Bilingual play ‘Espejos’ comes to life on stage

By C ori U rban

Special to The Republican

FOR KATE ABBRUZZese, playing the part of a self-acknowledged family screw-up in the bilingual play “Espejos: Clean” underscores the importance of paying attention to others.

Her character, Sarah, is living in the shadow of her sister. “Her sister’s issues got attention, but Sarah’s issues were completely unacknowledged,” Abbruzzese explained.

“Espejos: Clean,” by Christine Quintana with Spanish translation by Paula Zelaya Cervantes, is playing at Hartford Stage through Feb. 5.

The production — with continuous English and Spanish supertitles — is the story of an unlikely and meaningful connection between two women who unexpectedly meet at a vacation resort in Mexico.

The lives of the two women with different life experiences intersect at a destination

Calendar

CONTINUED FROM PAGE E8

Thursdays until 8 p.m. Closed Mondays, holidays, and academic breaks. Check for snow days online at umass.edu/closing/. 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum: “Ghost Tours with Robert Oakes,” Sat., 7 p.m. Oakes will lead participants through the rooms and halls of the museum sharing stories of its hauntings. This is not an active investigation. The program is for ages 12+. Reservations required. all tickets are nonrefundable and nonexchangeable. Payment is required to make a reservation, call 413-637-3206. $30. Permanent exhibit: Guided tours of the first and second floors. Open weekdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and weekends, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Self-guided tours are on the hour with the last self-guided tour weekdays at 2 p.m. and weekends at 3 p.m. Masks are required and social distancing will be practiced. Call to reserve at 413-637-3206. Admission is $18 adults, $17 seniors (65+), $10 students with ID, $7 children 5-17, and free children 4 and younger. 104 Walker St., Lenox or gildedage.org wedding in Cancún. Adriana has left her home in Chetumal, Mexico, and is working as the manager of the housekeeping staff at a resort. Sarah, from Vancouver, is the sister of the bride and the self-acknowledged family screw-up. A chance encounter during a torrential downpour leads each woman to confront her personal storm and to consider the possibility that, though isolated, she may not be as alone as she believes.

“If you don’t acknowledge moments of failure, you’re probably not evolving,” Abbruzzese said. Sarah “went through something that left an indelible mark on her, and she has never processed it.”

The connection Sarah and Adriana make is the kind of connection one might make while going through a difficult time. “There are moments when strangers collide and they can confide in each other more than they can with the people who know them best,”

Volleyball Hall of Fame: Permanent exhibit. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or volleyhall.org

Wistariahurst Museum: Permanent exhibit: Gardens and grounds open daily from dawn to dusk. Carriage House and gift shop open Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For information about house tours, group tours and upcoming events visit wistariahurst.org. $7 Holyoke residents, $5 seniors, $5 youth (under 18), free for museum members, active military and family members. 238 Cabot St., Holyoke or wistariahurst.org

Yiddish Book Center: Permanent exhibit, “A Velt mit veltelekh: The Worlds of Jewish Culture.” Open Thu., Fri., Sun. and Mon., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Shabbos (Saturday) and Jewish and legal holidays. $8 adults, $6 seniors, free for members, students and children. 1021 West St., Amherst or yiddishbookcenter. org

Galleries

A.P.E. Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Tues.-Thu., noon-5 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., noon-8 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m.

“Deconstructions” works by Adrienne Albro-Fisher, Isabela said Abbruzzese, a New Yorkbased actress and playwright. “They affect one another’s trajectory.”

She said the production illustrates how people never really know what others’ lives are truly like: “We can never fully know what anyone else is going through, but also we can see when someone is in deep pain and needs care and attention.”

The Spanish word “espejos” translates to “mirrors.” Its inclusion in the name of the production reflects its theme of not getting the full picture of another person, Abbruzzese explained. “You can never fully see another person and what they are going through or ever really see yourself in a mirror. We have friends, therapists and partners who can reflect back to us parts we can’t see.”

The characters of Sarah and Adriana “reflect back to each other things they may not have previously seen about themselves,” she continued.

