Imagination is a fierce force.
In Borderland Theater's new play, "Our Dad Is in Atlantis," it leads two young Mexican brothers to fantasize about the wonderful land where their father has gone to work and drives them to try to join him.
But reality, they find, is far from their imaginings.
In the play, a tragicomedy by Javier Malpica, the brothers — one 11, the other 8 — feel isolated among relatives they don't really know.
The play earned the Victor Hugo Rascón Banda Award, Mexico's top dramatic honor.
When their mother died, their dad took them to live with their grandmother while he crossed into the United States to find work. But then the grandmother died.
What to do? Should they stay with these people who don't really want them? Or should they follow their father to "Atlantis"?
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They know he's in that wonderful, mythical place — a place where there is lots of work and everybody is happy — because they saw a letter he sent to their abuela. The envelope was clearly postmarked "Atlanta."
The decision is easy: They follow their dad to Atlantis.
The Borderlands production is directed by Eva Zorrilla Tessler. The adult actors portraying the young brothers are Bryant Enriquez and Rafael Martinez.
"It is a very common story," Tessler said. "You have a lot of minors crossing the border."
That's why Borderlands decided to stage this play.
"This is the life of our region" — of this community, she said.
"We are a community interested in social justice," Tessler explained, "and the immigration issue is a human rights issue for us."
Contact reporter Rosalie Crowe at 573-4105 or rcrowe@azstarnet.com.
If you go
"Our Dad Is in Atlantis"
• Presented by: Borderlands Theater.
• By: Javier Malpica .
• Director: Eva Zorrilla Tessler.
• Where: Artfare, 55 N. Sixth Ave.
• When: English-language performances are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (preview) and 7:30 p.m. next Friday. Spanish-language preview performances is 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Continues with performances in both English and Spanish through March 22.
• Tickets: $10.75 to $20.75.
• Reservations/information: 882-7406.
• Running time: 70 minutes.
