PDXmagazine
January 2007
by Hollyanna McCollom

The prolonged illness and death of a child is a subject that many are apprehensive to tackle, but not David Saar. When Andrés Alcalá auditioned for the Phoenix-based playwright three years ago, he was intrigued by Saar’s play, The Yellow Boat, which was based on the life and death of his son, Benjamin. A hemophiliac living with AIDS, the boy also happened to be a truly gifted visual artist. In Saar’s hands, Benjamin’s art becomes a transformative vessel for hope—a message that endures long after his death. Through collaboration with Insight Out Theatre Collective, CITE Educational Theatre and Emanuel Hospital, Alcalá now has the opportunity to direct this project for Portland audiences.

“There is a beautiful story being told in this script,” he explains, “of tolerance, acceptance and creativity and the power of all of them.”

Alcalá believes that The Yellow Boat is a multi-generational play that will inspire conversations between children and parents. Don’t expect the play maudlin, though. Besides having some of Portland’s most dynamic performers amongst its cast, Alcalá has also employed Do Jump! choreographer Robin Lane to bring Benjamin’s artistic visions to life