←Recommendations of Morir Sonyando

Morir Sonyando is a popular Dominican drink made from milk and orange juice. As sweet and luscious as this drink is without careful handling the orange juice simply sours the milk. This makes it the perfect analogy for the relationships in this family, where love so easily sours into abuse. Paloma and Felix are beautifully realized characters both flawed and totally worthy of love. This is a play that brought tears to my eyes and I was happy to recommend it for the Lanford Wilson Prize.

I was fortunate to see the production of this play at Passage Theatre Company. Erlina Ortiz’s characters are authentic and their struggles to cope with themselves and their family relations while navigate the world are powerful. Produce this play!

I got to see the recording of the Parsnip Ship adaptation of this play. It is phenomenal, with complicated characters, and I felt incredibly touched throughout. Read it, see it, produce it!

MonologueBank is proud to recommend the writing of Erlina Ortiz. Her play MORIR SONYANDO is a brutal and honest examination of the cycles of familial abuse. The writing is poetic and potent, as the characters are given their own space to contend with how the abuse has impacted their lives and relationships. Monologues from both Paloma and Felix are painful, but satisfyingly nuanced. These are not two-dimensional victims. We are shown vulnerability and strength in interesting balance.

An incredibly uncomfortable study of the effects that domestic abuse has on its victim and the ripple it creates. Erlina Ortiz writing makes this story feel fresh, raw and poignant. Read it!