THE MESQUITE TREE, an American Tragedy by David Davila

[FULL LENGTH] With a little bit of masa and some leftover meat, a single mother can make enough tamales to feed her family for an entire month; but Blanca wants more for her granddaughter than to be pregnant at fifteen and stuck in a small house in South Texas with five generations of her abuelas. Can she change her family’s destiny before there’s another mouth to feed?

The Mesquite Tree received...
[FULL LENGTH] With a little bit of masa and some leftover meat, a single mother can make enough tamales to feed her family for an entire month; but Blanca wants more for her granddaughter than to be pregnant at fifteen and stuck in a small house in South Texas with five generations of her abuelas. Can she change her family’s destiny before there’s another mouth to feed?

The Mesquite Tree received a workshop production with five performances at Teatro Audaz in San Antonio, TX in July of 2022.
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THE MESQUITE TREE, an American Tragedy

Recommended by

  • Daniel Hidalgo:
    27 Oct. 2022
    “ Reading this play was such a joy. The playwright creates a world that feels so intensely claustrophobic and real, with all its pain, love, truth and mystery wrapped up into this multi generational, layered piece of theatre. I couldn't put it down until I had finished and it did not disappoint. ”
  • Annalise Cain:
    17 Mar. 2022
    “ A compassionate, unflinching look at cycles of poverty, abuse and teen pregnancy in a household of 6 Mexican-American women. Davila writes with precision, humor and a strong sense of ritual. The physical life of the play leaps off the page as much as the words. The well-rendered characters, especially Blanca, work to change one another, and Davila allows each change to blossom organically. ”
  • The PlayGround Experiment:
    1 Feb. 2022
    “ This play took part in "The PG Evolution a development process". We selected it because it is special and we believe 100% in the playwright and their voice. We are proud to be a part of its early journey and cannot recommend it enough. If you have any questions about our experience with this work, please feel free to reach out to us. We love this play and we know you will too. ” ”
View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

  • Manuela (Mahuela) Diaz
    eighties,
    Mestiza / Mexican-American / Tejana
    ,
    Female
    Stroke survivor with lung issues and diabetes.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American, Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Fatima (Mamatima) Lozano
    Sixties,
    Mestiza / Mexican-American / Tejana
    ,
    Female
    Manuela's daughter.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American, Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Blanca (Blancita) Hernandez
    45,
    Mestiza / Mexican-American / Tejana
    ,
    Female
    Fatima's daughter
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American, Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Carmel Maria Gonzales
    31,
    Mestiza / Mexican-American / Tejana
    ,
    Female
    Blanca's oldest daughter.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American, Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Suzy Trujillo
    19,
    Mestiza / Mexican-American / Tejana
    ,
    Female
    Blanca's youngest daughter.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American, Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American, Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Destiny Yolanda Ramirez
    15,
    Mestiza / Mexican-American / Tejana
    ,
    Female
    Carmel's daughter.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American, Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American, Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Female

Development History

Production History