Local staple, PCT, set to perform anticipated play

PHARR — As the beaming sun reflected off the water of the Hidalgo pump house basin, a group of youngsters had no worry in the world as kids did what they did best. They had fun and of course, made a splash while they were at it.

That was the vignette painted by the director here at the Pharr Community Theater when reminiscing about the good old days in the Rio Grande Valley.

More specifically, the days when kids played near the pump house to stay cool and treated it as their own community pool.

“For us youngsters, it was our swimming pool because it had a basin where it stored the water from the Rio Grande, before it let it go through the compuertas (flood gates) into the canals and it would rush out,” said Pedro Garcia, who is the PCT director and a “Tales of the Hidalgo Pumphouse” writer. “There was a lot of adventure, and some of the boys were very courageous.

“They would climb up to the top of the pump house shed ... and jump about 40 feet high into it.”

The play is a historical collection of stories that takes place in the Valley during the 1970s when it housed one of the region’s most crucial landmarks — the Hidalgo pump house, which is now a museum.

The work is set to start its runs today at 7:30 p.m., and will have showings this week and throughout the month.

The play will be predominantly in English, with some Spanish layered throughout it.

It is suitable for all ages and highlights not only the importance of the pump house, but also tackles the enigma that is the folklore that surrounds South Texas.

Anyone who knows anyone in the RGV knows the tall tales of folklore, such as La Llorona, La Lechuza and more. In “Tales of the Hidalgo Pumphouse,” attendees will be able to see them in action — right up and personal.

That’s the charm at the Pharr Community Theater — the spot houses about 55 seats and it gives off an oldschool vibe when you watch a play.

As one might say, “it’s a theater in the Valley, and for the Valley.”

That’s why Garcia, along with his uncle — Lucio G. Rivera — wrote the play that originates from their memories at the Hidalgo pump house during the late 1970s.

“I grew up loving the Hispanic culture. I’ve always felt proud of it,” Garcia said. “... I feel an innate tendency to produce plays that relate to my identity into the culture. And I like to see (the plays) as sharing them with any other culture.”

The multiple tales within the play help weave together the overarching mystique that the pump house carried at the time. Asides from the folklore, attendees will be treated to kids searching for a buried treasure and even learn about how a housewife saw Jesus Christ on a tortilla.

That’s right. The housewife of a Hidalgo pump house worker back in the day witnessed her own miracle that took its form on a tortilla.

Sounds like something out of a movie, or should be made into one, according to Garcia.

The play was written 14 years ago and this slate of showings will be the third time it has been brought back in terms of performances.

But no matter how much time has passed, the play keeps memories alive like a family memento.

“‘Tales of the Hidalgo Pumphouse’ is a heartwarming play of familia, of good times in the 1970s,” the director said. “It’s gonna enlighten people (about the pump house). And at the same time, there’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

When are the showings and what’s the cost?

Here are the list of showings for “Tales of the Hidalgo Pumphouse.”

• Today through Saturday: Shows will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Pharr Community Theater

• Sunday: The showing will be at 3 p.m. at the PCT

• Aug. 21-22: Both showings will be at 7:30 p.m. at the DRC Center in Pharr.

• Aug. 28: A single showing will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Granjeño Public Facility.

• Sept. 5 in Hidalgo, location to be announced

Tickets will be $10 if you buy them prior to the showing and you can get those on the PCT website.

If you show up the day of the play, then you’ll have to pay $12.