Cusano, Henry Prentiss. Through Jan. 30. Mon.-Thu., 1-4 p.m., Fri., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, email kathycouch@apearts.org or call 413-586-5553. 126 Main St., Northampton or apearts.org

Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Tues.-Fri., 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. First floor of building 28. 1 Armory Square, Springfield, 413-755-5258.

Burnett Gallery: Sculpture by Jon Bander, through Jan. 31. 43 Amity St., Amherst.

Forbes Library: Jan. Exhibits through Jan. 30. Mosaics by Cynthia Fisher; paintings by Lennie Kaumzha; photographs by Paul Yandoli. 20 West St., Northampton or forbeslibrary.org

Gallery A3 Amherst Art Alliance: “Birds” by Keith Hollingworth, through Sat. Thu.-Sun., 2-7 p.m. 28 Amity St., Amherst, 413-256-4250.

Hope and Feathers Framing and Gallery: “Glued Down” by Jules Jones, through Feb. 25. Opening reception Feb. 2, 5-7 p.m. Galley hours: Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thu., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 319 Main St., Amherst or hopeandfeathersframing.com

Indian Orchard Mills Dane Gallery: All new exhibits every month

Abbruzzese received a bachelor’s degree in drama and psychology from Vassar College and a master of fine arts degree from Tisch School of the Arts graduate program at New York University.

Abbruzzese acted in the film, “The Chaperone.” Her television credits include “NCIS: New Orleans,” “The Blacklist” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

Among her stage work, Abbruzzese co-starred Off-Broadway in “Pound,” a new play about Ezra Pound.

“Espejos: Clean” runs through Feb. 5. Tuesday through Thursday performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, Sunday and select Wednesday matinees begin at 2 p.m.

A mask-required performance will be held this Saturday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m.; an open-captioned performance will be on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m., and an English-only featuring the artists at Indian Orchard Mills. Sat., noon-4 p.m., or by appointment. 34 Front St., Indian Orchard, 413-543-3321.

J. H. Miller Custom Framing and Gallery: Featuring the works of local artists. Mon.-Fri., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thu., 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 86 Elm St., West Springfield, 413-732-9128.

Sunnyside Road Gallery: Featuring the work of Carolyn Avery. Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m., or by calling 413-569-0384. 52 Sunnyside Road, Southwick.

Trinity United Methodist Church: “Boars Head Festival Memories: Photos and Memorabilia,” in the Trinity Community Gallery through Jan. 31. Open Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and during the week by appointment. Call 413-218-7391 for more information. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield, 413-737-5311.

Outdoors

Great Falls Discovery Center: “Nice and Easy Walk,” Fridays in Jan. 1 p.m. Meet at the Main Entrance. An easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, audio-described performance will be staged Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. Post-show conversations will take place on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

“I so hope you will join us for this highly theatrical experience of cross-cultural misperceptions and internal reckonings that takes place at a gorgeous resort in Mexico,” said Artistic Director Melia Bensussen. “Hartford Stage is proud to present a play told entirely in English and Spanish for the first time in the theater’s history. You don’t need to speak another language to understand or appreciate the musicality in this play, told through expertly crafted projections, supertitles and wonderful acting.” but open to all ages. Wear appropriate clothing and sturdy boots. Bring water. Free. In case of inclement weather, come on inside for the interpretive topic of the day. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or greatfallsma.org

Tickets for “Espejos: Clean” start at $30. Discounts are available for students and groups. Tickets can be purchased by visiting Hartford Stage.org, calling 860-5275151, or visiting the Hartford Stage Box Office at 50 Church St.

Natural Bridge State Park: Visitors Center exhibits daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round; explore the park story through displays, artifacts and scavenger hunts. $2 parking fee, programs are free. 107 McAuley Road, North Adams

Markets

Northampton Winter Farmers Market: Northampton Senior Center, Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 28; Feb. 11, 25; March 11, 25. 67 Conz St., Northampton or northamptonseniors.com

The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub.com or submitted to masslive.com/ myevent