Two plays - two Marias - two journeys of and from modern Brazil by a British writer, a Brazilian director and a cast of actors from three countries. Tia Maria! explores the relationship Brazil has with Europe through the decline of a soap opera actress. Maria longs for the quiet sophistication of Europe, where true beauty and good manners are respected. Now past her prime and despite having endured many expensive operations on her face, she is faced with the prospect of meeting a violent death in her soap opera - a world she has come to believe is more real than the one she really lives in. Maria Alives in contrast, looks at Brazil as an exotic fantasy world, through the eyes of a deranged, violent young man who flees Manchester for Sao Paulo where, in the 'kidnapping capital', he himself becomes a kidnapper. Here, Martin Smith, a Latino-phile, searches out his own perfect 'girl from Ipanema' but the city is short of beaches and old spirits from the past just won't leave him alone.| 14 Nov 01 to 1 Dec 01 | Ovalhouse Inner London, Greater London Performance Details => Venue archive |
