In the words of Director Robin Lane
I was looking for a story or fable to make into a show. Around that same time I heard about Gaviotas and read Alan Weisman's book Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World. I wasn't intending to use a true story for this show, but Gaviotas captivated me. While reading, often stopping to sob for no apparent reason, I became aware of the power of stories to change the way we feel about our own lives. This was a true story about the existence of a village actually governed by the values I believe in, in a country much more troubled and dangerous than ours. This story renewed my waning optimism. These kind of stories do not get to be center stage. We are inundated with the opposite kind of information.
I wanted to put the story of Gaviotas center stage.
I think this story is not only a story of hope, it is the story of creativity itself. The process that began in Gaviotas over 30 years ago, and is still evolving today, is the closest thing I've read to my understanding of the process of making art.
I wanted to learn more about these people.
In October 2003 I went to a three day event in Colorado entitled "Conversations About Community." A conversation with Paolo Lugari and forty people from around the world who were working to create community, sustainability, or art. Some of Paolo's words in this show and my reflection on them come from my transcription of that experience. Karin Stein, who grow up in Los Llanos, the region of Colombia where Gaviotas is, agreed to create the music, as a way of going home. Joan Szymko's music to Mary Oliver's words provided the perfect complement for the show. Author Alan Weisman gave us visuals, information, and invaluable feedback about the script, as did his wife, dramaturge and sculptor Beckie Kravetz.
Creating a show about the Gaviotans process of collaboration, trial and error, and play, while doing the same, was pure delight.
– Robin Lane |
Welcome to ¡Entusiasmo!
Foreword written by Karin Stein, author of this Study Guide.
When you see the show, you will experience a superb production that combines skillful acrobatics, live music, gorgeous visuals, and a gripping storyline.
¡Entusiasmo! tells a real story. Las Gaviotas - the community portrayed in ¡Entusiasmo! - has existed in the savannas of eastern Colombia since 1971 for the purpose of developing sustainable technology, establishing innovative health care and social programs, and engaging in extensive ecosystem restoration.
Las Gaviotas has adjusted to the ebbs and flows of the global economy and Colombia's serious internal problems for over 35 years, solidly establishing itself as one of the world's foremost examples of sustainable living, and as a hugely important contributor to inexpensive, sustainable technology for the poor regions of the world.
Colombian visionary and development specialist Paolo Lugari has been the tireless driving force behind Las Gaviotas, assisted over the years by talented teams of engineers, dreamers, thinkers, teachers, doctors, agronomists, and all-around enthusiastic problem solvers who thrive on taking on challenges and finding practical solutions.
When asked by director Robin Lane: "What has kept you going for so long?", Paolo Lugari thought for a moment and responded: "¡Entusiasmo!" ("Enthusiasm!"). Thus, the seed for this marvelous production was planted.
Karin Stein is a musician who composed several of the songs featured in "¡Entusiasmo!" She is also a member of the ensemble "Los Llaneros," which provides live music in the show.
Stein, a native Colombian, grew up in the Colombian Llanos or savannas, not far from Las Gaviotas. Find out more about her musical ensembles at http://www.artes-latines.com
A Note about the " ¡ ! " of ¡Entusiasmo!
In Spanish, exclamations are always opened with an upside-down exclamation mark, and closed with a regular exclamation mark.
|
