“Dos Pocitos” Is A Play About Identity, Pride And More

By Chelsea McCullough

It’s 2026 in a border town in Texas called Texaco. What was once South Texas has degenerated into an “ungoverned, lawless territory” where the only remaining residents include drug runners, fugitives, military and a few bunkered civilians.

The first act of the play “Dos Pocitos” presents people with a perpetual state of longing for a land and a time to which they no longer belong. One particular exchange includes a poignant piece of prose “Why do you stay?” “Because we kind of enjoy the misery. Like getting stung by a thousand angry bees, we live for the honey.”

Dos Pocitos” is the kind of story that sticks with you. Days after seeing the performance, the plot lines, characters and pieces of the dialogue are still at the top of my mind. It’s the story of the border, of displacement, of pride and identity.

And by the way — it’s a comedy.

Playwright Raul Garza, Teatro Vivo, cast and crew come together to present Dos Pocitos at the Salvage Vanguard Theater in Austin, Texas, running August 18-September 3.

Although the story and the performances take place in Texas, this is a highly relevant story that must be told, retold and remembered. It’s about the unique Latino experience, the cultural shifts and the forces that create the resulting changes, both good and bad.

There is a colorful cast of characters with each one reminiscent of someone you once knew. Theory and truth are revealed through humor and metaphor and a brilliant barrage of Spanglish. The constant intersection of aggression and innocence keep the dialogue fresh and light while still underpinning the most serious topics of our time.

If there is one thing to take from the experience of “Dos Pocitos” it is this: “Don’t believe the story is just what you can see. There is so much more…”

If you are in Central Texas, you need to see this performance. If you are elsewhere, contact Raul Garza to talk about how you can bring the performance to your town or support filming. Learn more at Dospocitos.com

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