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THE HUNGRY WOMAN: A MEXICAN MEDEA. By Cherrie Moraga. Directed by Cherrie Moraga and Adelina Anthony. Pigott Theater, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California. 15 May 2005.
Cherrie Moraga's The Hungry Woman: A Mexican Medea has received few full productions since it was written in 1995. The Stanford Department of Drama coproduced this version, with playwright Cherrie Moraga codirecting with Adelina Anthony, who had directed the world premiere in Los Angeles in 2002. The production featured Equity actors (VIVIS as Medea and Tessa Koning-Martinez as Mama Sal) and professional designers (lighting designer Chad Bonaker and conceptual artist/ designer Celia Herrera-Rodriguez). The Hungry Woman furthers Moraga's exploration of the intersections between aspects of identity, particularly as a Chicana lesbian, but also in relationship to indigenous cultures and motherhood. This production emphasized Aztec and Native American culture and performance practices in contrast with elements of European theatrical tradition.
Rather than revising Euripides' Medea, The Hungry Woman balanced elements of the Greek story with the Mexican La Llorona and the Aztec goddess Coatlicue. The intersection between cultures was emphasized throughout, particularly in the set design. The set evoked the white marble architecture of ancient Greece, but its shape suggested a cave or natural rock setting. Lighting and repositioning of a small rectangular platform transformed this abstract background into various locations such as a lesbian bar and a mental hospital.
While the simplicity of the set balanced various cultural influences, an introductory voice-over specifically addressed contemporary political issues, establishing the world in which the play takes place. The voice-over describes 11 September 2001 as a rime when "the giant twin pipis fell and everyone...