as Karl Marx
Interview w Carmelita Tropicana
Tell me who you are and what you do.
I have two names, my real name, legal name, is Alina Troyano and my stage name, which is the better half -- it’s Carmelita Tropicana. She is a very invented character or persona, that I started doing in the eighties. That's how I started performing, through this character.
And what was the character's, um, reason for being?
Oh My God. To show the world that there are many stories. There’s history, herstory, and Horse-story. I wrote a piece about a horse who witnessed the conquest of Mexico. It's called The Conquest of Mexico as Seen Through the Eyes of Fernando Cortez's Horse. So it's this outrageous way of mixing history and autobiography.
And how did you get involved in A Simple Herstory?
I think Flor or Jocelyn knew of me.... I think it's one of those ways in the world that we have, being women, there's a great network and I love that. So I was called and I just couldn't turn down something as wonderful as Victoria’s story. And to get to perform Karl Marx, that amazing historical figure.
What did you know about Karl Marx before you played this role?
Just a little bit! I'm not, like, as well-versed in Marxism as well as I should be, being as we are in this individualistic, capitalist society. He's the antidote to that, I knew. I started reading a little bit more about him, doing my research, investigating. I do know lots of people who are Marxists and, and I was also part of a Soho Rep cohort, where they brought in a Marxism scholar.
This leads me into my next question, which is: We're at this inflection point in our society right now. What’s one practical thing that you would like to see happen in our field to rebalance it, to equalize it? If you have any idea for a practical shift that you want to see happen in our field, what would it be?
We need to make a more inclusive system. Whatever we can to somehow, even in our theater, to try and figure out how to become more sustainable. We have to address climate change. And inclusivity regarding race, it’s really important. What I’m realizing is how much indigenous people are pretty much left out of the equation. This year I started reading more. I started reading a lot of Black history, listening to podcasts, I know a little bit more now, which has opened me up, and now I’m starting to realizing that we have to reckon with treatment of our Native population. And this has to be reckoned with in the theater. Producing more Indigenous writers, hiring actors who are Indigenous, Native. Visibility is so important.
And accessibility. You know, just put in your casting notice in that anybody can audition, that you welcome people.
Who is one person from history that you would like to haunt you?
Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. Philosopher. Poet. Writer.
She was a woman from Mexico, she's pretty well known in Latinx communities. She wrote perhaps the first feminist treatise, where she said that women should be allowed to have an education. This is in the 17th century. I’ve written a show about her. She was really sharp. She amassed the largest library in the world. She was a cloistered nun, and she had money, she made money. So she wasn't a nun like we're used to, but she got through and could create a room of her own because she joined the convent. I'd love her to haunt me.
Of course, you know, she had all these problems with the church, and she died miserably, you know, the plague! So in a way....SO modern.
Any plugs?
My podcast, “That’s Not What Happened,” is available on Soundcloud podcasts. There are nine episodes. It was supposed to be a live performance, but because of COVID....
Okay. Carmelita, thank you so much.
I have two names, my real name, legal name, is Alina Troyano and my stage name, which is the better half -- it’s Carmelita Tropicana. She is a very invented character or persona, that I started doing in the eighties. That's how I started performing, through this character.
And what was the character's, um, reason for being?
Oh My God. To show the world that there are many stories. There’s history, herstory, and Horse-story. I wrote a piece about a horse who witnessed the conquest of Mexico. It's called The Conquest of Mexico as Seen Through the Eyes of Fernando Cortez's Horse. So it's this outrageous way of mixing history and autobiography.
And how did you get involved in A Simple Herstory?
I think Flor or Jocelyn knew of me.... I think it's one of those ways in the world that we have, being women, there's a great network and I love that. So I was called and I just couldn't turn down something as wonderful as Victoria’s story. And to get to perform Karl Marx, that amazing historical figure.
What did you know about Karl Marx before you played this role?
Just a little bit! I'm not, like, as well-versed in Marxism as well as I should be, being as we are in this individualistic, capitalist society. He's the antidote to that, I knew. I started reading a little bit more about him, doing my research, investigating. I do know lots of people who are Marxists and, and I was also part of a Soho Rep cohort, where they brought in a Marxism scholar.
This leads me into my next question, which is: We're at this inflection point in our society right now. What’s one practical thing that you would like to see happen in our field to rebalance it, to equalize it? If you have any idea for a practical shift that you want to see happen in our field, what would it be?
We need to make a more inclusive system. Whatever we can to somehow, even in our theater, to try and figure out how to become more sustainable. We have to address climate change. And inclusivity regarding race, it’s really important. What I’m realizing is how much indigenous people are pretty much left out of the equation. This year I started reading more. I started reading a lot of Black history, listening to podcasts, I know a little bit more now, which has opened me up, and now I’m starting to realizing that we have to reckon with treatment of our Native population. And this has to be reckoned with in the theater. Producing more Indigenous writers, hiring actors who are Indigenous, Native. Visibility is so important.
And accessibility. You know, just put in your casting notice in that anybody can audition, that you welcome people.
Who is one person from history that you would like to haunt you?
Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. Philosopher. Poet. Writer.
She was a woman from Mexico, she's pretty well known in Latinx communities. She wrote perhaps the first feminist treatise, where she said that women should be allowed to have an education. This is in the 17th century. I’ve written a show about her. She was really sharp. She amassed the largest library in the world. She was a cloistered nun, and she had money, she made money. So she wasn't a nun like we're used to, but she got through and could create a room of her own because she joined the convent. I'd love her to haunt me.
Of course, you know, she had all these problems with the church, and she died miserably, you know, the plague! So in a way....SO modern.
Any plugs?
My podcast, “That’s Not What Happened,” is available on Soundcloud podcasts. There are nine episodes. It was supposed to be a live performance, but because of COVID....
Okay. Carmelita, thank you so much.
This interview was conducted by Kyra Miller, 2021.
* This interview has been edited for clarity and cohesion.
* This interview has been edited for clarity and cohesion.
