HOLDEN GUNSTER
SCENIC DESIGNER
PAPER TOWELS
WRITTEN BY NELSON DIAZ-MARCANO
PERFORMED AT INTAR THEATRE
PRODUCED BY CINDY DIAS & THE ROUTE
DIRECTED BY CHARLIE CHAUCA
SCENIC DESIGN BY HOLDEN GUNSTER
LIGHTING DESIGN BY NICHOLAS PALATELLA
COSTUME DESIGN BY WINDY LAWRENCE
VIDEO DESIGN BY JENNA BRADY
PHOTOS BY KAITLYN HARMON
HURRICANE MARIA DEVASTATED PUERTO RICO IN 2017. HOW DID OUR GOVERNMENT RESPOND? WITH PAPER TOWELS.
ALREADY LACKING ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION AND PROTECTION FROM THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CARELESS LOBBING OF PAPER TOWELS AT HURRICANE RAVAGED PUERTO RICANS ADDED FURTHER INSULT TO ALREADY INJURED AND ABANDONED GROUP OF AMERICAN CITIZENS.
THIS ANGER AND SENSE OF ABANDONMENT IS WHAT PAPER TOWELS IS ALL ABOUT. IT IS THE STORY OF A YOUNG PUERTO RICAN ARTIST WHO HAD EVERYTHING TAKEN FROM HIM IN THE HURRICANE, AND IS DRIVEN TO THE EXTREME IN THE ATTEMPT TO CREATE HIS "FINAL ART PIECE."
CHARLIE (THE DIRECTOR) AND I WANTED TO REPRESENT THE NEGLECT AND DAMAGE OF A POST-HURRICANE PUERTO RICO, AND CHOSE TO SET THE PLAY IN AN OLD CRUMBLING NEW YORK APARTMENT BUILDING THAT SHOWED SIGNS OF AN ATTEMPT AT RENOVATION, BUT WITHOUT MUCH ACTUAL PROGRESS BEING MADE. MUCH LIKE HOW THE US GOVERNMENT'S PROMISES TO PUERTO RICO OFTEN FALL THROUGH.
THE SHOW CLIMAXES WITH A HEARTBREAKING DEATH. IT IS SHOWN AS A MOMENT FROZEN IN TIME, BLOOD SPATTERED WALLS AND BODIES APPEAR UNDER BLACKLIGHT AND AN INTENSE POST-GUNSHOT RINGING FILLS THE SPACE AS THE AUDIENCE IS FORCED TO STARE IN HORROR AT WHAT HAS OCCURRED. THE MOMENT FADES BUT THE BLOOD AND RINGING REMAIN, SHOWING NO MATTER HOW HARD THE GOVERNMENT TRIES TO WIPE AWAY THE PAIN AND SUFFERING IT HAS CAUSED, THE BLOOD OF THOUSANDS OF INNOCENTS IS STILL ON THEIR HANDS.