Drama Queens, a five-star arts journal focusing on female artists

Review by Amy Frateo

Under the direction of the Labyrinth Theatre and Rattlestick Theatre respectively, international actress, Paulina De La Parra created two searing music videos that can easily serve as a battle-cry for women’s empowerment and standing-up against racism.

Shame doesn’t live here anymore by Paulina De La Parra.

“I wrote this piece with an open heart and total vulnerability,” said the emerging Mexican actress and singer; “[my thanks to] the Labrynth theatre intensive 2021 team, I had a LOT of people mocking my intelligence and ability based on my accent; I carried shame because I didn’t have the “perfect American accent,” she concluded when discussing the genesis of this piece.

Shame – A clever zoom green screen effect starts us with a stark image of what it means to be silenced. But in no time, Ms. De La Parra barrages us in her perfect “spanglish” exclaiming her power, her rights, her abilities. Stealing a technique made famous in the Rocky Horror Picture Show, De La Parra exudes a sense of power and raw talent that made the brief monologue with an engaging Latin beat underneath into required watching for all young Latinx.

Her second piece, Si mañana no regreso / If tomorrow I don’t come back took a decidedly darker, more pessimistic tone.

“Si mañana no regreso” is a piece I wrote along with the music for the “Global Forms Festival” (Rattlestick Theatre) with this little poem I wanted to share the inner monologue that a lot of women unfortunately have in Mexico, fearing not coming back home safely.”

This piece – a stunning poem written my Ms. De lam Parra, talks of the high percentage of women and girls in Mexico raped and murdered. This hearkened back to another piece featuring Ms. De La Parra in which we meet the ghosts of abused women. Again, this heartbreaking piece is marinated in strength as, even in death, the lead character demands that her name be shouted and that her sisters fight on.

Messages of this power are most effective when communicated by those who have lived through it. Paulina De La Parra presents us with two well-acted, well-written, well-filmed examples.