San Antonio's own Jump-Start Performance Co. is about to give audiences a uniquely interactive theatrical experience with "Lechuza Guide to the Lone Star State", taking place on August 2 and August 3. Performance artist Marisela Barrera is set to embody the mythological lechuza, a bird-witch figure of borderland folklore renown for keeping troublemakers in check. In this innovative act, Barrera invites the audience to become part of the narrative, turning an interview into a deep dive into the lechuza's life and legends.
Barrera, as the lechuza, is not just a harbinger of local folklore; she becomes a living commentary on contemporary issues. "Through her stories, we’re able to definitely get to know her politics," Barrera explained in a statement obtained by San Antonio Report. Addressing skepticism towards public figures, her character asserts, "She’s like, believe in me, don’t believe in that." The performance, poignant in its exploration of myths, also grounds itself firmly in the socio-political landscape of Texas.
Accompanying Barrera's performance are musicians Joe Reyes and Wayne "Odie" Cole from the San Antonio band Buttercup. Reyes, who grew up with these tales, reflected on their cultural significance, stating, "The music, the culture, the food, the language, the slang, all that stuff is part of who we are." His involvement brings an authentic layer of local tradition to the soundtrack underlying Barrera’s recitation.
"These are also very much Tejano stories, of the land that once was, before it was Texas, before it was the U.S., even before it was Mexico," said Barrera, linking the tales to the deep history of indigenous communities in the region. Her performance explores contemporary issues through the lens of this mythological creature, touching on subjects such as climate change, and even giving a stinging nod to high-profile Texas transplant Elon Musk with a warning, "He’d better watch his back. Don’t go into any cantinas, especially here in South Texas," Barrera's lechuza character advised according to San Antonio Report. Indeed, ecological and social themes seem to interweave seamlessly within the larger tapestry of Barrera's artistic vision.
Tickets for the brief two-night engagement of "Lechuza Guide to the Lone Star State" can be snatched up online, potentially offering attendees not just a performance but an encounter with a cultural phenomenon that is as Texan as it is otherworldly.
