A Theatrical Journey Through Mexico’s Colonial Past
The theater season has begun, and with it, a gateway to the past has been opened. In the shadows of the Gothic Chapel, spirits rise to recount what still hurts and what remains unredeemed. “Ánimas, mascarada de espectros” is theater, but it’s also a ritual of memory, a dark mirror reflecting the echoes of Mexico’s virreinal era.
Don Rodrigo Mendoza de Icaza: A Historical Wound Brought to Life
The figure of Don Rodrigo Mendoza de Icaza emerges, his legend written in blood and ambition. Portrayed by Juan Ignacio Aranda, Don Rodrigo is not a fictional character but a historical wound. A real psychopath born into a powerful family in colonial Mexico, he took pleasure in inflicting pain, killing, and possessing others. Aranda describes him with stark honesty: “A hunter, a predator, an immoral man. A repulsive human being.” With over four decades of experience in film, theater, and television, along with training from the CUT at UNAM, the United States International University, and CADAC, Aranda embodies a fascinating yet disturbing character.
“Ánimas is not a horror play or farce; it’s a ritual of memory. In this chaotic world, theater—as a reflection—helps us confront our collective ghosts,” Aranda explains.
A Cast of Specters: A Tale of Power and Reconciliation
Rodrigo isn’t alone in this spectral dance. Other legendary figures, portrayed by Lisbi Cuéllar, Antonio Rojas, Miguel Ángel Morales, Lorelí Mancilla, Alicia Lara, Esteban Montes, Valentina Gerberoffy, and Rogelio Villegas under the direction of Rafael Pardo, transform the theater into a land of spirits, questions, and reconciliations. Pardo proposes a ritualistic theatricality where words, bodies, and symbols converge to open a temporal rift.
Another central character is Fray Alonso Martínez Venegas, an inquisitor of the Holy Office, played by Antonio Rojas, one of Mexico’s most powerful and complex stage actors. This spirit of spiritual power emerges to interrogate us not with sermons but with uncomfortable silences and twisted truths.
“I built a character with many shortcomings; very lonely, desperately in need of love. Also vain and proud, believing his virtues were infallible,” Rojas recounts. “The most challenging part was justifying and defending an indefensible thought. As an actor, I can’t judge him; I must try to understand him.”
Bridging Time: Colonial Legends Echoing Present-Day Themes
The play crosses centuries and mindsets to speak of the present through the echoes of colonial legends. “This story speaks of something that happened in another time, but filtered through present-day thinking. That intersection is fascinating,” Rojas adds.
The experience deepens with live music, performed by María Vakorinay Eduardo Espinosa on the transverse flute and baroque violin, bringing this universe of haunting memories to life.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is “Ánimas, mascarada de espectros”? A theatrical piece that serves as a ritual of memory, exploring Mexico’s virreinal past and its impact on the present.
- Who are the main characters? Don Rodrigo Mendoza de Icaza, portrayed by Juan Ignacio Aranda, and Fray Alonso Martínez Venegas, played by Antonio Rojas.
- What makes this play unique? Its blend of historical figures, live music, and a ritualistic approach to storytelling that encourages audiences to confront their own histories.
- Where and when can you see the performance? At the Gothic Chapel of the Instituto Cultural Helénico (Av. Revolución 1500), with shows on Fridays at 19:30 h, Saturdays at 18:00 and 20:00 h, and Sundays at 18:00 h. Tickets are available at the venue.
