: An introduction". TheatreForum. 30: 74–76. ProQuest 222767834.
  4. Welsh, Anne Marie (September 29, 2006). "A new stab at 'Zorro' - Theatre troupe's zany satire of sword-wielding hero has a serious edge as well". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  5. D'Souza, Karen (March 24, 2006). "Erratic 'Zorro' finally hits mark: Culture Clash's new satire loses its way in messy middle section". Knight Ridder Tribune Business News. ProQuest 461217562.
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