Today’s Vegetarian Elite
will be presented
in Spanish,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Indonesian, Italian,
Japanese, Korean,
Mongolian, Nepali,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish,
Tagalog, and Thai.
Our role as a theater group
was considered
from the beginning.
(Always, we always
work for others.)
Yes, always following
an exercise
in social, human, and
animal responsibility.
On our previous program
of Vegetarian Elite,
we met
the charismatic couple:
César Meléndez,
an accomplished actor
and author; and his wife,
actress Cristina Bruno,
whose works are always
reflections on important
social and spiritual matters.
There is an intention
on our part, that through
each one of our shows
the public has a chance
to open their mind,
their heart,
their conscience,
their reason, that they are
giving an opportunity
to compassion.
(To humanity.)
César Meléndez’s
illustrious career spans
film, television, music,
and theater.
He started professionally
with music in
the Dominican Republic,
singing with icons
like Grammy-nominated
Wilfrido Vargas.
Back in Costa Rica,
César was a member
of popular bands
of the 1980s
like Grupo Manantial.
He then expanded
his artistic repertoire
into movies, where
he participated in a major
Hollywood production.
César became
one of Costa Rica’s
most popular
and beloved stars, acting
in memorable roles on
several television series.
But it seems
César’s true calling,
however, is in theater.
In theater,
César is recognized
not only as an actor,
but also as a director
and writer of
several important works.
Among them is
the monologue
“The Immigrant,” which
has won major prizes
in Costa Rica
and internationally.
Together,
César and Cristina
founded La Polea Theater
Company in 1999
to investigate
human relationships
in modern society and
translate their findings
into a theatrical language
for presentations.
The primary purpose is
to raise funds for works
relating to social welfare
and for communities that
have little or no access
to art and cultural events.
Well, we’ve been
all over America.
We have presented,
rotated our shows all
around Central America,
South America,
North America;
in Europe we have been
in Spain, the Netherlands,
France.
On today’s show, we see
how César and Cristina
have used their
theatrical characters
to convey a message,
a message
of great urgency.
We understand that
each of the characters,
each of the stories is a tool
to open a window –
just as we had
the opportunity to
discover some windows,
just as we went through
that experience to
create other possibilities.
One of César’s characters
in particular has created
an effective bridge
of communication
with audience members.
This character’s name is
“Chito,” and he carries
a baby cow toy
on his back
who was rescued
when the calf’s mom was
sent to be slaughtered.
Throughout the plays and
interaction with the crowd,
Chito talks
to his cow friend.
It generates tenderness
for the audience.
We discover the tenderness
that this stuffed animal
generates and
the character’s treatment
of him.
Tenderness is a way,
a communication channel
through which information
turns or passes over –
it reaches more easily.
How is it possible
that people want to eat
such a beautiful little cow!
Why don’t you grab
your mother and eat her?
(Nooo!) Well... Why?
“Margarita’s Party”
is a fun
and crowd-interactive
musical comedy.
The storyline revolves
around a birthday party
for Margarita.
It is a party
to talk about identity.
We decided on this show
to talk about
popular culture,
the popular acoustic music
of each of the places;
to understand
different topics
of what has been,
to understand
what is being done, and
to discover something
about the future.
The characters
in this situational comedy
arrive at
Margarita’s birthday party
by chance –
they include Chito
who we met earlier,
a car watchman
or “Wachiman,”
a mariachi singer,
a calypso singer,
a soccer fan,
and a street band.
In between their light
and exaggerated humor,
these characters touch
on more serious topics
like immigration,
cultural barriers, poverty,
eating habits,
and animal rights.
We have made use
of some popular
musical resources
in order to
capture public attention.
The messages
behind them, behind
each of the characters –
if the public is kind enough
to listen to them –
are very direct, to hear,
to assimilate, and
of course, even to share.
Everyone here eats meat?
(Nooo!) (No, right?)
