“What’s Happening Here?” – The Successful Debut Play of Young Playwright Oscar Trejo Zaragoza

Premiered on November 12, 1976 at the Teatro 11 de Julio in Mexico City, with a cast headed by Augusto Benedico, Pituka de Foronda, Leonardo Daniel and José Elías Moreno, the play “What’s happening here?” marked the professional debut of Guadalajara playwright Oscar Trejo Saragossa; and made him, in turn, the youngest playwright (21 years old), to premiere professionally and successfully.

The third edition of the book “What’s going on here?” (Editorial Ágata), with a prologue by Vicente Leñero and Hugo Arguelles, which is not usual (three editions), in the case of a play.

In interview with THE REPORTER, the author talks about his book.

-What is the validity of the work?

-There are several factors. Primarily the theme. The so-called “generation gap” that occurs in almost all families. In the text I present it as a natural gap that is inherited from generation to generation. The action takes place inside a middle-class home, which is another factor, since this segment grows exponentially every day. It also influences the fact that there are only seven characters and a single scenery without changes. This has allowed the work to survive more than four decades, with a good number of performances by different groups and companies in the country and even abroad.

-Since its premiere, has the text undergone changes?

-Updates, especially in the expressions used by young people. For example, in the work appears a “take fruit from your piñata!” Today they say, “do not stain.” The essence is the same, the family and private interests of the members have not had major variations. It is a power dispute within the family, in which at the end of the day everyone wins and loses at the same time.

– The specialized critics were almost unanimous, they received the work very well, was it because of the subject or because of its treatment?

– I think for both of us. The family is a theme that appears in the theater with the Mtro. Rodolfo Usigli, in the forties. And from there, a good number of playwrights with different perspectives have brought it to the stage, Arguelles, Leñero, Carballido, González Dávila, Liera, Tenorio, Licona, Ruiz Mercado, Chabaud, to name a few. In “What’s going on here?”, the critics and especially the public who have seen it, They recognized the attempt at objectivity and neutrality with which I dealt with the subject, a fact that was further accentuated by my age when it was released; They considered before seeing her, that for that reason I would lean towards children and it is not so.

-What can we expect from the third edition?

-That it contributes to disseminate the work more and as a consequence there are more productions, at whatever level and wherever; I just hope they let me know, at least to see her; and thus, understand that the so-called generation gap is natural on a daily basis and more so in these times.

Life and formation

The author was born in Guadalajara, Jal., on April 25, 1955. He is a Sociologist from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (1976-1979). At the invitation of Mr. Juan José Arreola, he studied Literature at the same institution. In 1985, the Mr. Vicente Leñero invited him to join his Dramatic Composition workshop, where he remained until 1988 when the Workshop concluded. His entire career has been as a cultural worker.

TAKE NOTE

Where to buy the book?

The book is for sale at Librerías Gonvill and Mercado Libre.

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Facebook: Oscar Trejo Zaragoza

WEB: oscartrejozaragoza.com