Overview
Synopsis
The young Electricidad has just finished a period of intense mourning. Her father - leader of a powerful gang - has been murdered by his own wife, Clemencia. Clemencia, in her bid for power, has awakened the spirit of revenge in her daughter, who vows to kill Clemencia to avenge her father’s death. Despite the protests of her Abuela and sister, Ifigenia, who both urge Electricidad toward forgiveness, Electricidad swears that she is a chola warrior to the last. Ultimately, she and her devoted brother, Orestes, carry out the grim act of matricide. However, Clemencia’s death cannot defeat the true enemy: the cycle of violence and hatred perpetuated by gang life.
Luis Alfaro’s update of the classic Greek tragedy Electra transforms Argos into contemporary Los Angeles. An intoxicating mix of mythology and urban drama, this intense and challenging play follows the plot points of its historical counterparts, while allowing more space for each of the characters to truly expose the emotional ramifications of their decisions.
Show Information
- Book
- Luis Alfaro
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Electra
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 2003
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Los Angeles and Las Vegas, present day
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- College/University, Mostly Female Cast, Professional Theatre, Includes Young Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Adult Characters, Small Cast
Context
According to an interview with the New York Times, Alfaro was inspired to write Electricidad during his work with at-risk Mexican-American youth. In 1999, he met a 13-year old girl who had been arrested for killing her mother for putting a hit out on her father, who was a drug dealer. Alfaro was struck by the similarities between this modern tragedy and Sophocles’ classic Electra, and Electricidad became
to read the context for Electricidad and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
PROLOGUE The play opens in the yard of a house near a freeway in a city that resembles Los Angeles. The house and yard are dilapidated, and in the middle of the scene is an altar on which the decomposing body of Electricidad’s father, Agamenon, is laid. Electricidad is sitting vigil over her father’s corpse, and has been there for days. Inside the house, Clemencia is pacing nervously and smoking a cigarette.
SCENE ONE Electricidad is asleep on the altar when a trio of neighborhood gossips
to read the plot for Electricidad and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
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Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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