Full Circle Players’ production of Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles, written by Luis Alfaro and directed by Steve Llamas, reimagines Euripides’ Greek tragedy through the struggles of contemporary immigration. The play follows Medea, an undocumented seamstress who has crossed the border from Mexico with her partner Jason and their young son. In East Los Angeles, she fights to hold her family together while Jason pursues upward mobility and entangles himself with a wealthy employer promising legal status and prosperity. As the pressures of assimilation and betrayal mount, Medea’s isolation deepens until her quiet fury erupts in a devastating act of vengeance.

Alfaro’s adaptation keeps the myth’s tragic heart intact while sharpening it for today. Ancient gods and royal courts give way to the borderlands of Los Angeles and the systemic injustices faced by undocumented families. Jason’s ambition to marry into power mirrors the original Greek story, but here it is wrapped in the promise of legal papers and the American dream. The neighborhood chorus replaces classical onlookers, and the play’s final moments echo the cathartic horror of Euripides while confronting the realities of displacement and survival.

Director Steve Llamas notes that Mojada “threads the revitalization of our ancestral knowledges through the urgent realities of systems that continue to harm us today,” exposing how colonialism persists in new forms from border policies to cultural erasure. His vision shines through in a production that balances intimacy with mythic power, making the story both deeply personal and politically charged.

Lourdes Castillo embodies Medea with a slow-burning intensity that pulls the audience into every beat of her turmoil. Her monologues land like quiet storms, layered with love, anger, and the ache of displacement. Castillo’s control of pacing and tone makes even the smallest gesture feel monumental, giving the tragedy its unshakable center.

Esther Banegas Gatica, as Tita, delivers a monologue that becomes the night’s emotional summit. She infuses the scene with unguarded vulnerability and deep compassion, capturing the pain and resilience of a woman who has witnessed too much. Her performance is heart-wrenching in its honesty, leaving the theater hushed and the audience visibly moved.

The cast includes Ángel Nieves as Jason, Mya Alvarado as Josefina, and Rain Aurora Reaza as Armida, each adding depth and texture to a production that feels both timeless and urgent. Janette Valenzon’s costumes and David Hermosillo’s stage management help ground the myth in a living, breathing Riverside, while the production’s land acknowledgement honors the Cahuilla, Tongva, and Serrano peoples whose homelands cradle the performance.

Full Circle Players present Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles at The Box, 3635 Market Street, Riverside, CA. Remaining performances are scheduled for September 26, September 28, October 2, and October 4, 2025. Tickets are available at www.fullcircleplayers.com or at the venue’s box office before each performance.