CRITICAL REFLECTION
Bonjour, là, Bonjour by Michel Tremblay Adobe R ose Theatre 1213 Parkway Drive
THE NAME OF SANTA FE’S NEW PROFESSIONAL THEATRE COMPANY (and the theatre they call home), Adobe Rose,
Bonjour, là, Bonjour, directed by Wendy Chapin. The
theatre here, and I believe that actors should be
juxtaposes two contrasting images: the fragrant
play opens May 12 and runs through May 29 , and
paid. There was a very committed core group of
blood-red rose of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
like the Rose itself is the story of a homecoming.
actors here.” She also pointed out that they also
and the mud and straw mixture of pueblo origin
Tremblay’s play sucks the audience into a whirlwind
hire non-equity actors at the Adobe. Additionally,
and Spanish architectural flourish revered in New
of family angst. In the play, Serge, the beloved son,
she intends to “create a path” to equity for NMSA
Mexico. Similarly, Adobe Rose attempts to combine
returns from three months in Paris, and the family
and SFUAD students, because “it gives them a
two unlikely things: professional theatre and Santa
project their anxieties, expectations, and ambitions
real leg-up,” but she concedes that it will be at
Fe. It has been several years since a fully professional
onto him and his journey.
least five years before this will be a reality. Adobe
th
th
company set down roots here, and Santa Fe has
Meanwhile, the Adobe Rose itself is the return
Rose also rents its 145-seat black box theatre for
always had a reputation as a difficult place to do
of professional equity theatre to the Santa Fe
community performances and events. McKenna
professional theatre. Adobe Rose is focused on
theatre scene. “Professional theatre is a necessary
felt small performance spaces were lacking in Santa
creating a space where professional actors can work
part of the cultural fabric here,” said McKenna.
Fe and thought the addition of another black box
in Santa Fe and produce high quality professional
She has lived in Santa Fe for more than a decade,
theatre would benefit the community immensely.
work for the community.
with her husband Bruce McKenna—who is also a
“It’s a matter of providing space for our own shows,
“I think that theatre is a safe place to experience,
director—and their children, but has had a difficult
providing space for community organizations and
and it teaches you to walk in someone else’s shoes:
time finding a place in the Santa Fe performance
shows. It’s something that Santa Fe needs.” For
you learn empathy [and] you learn to be more tolerant
scene. As a member of Actor’s Equity Association,
McKenna, theatre connects the community to a
and more accepting. We’re all Blanche and we’re all
a professional union, McKenna has had nowhere
greater human experience.
Hamlet,” said Maureen Joyce McKenna, founder and
to perform in Santa Fe, along with a number of
Adobe Rose’s first season has included a variety
artistic director of the Adobe Rose.
other professionally trained local actors. Union
of contemporary plays that are focused on family
The Adobe Rose opened its doors in January
rules prohibit actors from performing in non-equity
relationships and group dynamics. Bonjour, là, Bonjour
2016 with Luna Gail, performed in their new state-
performances except in rare circumstances. For
continues this trend with a blended musicology of
of-the-art performance space off Siler Road, and are
McKenna this created a serious dilemma: move
scenes that illustrate the difficulty of navigating the
now in the middle of their ambitious first season,
away from Santa Fe, or develop a professional
expectations of friends and family. The play itself is
which includes five plays. Next in the line-up is French
theatre here. For her, the decision was simple. “The
forty years old and is especially concerned with what
Canadian Michel Tremblay’s 1974 family drama
kids consider this home, and there is no professional
it means to be Québécois, but the issues feel deeply relevant and not at all dated. There are definite resonances with our post-colonial roots here in the Southwest, where many still feel connected to Spain, much as the characters in the play long for everything French. Adobe Rose is still finding its audience and refining their plays, but they are interested in expanding their selections. Hopefully, they will make an effort in their second season to present a greater diversity of offerings and some plays that address the specific geopolitical issues of New Mexico. For now, Adobe Rose is focused on the power of theatre to connect with and inspire the community. Bonjour, là, Bonjour runs Thursdays through Sundays May 12th through May 29th. —J onah W inn -L enetsky
Bonjour, là, Bonjour, Adobe Rose Theatre, production view. photo: Melissa Chambers