Ep. 45: Studio Series presents The Cunning Linguist
December 16, 2020
“Pleasure is a gift I gave you and it’s a gift you don’t only need to give to others, but you can give it to yourself too, you know?”
Welcome to the Studio Series: experiments in audio storytelling from some of the most exciting theatre artists from our TransAmerican community in Canada. First you’ll hear a work in process, then a short talk by the artist on their creative process. This presentation is also available in Spanish.
A journey from one home to another. The Cunning Linguist tells the story of Monica, a young Mexican girl that realizes that God made her queer. What Monica sees as an honour, people close to her see as wrong. Thanks to a TV show Monica decides to move to Toronto, with God (Diosito) as her unlikely sidekick, where she begins to learn more about herself, freedom and sex.
Monica Garrido is a Toronto based Mexican Artist, Filmmaker, Writer, Producer, Comedian, Performer and Storyteller that uses comedy as a tool and a shield to express herself. Her short films “Diferente” and the horror-comedy “Love You to Death” have been part of the Inside Out LGBT Film Festival. She’s part of the ensemble of the Canadian Comedy Award winner show Sketch Comedy Extravaganza Eleganza. Monica is the 2018 recipient of the Queer Emerging Artist Award at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. She is one third of a Latinx Drag King Boyband and currently Co-host and Co- Produces “Merendiando” part of Radio Aluna Theatre. She is also a Taurus and wishes you the best.
Beatriz Pizano (Director) is an accomplished director and playwright. She is also an actor with more than twenty years of experience on stage, film and television. She is the 2009 winner of the prestigious John Hirsch Prize for Direction from the Canada Council for the Arts and the recipient of numerous awards and internships including The Ken McDougall Award for Direction, The Chalmers Fellowship, The Urjo Kareda Award (Tarragon Theatre), and The Metcalf Performing Arts Internship. She has been an Associate Artistic Director for Theatre Revolve and Nightwood Theatre. As a writer/director Beatriz has been nominated three times for Best New Play for her multi-award winning trilogy about women and war comprised of For Sale, Madre, and La Comunión. She has also created and led a number of youth programs both in Canada and Colombia. Most recently, she facilitated a theatre/photography workshop with ex-combatant children and youth victims from the armed conflict in her native Colombia.
The Cunning Linguist was Created with support from the Emerging Creators Unit at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, and winner of the 2016 Queer Acts Audience Award. This piece development has been supported by The Ontario Arts Council and Aluna Theatre.
This recording was produced by Aluna Theatre at our studio in Toronto.
Written, performed by Monica Garrido
Directed by Beatriz Pizano
Sound Engineer, Steph Raposo
Editing and sound design by Miquelon Rodriguez, assisted by Lucia Linares
Additional Songs by Monroü
Head of Production, Monica Garrido
Script co-ordination, Camila Diaz-Varela
All Radio Aluna Theatre episodes are in Spanglish, English, or Spanish. New episodes of Radio Aluna Theatre are released on Wednesdays. Follow and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
Radio Aluna Teatro is produced by Aluna Theatre with support from the Toronto Arts Council, The Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Metcalf Foundation, and TD Bank.
Aluna Theatre is Beatriz Pizano & Trevor Schwellnus, with Sue Balint.
For more about Aluna Theatre, visit us at alunatheatre.ca, follow @alunatheatre on twitter or instagram, or ‘like’ us on facebook.