"Óyeme, the Beautiful" Comes to the Middle School

What are the forces that cause young refugees from Central America to flee their countries and come to the US? What dangers do they face? What fears? What are their hopes and dreams? These are just some of the questions explored in Imagination Stage’s production of Óyeme, the Beautiful, which came to Lowell’s black box theater on Wednesday, April 12, 2018. Middle schoolers were caught up in the compelling stories of Laura, Valentina, Esteban, and Reuben—youths who fled the violence in their home countries and start new chapters of their lives in the US. The play, written by Lowell parent Miriam Gonzales, was inspired by real stories of Central American youth now living in Maryland.

 

Three years ago, Janet Stanford, founding artistic director of Imagination Stage, commissioned Gonzales to write the play. Not only were Stanford and Gonzales both concerned about the plight of unaccompanied youth fleeing their countries because of the violence caused by gang activity, drug trafficking, and corruption, they were also concerned about the negative reactions of local communities receiving these young asylum seekers.

 

As they talked, the project came into focus. Gonzales recounts, “We decided that in order to create an artistic piece that honors these stories, we must take the time to know these children, listen to them, and allow them the time to discover the power of their stories—for their own healing and for others to learn from, as well.”

 

 

In the play, Gonzales dives into the long journeys and big emotions of her characters but grounds them in smaller actions, conversations, and silences that resonate throughout. Laura’s abuelita giving her a pair of bright blue Jordan sneakers for the journey. Reuben drawing a rose on Laura’s arm as a birthday gift and reminder of her strength. The art teacher asking students to give her a thumbs-up if they understand. Esteban lamenting “They don’t see us,” and Valentina urging, “You can’t forget why we came.”

 

Many pieces of the Middle School curriculum helped prime the students to appreciate the various layers of this dual-language theater experience. Spanish language classes give students the experience of navigating two languages; the 6^th grade Cultural Affairs and Current Events seminar, DeltaU discussions, and the Middle School Community Perspectives Symposium offer them opportunities to explore multiple perspectives on topical issues; and the 7^th grade humanities and Spanish curriculums both include extensive units on immigration. But, there’s nothing like seeing the intimate details of people’s lives brought to life in a play. And then, to put yourself into the characters’ shoes.

 

After the play, the Imagination Stage ran an interactive workshop that engaged the students in the themes of the play even more deeply. Students each chose a character and wrote postcards as if they were the character writing to friends or family members back in their home countries. Students also had an opportunity to talk to a character in the play about a hope or wish they have for that character. Their wishes, below, resound with empathy and compassion suggesting that Gonzales's hopes for the play are being realized. 

 

For Valentina

 

For Reuben

 

For Laura

 

For Esteban