February 17, 2010 — The University of Virginia Spanish Theatre Group will present "Pisar el palito" and three other short plays, "Oficina," "La que sigue" and "Decir sí," all by Argentine playwright Griselda Gambaro, at Live Arts Theater Feb. 18 through 20.

Anguish, humor, violence and frustration take center stage as each work presents a struggle for control and power in a cruel world. A fortune teller gets spooked by her client's supernatural talent; a barber proves to his bumbling patron that he is more than just a man of few words; a frustrated man lands in the hands of an erratic office worker; two crooks try to rob a lady with a plan up her sleeve. Each play presents the continually thwarted aspirations of its helpless and hopeless characters.

For 28 years, Spanish Theatre Group director Fernando Operé has brought Spanish dramatic works to Charlottesville, and lately he has been stirring up the traditional theater repertoire to include works that probe controversial themes such as transsexuality and opposition to war. The group features a cast of graduate students, faculty and community members who have experience in professional theater either here in the United States or abroad. 

Tickets are $7 for students and $10 for nonstudents, and are available in advance at U.Va. in Wilson 112 and also at the Live Arts Theater, 123 Water St., 30 minutes prior to the show times: 8 p.m. each day, with an additional matinee performance on Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. The plays will be presented in Spanish. English summaries will be included in the program.

For information, contact Miranda Lea Braithwaite at mlb4jc@virginia.edu or 608-516-1191.