‘The River Bride’ to open Thursday at PCPA in Santa Maria

in South American mythology. Botos (or Encante) are playful, magical beings that create mysterious happenings.

“The River Bride” is also inspired by the Brothers Grimm, the masters of cautionary fairy tales, and has graced stages across the country and Britain since its world premiere in 2016 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. It was awarded the National Latino Playwriting Award.

The play is part of a threeplay cycle termed “Grim Latino Fairytales” by Marisela Treviño Orta, a third-generation MexicanAmerican poet/playwright. Marilet Martinez, who has

FYI known the playwright for a long time, is directing the PCPA production.

PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) is performing “The River Bridge” from Thursday through March 5 at Allan Hancock College’s Severson Theatre, 870 S. Bradley Road, Santa Maria. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

The cast features Christen Celaya as Helena, Rosie Quintana as Belmira, Johnny Valerio as Moises, Oscar Emmanuel Fabela as Duarte, Hugo Carbajal as Sr. Costa and Dena Martinez as Sra. Costa.

The play is full of romantic entanglements.

“There are several love triangles, depending on who’s on stage,” Ms. Martinez told the NewsPress.

In “The River Bride,” the two sisters, Helena and Belmira Costa, are both in love with Moises. “He’s the new character, the stranger in the town,” she said. “It’s a very small village, and this creates a level of buzz.

“You have one sister who’s more outgoing and ambitious, Belmira. Helena, the older sister, bears a lot of responsibility, is more hesitant, more quiet. Both of them are taken with this stranger when he comes into town.

“Moises is a fisherman. He’s a charming character, a little on the mysterious side,” Ms. Martinez said. “He’s someone who’s desperately looking for connection. He’s someone who suffers from loneliness and solitude.

“Duarte is engaged to Belmira,” Ms. Martinez said. “At one point, he and Helena were interested in each other.”

Belmira didn’t know Helena and Duarte were interested in each other when Belmira and Duarte made a connection.