The Other Vaccine. Colombian Drama in 3 Acts. E-Book

Diego Hidalgo-Oñate

• Herausgeber: Cervantes Digital
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

"The Other Vaccine" is a captivating Colombian drama in three acts, masterfully penned by Diego Hidalgo-Oñate, adapting the essence of Juan Camilo Betancur's novel "La mujer Agapanto". Set amidst the backdrop of the Colombian armed conflict, this narrative unveils the enduring presence of goodness and beauty amidst a seemingly unyielding atmosphere of violence.

The play introduces us to a rich array of characters, each bearing their own struggles and aspirations. At its core is The Gardener, a gentle soul who cultivates both the earth's produce and the poetry within his heart. His best friend, Mario, adds a layer of lightheartedness to the narrative, a sharp contrast to the looming shadows of conflict and fear.

Central to the tale is Agapanthus, the enigmatic woman who bewitches The Gardener's heart. Her mysterious aura and connection to the agapanthus flower, symbolizing hope and resilience, infuse the play with a sense of wonder and enchantment. Their burgeoning connection unfolds against the backdrop of danger and uncertainty brought forth by the guerrillas, epitomized by the menacing Guerrilla Fighter.

As the drama unfolds, we witness the intertwining of love, loss, and perseverance. The delicate growth of a budding romance between The Gardener and Agapanthus is set against the harsh realities of their conflict-ridden world. The destruction and heartache they endure serve to illuminate the beauty of human resilience and the profound impact of love in the face of adversity.

The play reaches its pinnacle in a moment of both revelation and tragedy, echoing the enduring power of love and the poignant beauty of life's impermanence. The profound and resonant words of Teófilo Méndez capture the bittersweet essence of the human experience, leaving a lasting imprint on the hearts of the audience.

"The Other Vaccine" stands as a poignant testament to the enduring human spirit, the fragility of love, and the transformative power of hope amidst the darkness of conflict. Through poetic dialogues and compelling characters, it brings forth a timeless tale that echoes beyond the stage, leaving a lasting impact on its audience.

Leseprobe

Copyright 2023

Cervantes Digital

All rights reserved

ISBN: 978-1-312-05817-0



"The Other Vaccine"

Colombian Drama in 3 Acts

Diego Hidalgo-Oñate

(Adaptation of the novel "La mujer Agapanto" by Juan Camilo Betancur)

SYNOPSIS:

This play narrates the issues of the Colombian armed conflict from a different perspective: the love stories of its protagonists, understanding love as the antithesis of conflict. In this sense, this is a series that subtly aims to incorporate education for peace, that is, to understand that peoples go through psychosocial processes, similar to personal therapy, requiring acceptance, understanding, and forgiveness of the origin of their suffering to heal their wounds and break free from the vicious cycle they face. As a narrative resource, magical realism is used to visually convey the aesthetic beauty of this literary school, having Gabriel García Márquez as one of its main exponents. This poetic environment serves not only to highlight the absurdity of the conflict but also to vindicate the worldview of rural inhabitants who value things differently, especially the small details, which are challenging to find in today's consumer societies.

CHARACTERS:

The Gardener. A farmer who cultivates vegetables and flowers and enjoys poetry.

Jorge. The Gardener's neighbor, also a cultivator of vegetables.

Mario. The Gardener's best friend.

Agapanthus. The mysterious woman whom The Gardener falls in love with.

Guerrilla Fighter. Character who extorts "vaccine" payments from the farmers.

ACT I

After planting a new agapanthus plant, the Gardener takes out his diary and writes a girl's name. She is the sister of his school friend, who lives across the river. They were his guests, along with Mario, at the birthday party he organized. It was a simple affair, according to his means, but there was no shortage of cane liquor and cumbia. They danced until dawn. The Gardener doesn't remember ever being happier in his life, so he tears the page to put it under his pillow, as if wanting to dream of her. For now, he just wants to be alone and turn the page before asking that girl to be his wife and save him from his agony...

It all begins when the Gardener obtains a packet of seeds from the agricultural supplies store in his small town. It caught his attention because it had a picture of a Dutch landscape with a windmill and brightly colored flowers. The Netherlands leads in floriculture because it's where the main hybridization companies settle, creating new varieties. In his native Colombia, they focus more on cultivation, given that being near the equator and with a homogeneous climate, they can produce in less time and throughout the year. The economic boom of this industry attracted thousands of farmers to the Bogotá savannah in search of work. The Gardener was one of them, leaving his small farm in the mountains of Antioquia to try his luck.

In the flower plantation where he worked, he stood out as a good worker, already having experience planting vegetables, earning him the nickname "Gardener". In the city, he also had access to poetry books, which he could easily get at low prices in the neighborhood book fairs. This melancholic nature and longing for his loved ones accelerated his return. Now, he spends his days between farm chores and reading his favorite authors, although sometimes losing track of time and reality. The beauty of the Guatapé region, where he lives, sets the idyllic stage for this story that borders on the implausible but took place not long ago.

In the month of May, the rains end, marking the beginning of the harvest. The summer months are eagerly anticipated by the townspeople, as it revitalizes their subsistence economy. Sundays are market day when the central square turns into a feast for the senses. The Gardener wakes up early to set up his vegetable and flower stall. People are already coming to buy, eager to get the freshest and largest produce. Our protagonist is surprised to see some empty stalls. The answers he gets when he asks what happened don't surprise him.

Gardener: What happened to the baker? Why hasn't he come to work?

Jorge: Haven't you heard? He had to close his stall.

Gardener: And why is that?

Jorge: Because no one wants to bring raw materials along that treacherous road.

Gardener: Ah, I see.

Jorge: They say he's a plumber now.

Gardener: Poor guy, he doesn't even know how to unclog a pipe.

Here in rural areas, the government is nonexistent. If someone wants to bring water to their farm, they must ask the community for help in a collective effort. Security is also absent. Law enforcement tries to control crime in cities to improve the country's image. They don't come here because they'd be outnumbered by the guerrillas, which haven't disappeared. Remnants of the FARC, M-19, paramilitaries, and self-defense groups still remain. They are the ones who control the territory. This war is far from over. The peace talks have only served to empower these groups. Corruption is deeply rooted everywhere, but there are still honest people.

The Gardener keeps thinking, but then Mario arrives and strikes up a conversation.

Mario: Hey, buddy.

Gardener: Hey, Mario.

Mario: Nothing much, just buying for the week, but everything is small, and I woke up early to buy.

Gardener: Ah, it's just that we had to pay the "vaccine" this week.

Mario: To who, the guerrillas?

Gardener: Who else, but let's not talk too loudly. And what about the ladies?

Mario: The problem with living far from the capital is that there are no new people. It's always the same women, and they all know me already. In the city, I'm sure I'd find new faces at every corner.

Gardener: Everyone here knows you're not a catch.

Mario: Oh, come on! None of them appreciate me.

Gardener: I prefer this place over the city. The little time I spent there was tough. So many people, so much noise, the gardens in the squares full of trash and beer bottles. There's nothing redeeming, well, maybe the central library.

Mario: Oh no, buddy, don't start. Do you ever stop being sentimental?

Gardener: I'll stop when you become a catch.

Mario: Now you're a comedian!

Mario: And what about you? Don't you want to find true love?

Gardener: I'm already in love...

Mario: It can't be! I hope it's not the baker, that woman is crazy.

Gardener: No, I didn't fall in love with her.

Mario: Then who?

Gardener: With the most beautiful flower in my garden.