ANNA IN THE TROPICS
By Nilo Cruz
Directed by Nicholas Papademetriou
This 2003 Pulitzer Prize Winning Drama combines the passion of Tolstoy,
the spirit of Cuba and the heartache of forbidden love.
Set in 1929 in a small cigar factory in Tampa, Florida, a family of Cuban expats do what all people everywhere do - getting on with the crises and infatuations and daydreams of their lives. Inside the factory is a scene from the previous century.
While other factories have brought in assembly-line machinery to speed up the work, this factory still rolls its cigars by hand and follows the old Cuban custom of hiring a lector, or professional reader, to keep the employees minds occupied as their fingers do the work. Enter Juan Julian, who chooses to read Anna Karenina, and the novel has a powerful impact on its listeners, who see themselves reflected in the Russian characters. Juan Julian himself also has an impact, both spiritual and physical.
In the hothouse environment of the factory, Tolstoy's epic novel stirs passions and emotions in the workers, who begin to question what is at stake in life and love. The actions they take change their lives forever. Anna in the Tropics is a powerful play with poetic lyricism, romance, drama and a truly spectacular ending!
“a tender and fiery tug-of-war between tradition and modernity, romance and reality. Nicholas Papademetriou's confident staging is atmospheric and vibrant…, the power of Tolstoy casts a spell as intoxicating as the smell of cigars... it's an engaging, robustly performed tale”
Sydney Morning Herald
“Anna in the Tropics, with its joy, laughter and ultimate tragedy is made even more poignant and memorable for its honesty and rarity both as a work of drama and in the playing of it.
It's a first-rate entertainment that will linger in your heart and mind longer than most”
StageNoise
Anna in the Tropics was commissioned and premiered by New Theatre, Coral Gables Florida, Rafael de Acha Artistic Director. It was subsequently produced by McCarter Tehatre, Emily Mann Artistic Director, that production transferring to Broadway where it was produced by Roger Berlind, Ray Larsen and Daryl Roth.
