Three Brilliant Latinx Actors Talk About the Personal Importance of Anna in the Tropics

Three brilliant Latinx actors, Christian Barillas, Serafin Falcon and Illiana Guibert took time off from their rehearsals to share and discuss the importance of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, “Anna in the Tropics,” by Nilo Cruz. The show is being directed by Marcos Santana in Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theater and runs until July 24th.

The common thread amongst these actors is the excitement to play roles that culturally touches their souls. The play centers around a tobacco factory in Tampa, Florida in 1929. Serafin Falcon, who is of Cuban descent plays the part of Santiago. He said, “The first reason this part is important to me is because my grandmother and her siblings were all rollers, cigar makers in Cuba.” As a first-generation Cuban American, he feels this play is “personal and special.”

Serafin Falcon said that 12 years ago while living in Los Angeles his first theater project was “to step into this play, without knowing the playwright, who is also Cuban American. I was asked to play the role of Palomo, and that was the first play I ever did. Now twelve years later here I am playing the father of the family. This role is an homage to my family directly and to my culture. It is also an honor because as a Cuban American actor seldom are there really good parts written for Latinos, and for Cuban Americans even less.”

Christian Barillas said this play is important because, “We have a wonderful depth of Latinx playwrights in this country. Nilo with this particular script is among the stories that have been recognized by the community at large on national scale.” Mr. Barillas explained that he believes “Anna in the Tropics,” is one of the great plays for actors of the Latinx community. “Any actor,” he said, “would jump at the opportunity to do it, because all the roles are incredibly complex and fabulous. It is an incredible opportunity to do one of our modern classics.” He also had the pleasure of working with playwright Nilo Cruz during his first professional job. As he recalls, “That is how my career started. This role is a way how to come back to that. Actually, Anna in the Tropics, was published a couple of years after I did that previous project with him…Being the antagonist in this play, with a lot of darkness he (Cheche, his role in the play) is living in and being in that cloud has been a challenging situation.”

Yet, Christian Barillas said it has been “really gratifying also really because it’s not the kind of role I am usually cast in. This role is not how the (theater) community sees me so it is a wonderful opportunity for me.”

Illiana Guibert is playing the role of Ofelia. She said, “For me working with a play that is a Nilo Cruz play is something that I have been dying to do. To work with him on one of his pieces is like a blessing.” She mentioned that she also is a first generation Cuban American and that, “there is such a connection that this is about a Cuban family. Even though my parents were not from the cigar making world, still just the fact that it is a Cuban family play, it is dear to my heart. One just doesn’t get opportunities like this that often to play these types of characters.”

Ms. Guibert believes the play is a timepiece because it takes place in 1929. She says, “That too is delicious because we get to play with the language of that time period and the costuming of that period.” Guibert went on to say her role (Ofelia)is the matriarch, “She holds the whole family together through thick and thin.”

Tickets and show times for “Anna in the Tropics” are available at www.baystreet.org