Pharr Community Theater slated to perform comedy play next week

Your local theater is preparing for some upcoming performances.

The Pharr Community Theater will perform its latest play — “A Singular Strike” — next week starting July 23. The play, which will be entirely in Spanish, is set to have seven performances until Aug. 3.

Those who have familial quarrels within their home will relate to this play.

The work is about a woman named Teresa Pacheco who is treated like a domestic machine within her own home. Frustrated and tired, Pacheco then organizes her own protest against her family.

Families — love ‘em or hate ‘em — there’s always something going on.

“A Singular Strike” — or “Una Huelga Singular” in Spanish — is a comedy play written by José Manuel Álvarez. Wendy B. Lara, along with local thespians, compose the cast. Lara also co-directs the production with the theater’s co-founder and director, Pedro García.

“The play is considered a comedy, not necessarily because of its plot, but because of how Álvarez defined his characters with their self-aggrandizing attitudes, because in reality, marital inequality isn’t a laughing matter,” García said in a release.

Those who have felt they have been treated unfairly or taken advantage of in their own home can resonate with a character like Teresa Pacheco.

“Teresa is someone who has allowed herself to be manipulated by her family throughout her marriage of almost 25 years. Everyone abuses her, not physically but verbally, including her husband Rafael, her teenage children, her friend Gloria, and even her mother-in-law … and when she cannot stand it any longer, she decides to change her situation,” said Lara, who will play the lead.

"Fortunately, I have a talented cast in a well-rounded play that encompasses comedy, anger, affection, surprises, and triumph ... and I think everyone who sees it will be talking about it for days to come.”

The cast has been rehearsing the production since late May — members come from Hidalgo, Edinburg, McAllen, Brownsville and of course, Pharr, to help put on the show. From then to now, the theater has been hard at work. One can pass by the theater in the later hours of the day and you’ll find members fine-tuning everything that is needed to put on a memorable show.

Other characters in the play include family friends, a mother-inlaw and to any wife, a husband as well.

The first five performances of “A Singular Strike” will be at the Pharr Community Theater.

The rundown is as follows:

• From July 23 to 26 — plays will start at 7:30 p.m. at the PCT.

• On July 27, the play will be at 3 p.m. at the PCT

• On Aug. 2, the play will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Development and Research Center, located at 850 W. Dicker Road in Pharr.

• On Aug. 3, the play will be at 3 p.m. at Pharr One, located at 1121 E. Nolana Loop.

Tickets will cost $8 if purchased in advance — but will be $12 at the door.

Seats will be limited at all venues, so it’s best not to wait until the last minute.

Tickets can be copped online at www.pharrcomunitytheater. com. You can also call the theater at (956) 655-7915 or (956) 655-9308.

“At Pharr Community Theater, we practice everything from getting to rehearsals on time to how to interpret the characters and their situations,” García said. “We're like a drama school. Our focus isn't just on entertaining the audience and telling the story, but also on educating the talent. For 17 years, PCT has put on three plays each year, and anyone can try to win a role through auditions.”