The House of Ramon Iglesia
Despite the fact that Jose River’s The House of Ramon Iglesia is set in 1980’s New York, for Stephen Multari (who plays Javier, the Americanised son of a pair of Puerto Rican immigrants) the play “is very important now”.
The play grapples with the often complex relationship between parents of immigrants and their children, as well as on the persistence of racism – even coming from those who have experienced it for themselves. Multari says, in watching the piece, “we would like to think that we’ve come a long way, but [that’s] not necessarily the case! It’s a little scary.”
Presented by MopHead Productions (who have enjoyed great success with their shows in the past), this is the second play they have chosen to produce by Jose Rivera.
“I just think he’s such a fantastic playwright,” says Multari. “He just understands language, and humans, and his relationships are so detailed.” Multari acknowledges there’s something inherent in MopHead’s choice of productions, saying, “…[W]e’re drawn to pieces that really make us feel. I’m aware of how cliché that can soud,” he laughs. “But I think at the end of the day, it’s got to be all about the story and whether it’s a piece that speaks to us.”
May 12 – June 6, Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo. Tickets $22 – $32, www.oldfitztheatre.com
