Heart of the Beast - La Natividad

[pegkerr]

minnehaha very kindly arranged to give us tickets to the In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater's holiday performance of "La Natividad," the gospel according to St. Matthew and St. Luke, performed in English and in Spanish. This production was based on a traditional Latino "La Posada" procession, a tradition that is practiced in many Mexican and Central American communities in the days leading up to Christmas. During that time, people walk in the streets and knock on doors as they sing in the name of heaven. A party is usually hosted in the last home where the people stopped.

Our group started at the Mercado Central, a Latin America cooperative marketplace across the street from the HOTB theater. There, in the little gathering area between the shops, where people sit down to eat their tamales and enchiladas, we saw the humble Maria, standing in line at a tortilla stand just like everyone else, until interrupted by the angelic visitation.





Maria met her cousin Elizabeth, and then put on a puppet mask, turning her face into an icon of serenity, and then met the masked Jose and told him her news.

Maria and Jose were then told that they must go to be counted in the census, and then we all trooped out across the street to the Plaza Verde, where we were herded into rows of benches and given forms to fill out. Bureaucratic census workers began calling out numbers and ordering people to the front to answer questions: "Do you have a job? How many people are in your group? Have you ever been convicted of a crime? Can't you speak English? We're afraid that the census office is closing. Come again with your form tomorrow! Remember, it must be filled out correctly!"

From there, we went into the Heart of the Beast theater, to see the visitation of the heavenly choir to the shepherds:










The three wise men came in, following the star, and explained their search for the Holy child to the suspicious Herod:





Then we trooped out into the street again to join the now larger-than-life Maria and Jose for La Posada.

La Natividad - Maria and Jose Photo by Bruce Silcox

A line of flickering luminaries marked the way down 15th Avenue. It was cold, and we stamped our feet to keep warm as we walked along, humming. Would no one give us shelter?

Jose knocked at one house displaying an American flag on the porch, asking for shelter by the hope of heaven. "Oh, no," cried the woman who answered the door. "You look too suspicious. We can't have you coming in here."

Herod and his minions waited at the "border" a block away. "You cannot pass here! You are not welcome!" But the friends and relatives beyond the border pushed the barrier back, imprisoning the raging Herod in his own fencing.

Then we all trooped gladly into the warmth of St. Paul's Church. The masked iconic Maria and Jose sat in the center, before the alter, and as the cheers and music rose, and the magical animals and the angels carrying the stars and the wise men gathered before them, screening them from our view, the great star rose high and the people cheered--and then watchers all stepped back from the altar, revealing the now fully human Jose and Maria, cradling the very real black-eyed baby Jesus, who looked out in wonder at the lights and the musicians and all the capering animals.

The evening ended with a feast of rice and beans and tortillas, songs in Spanish and English, and pinatas for the children. It was lovely evening, enjoyed by us all.

Comments

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

That sounds wonderful -- and right on my block! I need to get tickets next year.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

We have some rush seats every night, and I think we have been able to accommodate everyone who has wanted to see the show so far. Just come to the theater at about 6, and inquire. There are 3 shows left: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, I think. Check the web site.

It's a beautiful show.

K. [and I am a Guide in it]

[musicbearmn.livejournal.com]

I would have totally enjoyed this. As a funder of HOTB through my work, I know that our grants there do some wonderful things.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

As the secretary for the board of directors of In the Heart of the Beast, I'd like to thank you for your generosity to us. We absolutely depend on individual givers to fund our teaching and performance. Thanks so very very much, and Happy Holidays.

K.

[musicbearmn.livejournal.com]

LOL.....

I'm not an individual donor....I'm the United Arts Campaign Director. :) It's even more fun...

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it.

B

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

We really did! Many thanks again!