Crabs in a Bucket
*The event has already taken place on this date: Mon, 08/21/2023
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“If I can’t have it — neither can you!” The Echo Theater Company presents an outrageous, smart and very funny satire about the impact of “crab mentality” on oppressed communities whose members work against one another instead of together. Alana Dietze (Dry Land, Poor Clare) directs the world premiere of Crabs in a Bucket by Bernardo Cubría (The Play You Want, The Giant Void In My Soul) for a six-week run at the Echo’s home at Atwater Village Theatre. Performances take place July 15 through August 21, with three previews set for July 12, 13 and 14.
Amargo and Pootz are bitter crabs who spend their days talking chit about the crabs that got out, the ones who couldn't take it, and the losers who still live among them. Young Beb is the newcomer who arrives filled with optimism and hope for change. Can Beb help Amargo and Pootz achieve their life-long dream of getting the shuck out? Or will they prove to be their own worst enemies and continue to hold each other and everyone else back?
The “crabs in a bucket” trope comes from the observation that if a single crab is placed in a bucket, it can easily climb to freedom. But if there are multiple crabs, each one that tries to climb up will be pulled back down by the others, ensuring that no crab will ever make it out.
“What happens when we can’t be happy for the success of others?” asks Cubría. “Sometimes, in communities where there are limited opportunities, we think, ‘if he gets a slot, there won’t be one left for me,’ and we get down on each other. Why can’t we support one another? Whenever oppressed groups come together, we win.”
The play was inspired by Cubría’s personal experience in the Latinx theater community, but the themes are so universal that it could refer to just about any group. Dietze, for one, was convinced when she read it that it had been written about actors.
“I love how relatable this play is, how the bucket is its own world that’s everywhere and nowhere all at once, and how clever and witty and funny the dialogue is,” she says. “For me, the metaphor is about being an artist, and how competition, ambition and petty jealousies create an environment in which people tear each other down when we should be lifting each other up.”
Crabs in a Bucket opens on Saturday, July 15, with performances continuing on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 4 p.m.; and Mondays at 8 p.m. through August 21. Three preview performances are set for Wednesday, July 12; Thursday, July 13; and Friday, July 14, each at 8 p.m. Tickets are $34 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. All Monday night performances, as well as previews, are pay-what-you-want. Atwater Village Theatre is located at 3269 Casitas Ave in Los Angeles, CA 90039.
Crabs in a Bucket is family-friendly; appropriate for ages 10 and up. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (310) 307-3753 or go to www.EchoTheaterCompany.com.
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