Surely not, of course not.
And I have heard also
that some people say that
shrimp is not an animal.
(Why not? It is a beast!)
No, no,
some people believe
that it is not an animal,
then they eat it anyway,
but it is an animal.
Interspersed through
this musical comedy
are images of
planetary destruction and
animal abuse played out
on a large plasma screen.
In Margarita’s Party,
what we propose is
a visual contradiction.
While he is singing and
the people are having fun –
cheering and singing,
and whoever wants
to dance, dances.
And we have the characters
that César plays, that
could be the Limónese,
the black guy
from Limón Province,
who sings calypso, etc.
We have as contradiction
on the big screens
on both sides of the stage,
where the drama
takes place,
images, strong ones.
To see if through music,
through dramatic play,
through art,
through the images,
the resources that allow
the performing arts,
visual arts,
the musical arts,
through color,
through rhythm, through
the form, the figure,
we can communicate
that it is possible
to make a change.
And yet,
although we have
little time, of course,
we have an urgent change,
but it is our responsibility
to share this message.
Through
the comedic characters
who portray
traditional cultural humor,
everyday truths
are conveyed and express
an important message
about the three
fundamental issues
of our time:
the restoration
of human values,
respect toward animals,
and climate change.
In the play,
the interaction is lively and
the final message is clear:
we must be vegan
to save the planet.
We share historic images
of the moment
that we are living today
and that we are
presenting in the play.
Images that are
talking about the outrage
that we are experiencing
on the planet.
All natural disasters,
all the causes
of global warming, what
are some of the roots?
We do not
pay much attention,
to be able to explain why
the planet at this point
is headed for where it is,
and why perhaps we are
facing a new period
of glaciation, a new period
(Catastrophes.)
of elimination
of the entire human race.
With a sincere devotion
to offer audiences
a memorable
and meaningful show,
all of César
and Cristina’s
performances leave
a lasting impression.
Wonderful! I have
no words to describe it.
It’s great, there are
simply no words.
I think we should present
many performances
such as this one
throughout the country,
for people
to become aware.
Be Veg,
Go Green
2 Save the Planet!
Through
César and Cristina’s
work and inspiration,
many people –
fans from afar,
and the near and dear –
have adopted kinder ways
of eating and living.
As soon as
you have the information,
you want to share it
with the people you love
because you understand
that it’s a good thing,
and you want
to preserve it,
indeed, to ensure that
information is preserved
for as many people
as possible, and
hopefully be cultivated
and hope that it grows.
My mom is a vegetarian.
And until very recently,
when my dad had been
in touch with our shows,
our information,
our way of life
is what he has adopted
and he also
does it consciously.
And it is wonderful
because my father has
a mechanical workshop,
and in this
mechanical workshop,
he also speaks out,
he also shares
the information.
Because my dad
came to me to ask,
“So, where do I
get more information?”
And so my dad shares:
SupremeMasterTV.com,
so now my dad is immersed
in the computer world.
Last year we had,
my niece came here
to visit, a niece
who lives in Argentina,
in Santa Fe – María José.
And she was living
with us a couple of days
and we talked to her
and César gave her
information and so on.
And she wrote
a couple of months ago
and said, “Titi,
I became a vegetarian.”
She became a vegetarian,
while having a father
who barbeques a lot.
“And I am researching”
and also sent
the Supreme Master [TV]
address and all, and that
is a great achievement
for us.
The reactions we’ve had,
or the audience has had
so far in our shows,
are wonderful.
Through our performances
we can say,
we can share information
that to start with,
we believe
is important to share.
And this is information
we may not find
in the mass media.
Some people have
the kindness to share
what they think
at the end of the show,
either because
they come to us, or
because they write to us,
(mail) to our e-mail, or
because sometime later
they come and approach
and tell us after the show
that, “We saw
Margarita’s Party.
We are considering, or
we stopped eating meat,
or we are considering
even giving up fish.”
