While Portugal shares similarities with other Latin countries in Europe such as Italy and Spain, Sandra Medeiros says it is unique in its own right – Portugal winning this year’s Euro Cup certainly helps.
“You usually don’t hear a lot about Portugal or its events in the city – it’s so nice because Portugal gets lost in the shuffle,” says Medeiros, writer, producer and performer of Festa by Portuguese Buns Production.
Festa (pronounced FESH-ta) is a two-woman performance starring Medeiros along with Maria J. Cruz about growing up Portuguese-Canadian and all the ‘dramedy’ that occurs. It will be featured at this year’s Vancouver Fringe Festival which runs Sept. 8–18.
“Maria, who I have known since high school, approached me to do a play about our upbringing and what it was like to be Portuguese. We want to tell our stories,” explains Medeiros, who was born and raised in Vancouver.
In terms of the name “Portuguese Buns,” Medeiros explains that Portuguese buns found in Vancouver bakeries are pretty famous and delicious. It is also a play on words.
“Our buns,” says the actress with a laugh.
Festa was written just for the Fringe Festival and is the first production by Portuguese Buns Production. This is Medeiros’ third time performing at the Fringe Festival.
“It’s so much fun. It’s a place where artists collaborate to create works that are unique and where you can play around and take risks. It’s a perfect place for art,” she explains.
The Portuguese Buns (Sandra Medeiros on left, Maria J.Cruz on right) eating Portuguese buns.| Photo by Micah Ried.
A traditional Portuguese upbringing
Medeiros and Cruz both went to Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School in Vancouver. Medeiros describes it as a very multicultural place; she says it was very cool to be surrounded by various cultures and ethnicities.
“For me, growing up as first-generation Portuguese-Canadian, I was brought up as Canadian with a lot of Portuguese influence. My parents were old-fashioned,” says Medeiros.
Medeiros also learned to speak Portuguese. Her parents, immigrants from Sao Miguel of Acorez Islands, Portugal, helped her to retain her Portuguese roots.
“You don’t value a second language until you get older. It was a bit of a burden because my parents didn’t speak English well so I had to explain a lot to my parents – I was the go-between,” says Medeiros.
Medeiros’ children are half-Greek, and she says she would like them to know and appreciate the Portuguese culture as well.
“I think they were brought up more Canadian than I was. They don’t have to translate for me like I did for my parents,” says Medeiros.
She adds that Festa is an homage to her mom’s great storytelling and the importance of storytelling in her culture. The show is also dedicated to Medeiros’ father, who passed away recently.
“A lot of our stories are about our family – how things are done. It shows you a different perspective of the world, how people become the way they are, the struggles and challenges they’ve had to overcome,” she adds.
What it means for a Portuguese-Canadian
Medeiros says the timing is right to produce a story to speak to Portuguese-Canadians, particularly those who are first generation children of immigrants.
“We (Cruz and Medeiros) are at that age, where we are straddling the two worlds and want to keep our culture and we’re not living at home anymore. We don’t have that influence [of culture and practice] from our parents anymore,” says Medeiros.
Medeiros hopes the audience will feel a part of a Portuguese family during the performance of Festa.
“The audience is invited to a Portuguese family dinner party. We want to make them feel like they’re really part of it,” says Medeiros.
She adds that arroz doce, a common Portuguese rice pudding made of sweet rice, egg, milk, lemon and cinnamon, will be served at Festa.
“Portuguese [people] always make a lot of food, so having leftover rice is very common,” says Medeiros.
Medeiros says that although the Portuguese are not a showy people, they are proud of their culture. Sometimes being in the spotlight, sometimes, is nice.
“We are hardworking, we are loyal and we’ve made contributions to our community. And we give out a lot of food,” says Medeiros.
For more information visit:
www.portuguesebuns.wixsite.com/festa
