Monkey Business Theatre

Mexico with Us Forever!

Mexico with Us Forever! () the title Mexico with Us Forever! (¡Siempre México con nosotros!) was chosen to give a positive swing to the Zapatistas’ cry, “¡Jamás México sin nosotros!” (Never again Mexico without us!). This play, under the guidance of Michael Garcés, then producing artistic director of intar Hispanic American Arts Center of New York City, shows how political corruption, including the buying of votes, is a current practice that must not continue. The pri party had been in control for more than seventy years, rewarding the caciques (town bosses) or someone else they selected by appointing them mayor. Once “elected,” the mayor received the money distributed for public town expenses, which he pocketed for himself or divided up among his cronies. Attempts were made to replace this system with a supposedly more democratic one, where people vote for the mayor, but the bosses continued to buy votes or have the ballot boxes stuffed. The townspeople finally, in 1996, united to demand compliance with the San Andrés Accords, granting autonomy to Indian communities and justice to both Indian men and women. Although these accords had been signed by the Mexican government, they were ignored by the Mexican legislature. The names of the individuals in this play are given in Tzeltal. The Human Rights Commission is seen by the state government representative as a body that “supports rebels and loafers,” while Jmanel, the mayor, says that “it does nothing.” Each of them is denigrating this federal body. Tuxtla is Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the state capital. Because of local tension this play has been performed only at the headquarters of the women’s cooperative (fomma), the Teatro Daniel Zebadua in San Cristóbal, and the Casa del Lago in Mexico City. note on pronunciation: The letter j is pronounced as h, and x as sh; the symbol ’ is a glottal stop. [  ] monkey business theatre cast of characters jmanel’s spokesman: wearing sombrero, white shirt, pants, black shoes jpalas: same clothes as Jmanel’s Spokesman xunil: wearing Tenejapan clothes jpetul/jnik’s spokesman: wearing sombrero, checked shirt, long pants, brown shoes xloxa: wearing Chamulan clothes jmanel: wearing dark green shirt, blue jeans, brown shoes, and at the end wearing blonde wig slus: Jmanel’s secretary, wearing Zinacantec clothes xmaruch: Jmanel’s wife, wearing Tenejapan clothes, gold shawl, high heels representative: wearing a suit, tie, black hat, carrying a folder martín/bodyguard 1: the Representative’s bodyguard, wearing brown jacket, black pants, black shoes, dark glasses, carrying a pistol bodyguard 2: wearing same clothes as Martín flor: the Representative’s companion, wearing mestiza clothes jnik: white T-shirt, black pants, black shoes j’alux: wearing blue shirt, black pants, black shoes jmaryan: a shaman, his head wrapped in white Chamulan neckerchief, wearing white shirt and wool tunic, black pants, carrying water gourd jtziak: wearing same clothes as J’alux jxaw: Jpetul’s spokesman, wearing same clothes as J’alux jxun: wearing same clothes as Jnik scene  (In the square of an Indian town in the highlands of Chiapas a person announces the arrival of Professor Jmanel.) jmanel’s spokesman: (With a loudspeaker calling to the people) Men, women, please come to the square to discuss town matters!... (He repeats) Compa- ñeros, I’ve just learned that our Professor Jmanel is back in town. He is very capable and knows a great deal. He’s on good terms with the politicians. I think he is the best person to be our candidate for mayor. And he is disposed to take it on. I think we should give him all our support. What do you think, compañeros? (Jpalas, Jpetul, and Xunil reply from the audience.) jpalas: Yeees! We’re going to vote for him! xunil: And we women, too! mexico with us forever! [  ] jmanel’s spokesman: All right, wait for me in the town hall while I go get him to ask him to help us with our problems! (Jmanel’s Spokesman exits, and Jpalas, Jpetul, and Xunil climb on the stage.) jpalas: Yes, let’s vote for Jmanel! Even though he named himself, let’s hope he can solve the problems in our town! xunil: Yes, if only he’ll give his whole heart to it! jpetul: Because we’ve seen how the others always give promises, but they never come through! (Xloxa rushes in enthusiastically.) xloxa: Listen, compañeros, the candidate Jmanel is...