Today’s Vegetarian Elite will be presented in Spanish, with subtitles in Arabic, Aulacese (Vietnamese), Chinese, English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Nepali, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Thai.

Our role as a theater group was considered from the beginning.

(Always, we always work for others.) Yes, always following an exercise in social, human, and animal responsibility.

On our previous program of Vegetarian Elite, we met the charismatic couple: César Meléndez, an accomplished actor and author; and his wife, actress Cristina Bruno, whose works are always reflections on important social and spiritual matters.

There is an intention on our part, that through each one of our shows the public has a chance to open their mind, their heart, their conscience, their reason, that they are giving an opportunity to compassion. (To humanity.)

César Meléndez’s illustrious career spans film, television, music, and theater. He started professionally with music in the Dominican Republic, singing with icons like Grammy-nominated Wilfrido Vargas. Back in Costa Rica, César was a member of popular bands of the 1980s like Grupo Manantial. He then expanded his artistic repertoire into movies, where he participated in a major Hollywood production. César became one of Costa Rica’s most popular and beloved stars, acting in memorable roles on several television series. But it seems César’s true calling, however, is in theater.

In theater, César is recognized not only as an actor, but also as a director and writer of several important works. Among them is the monologue “The Immigrant,” which has won major prizes in Costa Rica and internationally.

Together, César and Cristina founded La Polea Theater Company in 1999 to investigate human relationships in modern society and translate their findings into a theatrical language for presentations. The primary purpose is to raise funds for works relating to social welfare and for communities that have little or no access to art and cultural events.

Well, we’ve been all over America. We have presented, rotated our shows all around Central America, South America, North America; in Europe we have been in Spain, the Netherlands, France.

On today’s show, we see how César and Cristina have used their theatrical characters to convey a message, a message of great urgency.

We understand that each of the characters, each of the stories is a tool to open a window – just as we had the opportunity to discover some windows, just as we went through that experience to create other possibilities.

One of César’s characters in particular has created an effective bridge of communication with audience members. This character’s name is “Chito,” and he carries a baby cow toy on his back who was rescued when the calf’s mom was sent to be slaughtered. Throughout the plays and interaction with the crowd, Chito talks to his cow friend.

It generates tenderness for the audience. We discover the tenderness that this stuffed animal generates and the character’s treatment of him. Tenderness is a way, a communication channel through which information turns or passes over – it reaches more easily.

How is it possible that people want to eat such a beautiful little cow! Why don’t you grab your mother and eat her? (Nooo!) Well... Why?

“Margarita’s Party” is a fun and crowd-interactive musical comedy. The storyline revolves around a birthday party for Margarita.

It is a party to talk about identity. We decided on this show to talk about popular culture, the popular acoustic music of each of the places; to understand different topics of what has been, to understand what is being done, and to discover something about the future.

The characters in this situational comedy arrive at Margarita’s birthday party by chance – they include Chito who we met earlier, a car watchman or “Wachiman,” a mariachi singer, a calypso singer, a soccer fan, and a street band. In between their light and exaggerated humor, these characters touch on more serious topics like immigration, cultural barriers, poverty, eating habits, and animal rights.

We have made use of some popular musical resources in order to capture public attention. The messages behind them, behind each of the characters – if the public is kind enough to listen to them – are very direct, to hear, to assimilate, and of course, even to share.

Everyone here eats meat? (Nooo!) (No, right?) Surely not, of course not.

And I have heard also that some people say that shrimp is not an animal. (Why not? It is a beast!) No, no, some people believe that it is not an animal, then they eat it anyway, but it is an animal.

Interspersed through this musical comedy are images of planetary destruction and animal abuse played out on a large plasma screen.

In Margarita’s Party, what we propose is a visual contradiction. While he is singing and the people are having fun – cheering and singing, and whoever wants to dance, dances. And we have the characters that César plays, that could be the Limónese, the black guy from Limón Province, who sings calypso, etc. We have as contradiction on the big screens on both sides of the stage, where the drama takes place, images, strong ones.

To see if through music, through dramatic play, through art, through the images, the resources that allow the performing arts, visual arts, the musical arts, through color, through rhythm, through the form, the figure, we can communicate that it is possible to make a change. And yet, although we have little time, of course, we have an urgent change, but it is our responsibility to share this message.

Through the comedic characters who portray traditional cultural humor, everyday truths are conveyed and express an important message about the three fundamental issues of our time: the restoration of human values, respect toward animals, and climate change. In the play, the interaction is lively and the final message is clear: we must be vegan to save the planet.

We share historic images of the moment that we are living today and that we are presenting in the play. Images that are talking about the outrage that we are experiencing on the planet. All natural disasters, all the causes of global warming, what are some of the roots? We do not pay much attention, to be able to explain why the planet at this point is headed for where it is, and why perhaps we are facing a new period of glaciation, a new period (Catastrophes.) of elimination of the entire human race.

With a sincere devotion to offer audiences a memorable and meaningful show, all of César and Cristina’s performances leave a lasting impression.

