Subversive “guaracha”: Defiance, joy and satire in Luis Rafael Sánchez writing Tuesday, November 2nd, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. @ Building W97 -160

Puerto Rican playwright Luis Rafael Sánchez's most celebrated play, Quíntuples, returns to the diaspora's stages with the BoriCorridor Tour, presenting an excerpt from Puerto Rican memory of the 20th century to new generations and lovers of theater and world literature. In celebration of this distinctive staging in Boston, the MIT Music & Arts Theater will host a discussion on November 12 featuring actors Joaquín Jarque and Gretza Merced, joined by Puerto Rican historian Pedro Reina-Pérez. The conversation will explore the significance of "Quíntuples," the challenges of performing six monologues within the play, and Luis Rafael Sánchez's impact on Latin American literature. Before the conversation, the audience will enjoy a screening of an exclusive interview with the author.

About Quíntuples "The story is not the story; the story is the one who tells it." With all their interpretative strength, just two actors take control of the stage to embody the six members of the Morrison family in the most celebrated theatrical work of contemporary Puerto Rico, "Quíntuples." The play by the great writer and playwright Luis Rafael Sánchez, originally premiered in 1984, returned to the stage with the veteran actor Joaquín Jarque and the talented actress Gretza Merced. In their monologues, each character reveals the intimacies of a dysfunctional family, with which many can identify. "Quíntuples" is undoubtedly one of those gems of Puerto Rican literature to be enjoyed at least once in a lifetime.

Luis Rafael Sánchez, author The ingenious creativity of our Luis Rafael Sánchez gave birth to this family, whose presentations were very successful during the eighties. Sánchez tells the tale through his “quintuplets” and their father in this Congress of Family Affairs. Sánchez is a Puerto Rican essayist, novelist, and playwright. Some of his renowned works are “La Guaracha del Macho Camacho”, “La Pasión según Antigona Pérez”, “La Importancia de llamarse Daniel Santos” and “La Farsa del Amor Compradito”, among others. Luis Rafael is the most renowned and award-winning Puerto Rican author (internationally speaking). His work has been translated into English, Portuguese, French, and German, among others. Recently published are “El corazón frente al mar”, a series of vignettes about life in San Juan, and “Escribir en puertorriqueño”, an anthology of his exquisite work. This past September, Sanchez received the prestigious Cátedra Cervantes, awarded by the Cervantes Institute of Spain. Joaquín Jarque, actor An actor with a vast trajectory in the Puerto Rican scenario. Jarque is a graduate from the Drama Department of the Universidad de Puerto Rico. One of his dreams (for many years) was to interpret the men that shape the “Quintuples” Morrison in this Congress of Family Affairs (Mission accomplished!). Jarque is one of the most respected actors of Puerto Rico, of undeniable versatility in his characterizations. He is also a voice artist with a “Stradivarius vocal instrument”. He has 40 years of experience in the industry and more than 130 productions on his resume.

Gretza Merced, actress Gretza is an actress, producer and writer, born in Puerto Rico. Passionate about art from an early age, Gretza participated in various cultural spaces that included singing, music, theater groups, and dance workshops, among others. She obtained her higher education at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. Studying Biological Sciences, she discovered how acting captured his attention more deeply, and she combined her studies by being part of the Drama Department, led at that time by the artist and professor Dean Zayas. Gretza has been part of various theatrical and film projects, including Teatro en 15 in San Juan. She has worked on films such as The Last Tour by Douglas Pedro, 200 Letters by Bruno Irizarry, and the short film Until the Jail Do Us Apart by filmmaker Mariana Emanuelli. She obtained recognition as Best Actress at the European Film Festival, made in Puerto Rico, for the latter. She also works on the development and execution of her following artistic projects, in front of and behind the lens.