ICRARIZA: “‘Traficantes de pasión’: Perversion and love-hate relationships in Akuara Teatro”, por Elvira de las Casas

Yvonne Lopez Arenal -director of Miami’s theater group Akuara Teatro- is also the author of ‘Traficantes de pasión’ (Passion Dealers), a play based on ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos and ‘Quartet’ by Heiner Müller (considered by many to be the most important German dramatist of 20th century after Bertolt Brecht.)
It’s amazing to see the way she has combined on stage the charm of the 18th century, taken from Chordelos’ drama, with the postmodern influence of Müller, although the characters never refer to a particular point in time. The play is an absolute feast for the eyes thanks to the plastic movements of the actors –Yvonne Lopez Arenal, Carlos Alberto Perez, and Joan Vega– and the scenery and costumes by Alba Borrego. Each actor takes on different roles and the transitions from one to another give the performances a sense of playfulness, thanks to the use of ornate original masks.