Noted author helps 'Petra's Pecado' cast

Rupert Reyes has taken a personal interest in the Theatre of the Big Bend's staging of his play, "Petra's Pecado," spending the past week in Alpine working with the cast and director.

Reyes is no stranger to Alpine and Sul Ross, even mentioning in an interview that he hopes his youngest of three children - a daughter, who wants to study theater, like her dad - will come to Sul Ross, rather than the University of Texas. Nothing against Texas, you understand, but he thinks Sul Ross theater department is first-rate and the area provides a great environment to study.

"We'd love to have her," Dona Roman, Sul Ross associate professor of theater, chimed in quickly.

This past week, Reyes did what he loves most - working with young actors. For instance, at Monday night's rehearsals, he moved around with a sly, friendly grin on his face, making notations in his notebook, offering tightly focused advice.

He talked often with director Liz Castillo, discussing subtle nuances as the cast worked hard on initial walk-throughs. The evening was intense, the work challenging. But laughter was everywhere - first, because the cast was having fun and, second, because the play is outrageously funny.

[boldface indent]Copies of the "Petra Trilogy," of which "Petra's Pecado" is the first part, are available the Sul Ross Library.[end boldface indent]

"Petra's Pecado" (Petra's Sin) opens this summer's run of three plays at Theatre of the Big Bend, running June 22 through July 1. The poignant comedy has become a staple at theaters throughout Texas and nationally.

"'Petra' is a fun and meaningful play," Reyes says. "It makes you laugh, cry and think."

It will take nothing short of a miracle to help Petra and her senior citizen friends in the small town of Las Flores, Texas, to present the annual play about the Virgin de Guadalupe at the local church. Why did the new priest want her to direct the play as penance for her sin? Was Petra's sin that big? No one knows, not even her husband.

What they do know is that Tina Tamayo, Petra's tortilla business rival, is out for revenge and will do anything to stop the senior citizens in their tracks. Will Tina succeed or will Petra and her friends overcome their fears and save a lot more than the play?

"Petra's Pecado," with its unique bilingual script, beautifully blends language so that English and Spanish speaking audiences alike enjoy it. The richness of this play is evident in its unforgettable, charming and comical small town characters.

The familiar folks of Las Flores prompted one Austin American Statesman writer to comment, "Petra's Pecado" may become the "Greater Tuna" of Chicano regional theater.

Reyes and Dona Roman, Theatre of the Big Bend director, both emphasize that language will not be a barrier to anyone in the audience; if you're only an English speaker, or only a Spanish speaker, Roman says, "the play is completely understandable and entertaining."

"I do not speak Spanish," Roman said, "and I understood everything. ... It was hilarious and warm and human."

(Personal alert: This writer is not a Spanish speaker and understood everything. And laughed out loud on many, many occasions.)

Reyes, equally at home acting, writing and directing - on the stage and in the movies - is artistic director of Teatro Vivo de Austin, founded in 2000.

His recent work includes direction of his own original script, "Petra's Cuento," in which he also acted in July 2006. He has also written a third "Petra" play, "Petra's Suena."

Also in 2006, he directed and acted in his adaptation of Rodrigo Duarte-Clark's "Rosita's Jalapeņo Kitchen." He adapted what was a one-woman show for seven actors.

His plays have been produced in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, San Francisco, Albuquerque and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

He continues to be involved in Austin area schools. He has worked with students at Johnston High School, Doss Elementary, Zavala Elementary and has been part of the Travis Heights Elementary School Writer workshop for the past five years. He also directs Teatro Vivo's Beginning Actors Workshop for Adults.

Reyes is a graduate of the University of Texas Department of Theater. He was one of the original founders of the Latino Comedy Project and served for two years as one of the artistic directors.

Reyes has appeared in feature films, including "Ms. Congeniality," "Office Space" and "Night Visions." He worked on the film "The Alamo" and the made-for-TV film "Rough Riders."

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Noted author helps 'Petra's Pecado' cast

Rupert Reyes has taken a personal interest in the Theatre of the Big Bend's staging of his play, "Petra's Pecado," spending the past week in Alpine working with the cast and director.