Latin US’s ‘A Puertas Abiertas’ (‘With Open Doors’) is one hell of a show
What is Hell? We all know the Christian fate of fire and brimstone and eternal suffering but the ancient Greeks had two versions of Hell. Hades was your first level of suffering while Tartarus was many levels below and involved much deeper hurts. Babylonians had to pass through seven gates (guarded by a bribable gate keeper) to reach Irkalla where you wore feathers and ate and drank nothing but dust for eternity. If you were Mongolian you would be judged by Erkil Khan (Prince of the Underworld) and sentenced to Kasyrgan where you would be boiled in black tar inside a massive cauldron. The really bad folks drowned in this tar while the “not so bad” floated to the top for a chance at redemption.
Before you could get used to being dead, the Aztecs whisked you off for a four year trek to Mictlan where you met Mictantecuhtli, a colorful blood splattered skeleton who wore a necklace made of human eyeballs (what a great Halloween costume!). “Mict” punished you according to your level of earthly sin. The Hindu version was Narak that was made up of 25 realms where you could suffer anything from being boiled in hot oil for all time or perhaps you punishing yourself for the rest of eternity (is that your choice?). Vikings who did not die an “honorable death” and were not worthy of Valhalla ended up in Helheim instead. This extremely cold place was guarded by a blood soaked hound of Hell called Garmr along with giant eagle called the “corpse-eater”. Really bad Vikings ended up in Niflhel (you do not want to know happens there).
The calm and peaceful teachings of Pure Land Buddhism carries the worst kind of punishment in the form of Avici. You need to commit only one of five sins in order to face trillions of years of never ending punishment. Iron walls, iron snakes and iron dogs hunt for you and if you die there you are reborn back on earth as well and the punishment continues. Tibetan Buddhists on the other hand faced “Black Thread Hell” where slanderous liars were marked with black lines then dissected along those lines with burning saws.
Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish philosopher born in 1688 felt hell was a poor rundown city where people continue to live even though they could leave. It was based on people’s tendency to be filled with cruel desires. For that matter why leave Earth? People of the Jewish faith believe in “The Supernal Washing Machine” where your soul travels to “Gehinnom” where it is cleansed much like a dirty sock with hot water, harsh soap and vigorous agitation much like we “punish” our laundry so we can wear it again. The Persians believed you crossed a bridge to meet a young woman. The nicer you were on Earth the nicer she looked. Sinners ended up in “The House of Lies where you ate foul food in the dark for eternity (much like most trendy restaurants).
That brings us to the reason for this review. In the Latin US produced play by Argentine playwright Patricia Suarez “A Puertas Abiertas” or “With Open Doors” now on stage in the Pivot Center, 2937 West 25th Street, Cleveland, Ohio, Hell is not nearly as scary. In this version loosely based on existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Satre’s 1944 one-act play “No Exit”, two women have been sent to an afterlife library where they spend their time reading sub standard literature. This sounds like more of an inconvenience than a punishment (much like Swedish Hell). It is an existence of dull routines, guilt and unresolved issues meted out in a reading room.
Orietta (Monica Torres) was a strict Catholic School Principle who died an accidental death and instead of “walking to the light” went the other direction...all the way to Hell. Oops! Orietta is spending her time with Ulkrike (Sandra Isaurralde) who spent her life as a community theater actress but gives herself a much higher billing. Following a botched suicide attempt of Valium and domestic whiskey that left Ulkrike in a ten year coma she passed on when her son unplugged the life support in order to charge his electronic device.
The pair is overseen by Dr. Recayente, an ophthalmologist who examines their eyes from time to time and assigns the required reading. A new arrival enters in the form of Marina (Maricris Gutierrez) who was the victim of a misguided suicide pact with her married lover. Marina drank the poison and her lover did not. Damn!
In this version of Purgatory/Hell opportunities are given to leave. From time to time offers are made to the women to return to earth in some form or another among the choices being California condors, cock roaches, taranchuas and even humans. When Orietta and Marina hold out for human form, Ulkrike lucks out with getting a human reincarnation at the first try but with strings attached.
This quirky off the wall dramedy is performed in Spanish with projected English subtitles. The acting is very engaging with the four actors working well together. Luisa Fernanda plays the role of Ana Bolena (Anne Boleyn, wife of King Henry VIII) as well as other roles that are all well done. Monica Torres as Orietta sparkles on stage as the “died too soon” school principle. Sandra Insaurralde as Ulkrike is Orietta’s perfect foil. Maricris Gutierrez as Marina dives into her role as the spurned lover who still longs for her paramour.
As with most community theaters, there is always “that guy” who fills many of the production roles. For this show, Eddy Diaz Souza is that guy in the form of director, costume designer and set designer and with Reinaldo Garcia’s assistance sound design and light design. Inda Geib Blatch manufactured the superb costumes. Sarah De Marchi did the easy to follow translations with Anald Vargas handling the subtitle projections. Monica Torres does a great job directing. The show lasts just over one hour with no intermission.
Be aware that this is an adult rated show with adult themes, adult language and adult circumstances. Do not bring the little ones to see this (even with Halloween happening this close). This is not a show for sensitive little eyes (both young and old).
If you are looking for a truly unique adult Cleveland theatrical experience you must make plans to visit this Latin US production. You will love the fast moving plot, the easy to follow story with simple to follow subtitles and the deep naughty overtones. Most of all you will enjoy the karma induced ending that delights. Check it out!
The Latin US production of “A Puertas Abiertas” (“With Open Doors”) will be on stage at the Pivot Center, 2937 West 25th Street, Cleveland, Ohio through November 7, 2026. For more information and to purchase tickets go to http://www.latinustheatre.com or call (216) 369-7158.
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