Miquitzli, Death of the Ephemeral

*At Xcaret Park`s Open Theater

Miquitzli, Muerte de lo efímero [Death of the Ephemeral]

**Giant puppets, theatre noir, music and song

By Alejandra Flores

Considered one of Mexico`s most beautiful puppet shows thanks to its large format and the skillful handling of the technically difficult "theatre noir concept", Luna Llena Group`s production Miquitzli, Death of the Ephemeral has finally come to the 3rd Life and Death Traditions Festival, Xcaret 2008.

Scheduled to be presented from October 30th to November 2nd at the Xcaret Park`s Open Theater, Miquitzli, Death of the Ephemeral will successfully stage ancient lore, ritual and belief, the faith that makes Mexicans live the Day of the Dead with singular joy.

According the play`s author, Mercedes Alvarado, in Miquitzli, Death of the Ephemeral, the puppets are transformed into symbols like "Florid Death" and "Life".  The magic of a theater lit with black light allows a huge flower to turn into a girl, who takes us on a journey through Mexico`s history to meet pre-Hispanic deities from central Mexico and ancient Mexican rulers.

This production travels back to the times of the Conquest and the Colonial Era, depicting how our ideas of life and death were transformed.  Thanks to the artifice of the theater, the play presents this syncretism and makes us recognize and understand who we are today, the result of a dynamic and continuous blending of races and cultures.

With live music, stick-mounted puppets in humanized form that can stand 10 to twelve feet tall and clay puppets measuring between 4`3" and 4`10", Miquitzli, Death of the Ephemeral is a grand voyage through the different stages of the god of death, from pre-Hispanic times to the appearance of the "Grim Reaper" concept and the fears that drove medieval Europe.

Produced by Carlos Rodríguez and Mercedes Alvarado, Miquitzli, Death of the Ephemeral features stage director Katiria Rodríguez and Brissia Yeber as the narrator.