The lights dimmed and the music began to fill the small theater. The nearly 150 audience members hushed down at the sounds of the lone guitarist that played all of the music for the live performance of “Guaria del Desamor”, which was directed by George Flogeira.

Students of La Academia Latina De Arte Dramatico de California performed the play, which was done entirely in Spanish, last Thursday night.

The Department of Adult Education and Diversity Programs sponsored the event. The “Guaria del Desamor” is a compilation of serveral excerpts from English and Spanish writers. Excerpts inclucde Federico Garcia Lorca, Moliere, Antov Checkov and William Shakespeare.

All of the pieces are carefully crafted by the director to achieve the theme of the lack of love, a theme that the Flogeira felt is often overshadowed by love. The need to educate people about classic theater is why we do this, Gorge Flogeira said about why his troupe and the academy perform the “Guaria del Desamor.”

Three of the first four plays were by Lorca and anyone who knows Lorca’s writing, knows that the chance of even the best versed Spanish major understanding everything in the play was slim.

Two of those portrayals included La casa de Bernarda Alba and Yerma. Two well known Lorca pieces.

Those were followed by a portrayal of Shakespeare’s Othello. This interestingly acted version of the classic play had many people scratching their heads as the originally old English play was put into an old Spanish language, the results were somewhat confusing.

After intermission, there was one more Lorca play La casa de muneca.This was by far the most understandable and concise scene. The slow and dramatic pace made it easy to understand the meaning behind the play.

The last scene was from Chekhov’s The Bear.

This very silly and strong piece served to finish off the night well with a few laughs and an uncharacteristically happy ending.

Even though there was a good turnout for the event, the night was marred by the ever-present cell phone-using scene, spoiling loud jerks every where you turned. The cramped Burnight Studio Theatre served to aggravate the situation.

The original soundtrack that backed up every scene and every transition dance helped the mood of the scenes.

This performance is the Academy’s second visit to Cerritos College their first was last year.