Purgatorio

Making its California Premiere, Ariel Dorfman’s Purgatorio inserts a Man and a Woman (who resemble Jason and Medea) and several historical figures (such as Cortez and his wife, Malinche) into a story similar to part of Dante’s Divine Comedy. The Man was a conqueror, and the Woman was a sorcerer priestess. He was entranced by her powers. She loved him for his greatness and became his guide. Together they made history. Now, in this nameless, timeless institution, they both must come to terms with who they really are and discover whether love truly is forever and whether it can overcome betrayal, hatred, and revenge.