INTERVIEW: ‘the beautiful land i seek’ is topical play about Puerto Rican independence
Photo: the beautiful land i seek stars Bobby Román and Alejandro Hernández. Photo courtesy of Krystal Pagán / Provided by Print Shop PR with permission.
The new play the beautiful land i seek, a co-production of Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater (PRTT), Latinx Playwrights Circle and Fault Line Theatre, continues until Sunday, Dec. 29, in New York City. The show follows two revolutionaries in 1950 who have boarded a train with the intent to assassinate President Harry S. Truman in the name of Puerto Rican independence, but they are met with a host of historical and cultural characters who attempt to change their plans and have them consider their legacies.
Alejandro Hernández, an actor from TV’s New Amsterdam, plays the role of Oscar in the show. He is tasked with bringing the words of Matthew Barbot to life, with the help of director José Zayas. He is joined on stage by Daniel Colón, Ashley Marie Ortiz, Nate Betancourt and Bobby Román.
“Most Puerto Rican history has been erased for the most part by the United States, and to see this script dealing with these men in this way was super appealing to me,” Hernández stated in an email interview. “And to be a play that is so unabashedly a pro-independence play was super refreshing. I knew I had to do it.”
To prepare for the role, the actor did his best to find information about the real-life Oscar Cozallo and Griselio Torresola, who are the inspirations for the two main characters in the beautiful land i seek, or la linda tierra que busco yo.
“Unfortunately, there was very little, but there were some things I was able to gather,” wrote Hernández, who is originally from Trenton, New Jersey. “I also approached it through the lens of my own imagination, my own pro-independence beliefs and a bit of my own father. Many of the mannerisms I’ve developed over the rehearsal period come from my father.”
To help audience members better understand the narrative, Zayas writes in the program that the show is about the “history of Puerto Rico’s relationship with colonialism seen through the lens of a forgotten moment in its political past told as a time-spanning fantasy.”
For Hernández, who has appeared in Amazon Prime Video’s The Horror of Dolores Roach and Netflix’s Partner Track, the experience of acting in this play is extra special because of the presence of the PRTT and Fault Line Theatre. Both companies are legendary, and the actor stated that he’s honored to be part of their creative process.
“PRTT is a historic place with a rich history of producing Puerto Rican/Latino plays in the U.S.,” wrote the actor, who has appeared in stage productions at Yale Rep, Pittsburgh Public Theater and Williamstown Theater Festival. “It was truly an honor, and Fault Line Theatre has been with the production since the early stages and have really believed in the piece when nobody did.”
In preparation for each performance, Hernández thinks of his family, including his mother, father and abuela. He also considers the stories of Cozallo and Torresola, and the impact of all Puerto Rican people.
He holds a special memory of his beloved abuela in his mind right before each performance. “I say a prayer to her each show,” he stated, “and deep down I know she’s on that stage with me.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
the beautiful land i seek, featuring Alejandro Hernández, continues through Sunday, Dec. 29, at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
