By: Ashmar Mandou
Touching upon an array of poignant themes, José Rivera’s (The Motorcycle Diaries) latest play is about an annual beauty pageant at El Buen Pastor women’s prison in Colombia, in a wonderfully humorous, yet profound look into womanhood, friendship, injustice, and equality in Another Word for Beauty. “This piece of work is so beautiful, it is heart-wrenching, it is emotional, it is funny, it is complex, Another Word for Beauty is so many things and I cannot wait to share what we have worked so hard on for the past months,” said actress Socorro Santiago, who plays Ciliana in Another Word for Beauty set to debut on January 25th at the Goodman Theatre. “I am so proud to be a part of this play that delves deeply into the lives of these women who are stuck in unimaginable circumstance, away from their families, some unjustly accused, others physically harmed and still find the beauty of life and define what it is to be beautiful.”
Another Word for Beauty is set in a women’s prison in Colombia where for a few days out of the year, female inmates, from murderers to streetwalkers to journalists to political dissidents, compete for the title of “Senorita Simpatía,” in an annual beauty pageant honoring the Virgin of Mercy. In otherwise extreme sadness and danger, the pageant serves as a way to celebrate womanhood, address indignities, and the real issues that affect women that transcend cultures. “Even though this play is about a Colombian women’s prison, the issues that we talk about are truly ones that affects us all across the world. Issues of poverty, domestic violence, marginalization, sexual abuse, loss…I mean, this is a play that will, hopefully spark conversation on how we define ourselves, how we define the term beauty, and how we work together as women to help each other up,” said Santiago.
Santiago’s character Ciliana serves as the commentator throughout the play and offers up some biting humor. “Oh, I absolutely adore Ciliana,” said Santiago. “She is fabulous, she is funny, she is smart, she is lively, she is so many things, and I loved portraying her. She is the one who introduces the women in the cellblock, she is the one who gives the background story and she does with such love.”
Written by Rivera with music by Grammy Award winner Héctor Buitrago will captivate the audience with rhythmic dance and music and over-the-top performances. Another Word for Beauty will run at the Goodman Theatre through February 21st. For tickets or for general information, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Beauty or call 312-443-3800, TTY/TDD 312-443-3829.
“Another Word for Beauty is a celebration of life and the strength of women. That, to me is beauty. To know that even in the face of adversity, of immense pain and suffering, we can choose to be happy and look towards the sky,” said Santiago. “It is my hope that when people leave after viewing the play, they are somewhat changed. Changed for the better. That Another Word for Beauty gets people thinking about the meaning of beauty.”