It has generated
a particular effect,
very important.
In fact, yes,
though it’s hard, because
it’s true one likes meat,
there are people
who are vegetarian.
But in reality, if it is all
for the sake of animals,
I think it is fair
to make a change.
Be Veg,
Go Green
2 Save the Planet!
César and Cristina
have requested
our Association members
to accompany them
to deliver
important information
on climate change
and to share
tasty vegan cuisine
with the audience.
As someone who is
admired, respected, and
beloved by the public,
people are often curious
to know what César is
eating as a vegan.
But now
it is very interesting
because in the communities
they ask us. (Yes.)
Or I don’t know
if there was like
some kind of awakening.
Well, of course.
In some maybe mass media,
they have asked us,
“And what do you eat?”
or whatever, or we say,
“No, we’re vegetarians,
we are vegans.”
It’s very interesting
because people ask us,
“You are vegetarian” or
“Do you eat anything?”
Communities already
ask us, so we can say,
(Of course, now even.)
“We do not eat anything
that comes from an animal.”
Of course, and it’s
a wonderful opportunity
because it is necessarily
a point of discussion
when we are at the table.
And all this helps us,
of course,
in the creative process,
or to incorporate things
in our work, in the plays.
There is
a great responsibility
from that point of view
because we are creators,
we have studied to
make art, theatrical art,
television art.
We studied
to share art and culture,
as if life was already
pointing us this way.
We already had shows
which we were trying to
talk about animal rights,
nature’s rights, the respect
for the human condition
beyond what others do
with me,
but what I am doing
with myself.
We understand
what is the role
and responsibility
of our artistic work,
that’s why
we have developed shows
that necessarily talk
about this condition.
Even shows that we have
been using for 10 years,
we made the
necessary modifications
(We transform them.)
to take advantage
of the stage, live, in front
of 400, 800, 1000, 200
people, the audience that
come to see our shows.
Out of some corner,
appears
some element that
talks about animal rights,
about climate change,
about a proposal of
changing eating habits.
(Nutrition.)
Right, we need to
change to a different diet.
Sure, we would be happy
if we did not have to
do the shows anymore.
We would be happy
if we wouldn’t have to
do Margarita’s Party.
(Happy in good sense,
of course, yes.)
Sure, right, because…
Of course because
people would say,
“We no longer need them
because they get it.”
“They are
talking about things
that are no longer…”
“We are already
compassionate,
and we are tolerant.”
“People respect animals,
no one eats meat
in the world.”
“There are
no climate problems.”
Well, as a last message
maybe we can tell people
that we really
appreciate the people
who have taken us
through these paths
and that we have
a great responsibility
to share that gratefulness
with more people because
from this experience
we learned a path
which we understand
is right and is important.
But above all, it’s urgent.
There is not much time
to do it,
and through our shows,
people who are kind enough
to join us will find
these ingredients.
So as a last reflection,
we would like
to share the message that
appears in our shows,
(In all.) in all shows, yes.
(On the screen.)
Be Veg,
Go Green, 2…
Save the Planet!
In Central American
language, Nicaraguan:
Be Vegan,
you hear?
Go Green,
brother. Why?
To Save this Planet!
We thank César Melendez
and Cristina Bruno
for delivering messages
of love, compassion,
and respect
beyond all boundaries
through their
collaboration in art.
May Heaven
bless you both evermore
with creative inspiration
to touch hearts
and transform lives
through laughter and light.
For more information
about César Meléndez,
Cristina Bruno,
and La Polea Theater
Please visit:
www.TeatroLaPolea.com
or email:
teatrolapolea@gmail.com
We have enjoyed
your company today,
precious viewers,
on Vegetarian Elite.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television for
Between Master
and Disciples,
coming up now.
Blessed be all inhabitants
of our beautiful community
called Earth,
so that we may learn
to appreciate one another
in peace, harmony,
and happiness.