Wonderful! I have no words to describe it. It’s great, there are simply no words. I think we should present many performances such as this one throughout the country, for people to become aware.
Be Veg,
Go Green
2 Save the Planet!

Through César and Cristina’s work and inspiration, many people – fans from afar, and the near and dear – have adopted kinder ways of eating and living.

As soon as you have the information, you want to share it with the people you love because you understand that it’s a good thing, and you want to preserve it, indeed, to ensure that information is preserved for as many people as possible, and hopefully be cultivated and hope that it grows. My mom is a vegetarian. And until very recently, when my dad had been in touch with our shows, our information, our way of life is what he has adopted and he also does it consciously.

And it is wonderful because my father has a mechanical workshop, and in this mechanical workshop, he also speaks out, he also shares the information. Because my dad came to me to ask, “So, where do I get more information?” And so my dad shares: SupremeMasterTV.com, so now my dad is immersed in the computer world.

Last year we had, my niece came here to visit, a niece who lives in Argentina, in Santa Fe – María José. And she was living with us a couple of days and we talked to her and César gave her information and so on. And she wrote a couple of months ago and said, “Titi, I became a vegetarian.” She became a vegetarian, while having a father who barbeques a lot. “And I am researching” and also sent the Supreme Master [TV] address and all, and that is a great achievement for us.

The reactions we’ve had, or the audience has had so far in our shows, are wonderful. Through our performances we can say, we can share information that to start with, we believe is important to share. And this is information we may not find in the mass media.

Some people have the kindness to share what they think at the end of the show, either because they come to us, or because they write to us, (mail) to our e-mail, or because sometime later they come and approach and tell us after the show that, “We saw Margarita’s Party. We are considering, or we stopped eating meat, or we are considering even giving up fish.” It has generated a particular effect, very important.

In fact, yes, though it’s hard, because it’s true one likes meat, there are people who are vegetarian. But in reality, if it is all for the sake of animals, I think it is fair to make a change.
Be Veg,
Go Green
2 Save the Planet!

César and Cristina have requested our Association members to accompany them to deliver important information on climate change and to share tasty vegan cuisine with the audience. As someone who is admired, respected, and beloved by the public, people are often curious to know what César is eating as a vegan.

But now it is very interesting because in the communities they ask us. (Yes.) Or I don’t know if there was like some kind of awakening.

Well, of course. In some maybe mass media, they have asked us, “And what do you eat?” or whatever, or we say, “No, we’re vegetarians, we are vegans.”

It’s very interesting because people ask us, “You are vegetarian” or “Do you eat anything?” Communities already ask us, so we can say, (Of course, now even.) “We do not eat anything that comes from an animal.”

Of course, and it’s a wonderful opportunity because it is necessarily a point of discussion when we are at the table.

And all this helps us, of course, in the creative process, or to incorporate things in our work, in the plays.

There is a great responsibility from that point of view because we are creators, we have studied to make art, theatrical art, television art. We studied to share art and culture, as if life was already pointing us this way.

We already had shows which we were trying to talk about animal rights, nature’s rights, the respect for the human condition beyond what others do with me, but what I am doing with myself.

We understand what is the role and responsibility of our artistic work, that’s why we have developed shows that necessarily talk about this condition. Even shows that we have been using for 10 years, we made the necessary modifications (We transform them.) to take advantage of the stage, live, in front of 400, 800, 1000, 200 people, the audience that come to see our shows. Out of some corner, appears some element that talks about animal rights, about climate change, about a proposal of changing eating habits. (Nutrition.) Right, we need to change to a different diet.

Sure, we would be happy if we did not have to do the shows anymore. We would be happy if we wouldn’t have to do Margarita’s Party. (Happy in good sense, of course, yes.) Sure, right, because…
Of course because people would say, “We no longer need them because they get it.”
“They are talking about things that are no longer…”
“We are already compassionate, and we are tolerant.”
“People respect animals, no one eats meat in the world.”
“There are no climate problems.”

Well, as a last message maybe we can tell people that we really appreciate the people who have taken us through these paths and that we have a great responsibility to share that gratefulness with more people because from this experience we learned a path which we understand is right and is important. But above all, it’s urgent. There is not much time to do it, and through our shows, people who are kind enough to join us will find these ingredients. So as a last reflection, we would like to share the message that appears in our shows, (In all.) in all shows, yes. (On the screen.)

Be Veg,
Go Green, 2…
Save the Planet!

In Central American language, Nicaraguan: Be Vegan, you hear? Go Green, brother. Why? To Save this Planet!

We thank César Melendez and Cristina Bruno for delivering messages of love, compassion, and respect beyond all boundaries through their collaboration in art. May Heaven bless you both evermore with creative inspiration to touch hearts and transform lives through laughter and light.

For more information about César Meléndez, Cristina Bruno, and La Polea Theater Please visit: www.TeatroLaPolea.com or email: teatrolapolea@gmail.com

We have enjoyed your company today, precious viewers, on Vegetarian Elite. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television for Between Master and Disciples, coming up now. Blessed be all inhabitants of our beautiful community called Earth, so that we may learn to appreciate one another in peace, harmony, and happiness.