''Zorro in Hell'' is a satiric play by

Richard Montoya Richard Montoya is an American actor, director, producer, screenwriter, playwright, comedian, and co-founding member of the San Francisco based performance troupe Culture Clash.Grimm, Tracy. ''Richard Montoya Papers''. Julian Samora Library at t ...

, Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza, collectively known as Culture Clash. It is a profile of the legendary hero Zorro from a Latino viewpoint. The play had its initial productions at Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the La Jolla Playhouse in 2006. It then ran at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood from July 11 - August 19, 2007.

Characters

* Nameless writer * Don Ringo the first Chicano * Kyle the Therapist Bear * Whiskey Pete the desperado * Austrian governor * 200-year-old woman

Reception

Bob Verini of '' Variety'' said the play "is overlong and not as consistently funny as it wants to be, largely because of the troupe's habit of site-specific name-dropping as a substitute for wit." Tony Taccone, artistic director of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre described Zorro in Hell as a "bold piece of agitational propaganda" in a world capable of change. Taccone also analyzed the protagonist's humanity and role as a professional

Fool Fool, The Fool, or Fools may refer to: *A jester, also called a ''fool'', a type of historical entertainer known for their witty jokes *An insult referring to someone of low intelligence or easy gullibility Arts, entertainment and media Fictio ...

. Anne Marie Welsh of the ''San Diego Union-Tribune'' discussed the play's development in California's political climate from 2003-2005. Welsh notes the potential tension caused by the 2003 election of

Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian and American actor, film producer, businessman, retired professional bodybuilder and politician who served as the 38th governor of California between 2003 and 2011. ''Time'' ...

as Governor of California and the 2005 election of Antonio Villaraigosa as the first Mexican American Mayor of Los Angeles in 130 years. According to Siguenza of Culture Clash, the play asks "Who is a terrorist and who is a hero? Who is a Californian?" Karen D'Souza of the ''Knight Ridder Tribune'' critiqued the middle of the play for its overuse of pop references and racial stereotypes. D'Souza noted that the play "starts and ends so explosively, you almost forget that the center is a mess."

References

External links

Official website

''LA Weekly'' review, July 26, 2007

Culture Clash Unmasks El Zorro

Culture Clash takes swipe at Zorro story
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zorro In Hell 2006 plays American plays Zorro Hispanic and Latino American plays Plays based on television series