The British actor and writer Peter Searles, a veteran of stage, screen, and BBC television and radio, is bringing his one-man show to the San Miguel Playhouse. The show is called Hey Gringo! A Chile Christmas, an intensely dramatic and frequently hilarious account of Searles' journey from the scorching wastes of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile to the shantytowns and smog-laden cities of the south, to a world of forests, lakes, and volcanoes. Accompanied by oversexed train drivers, a beautiful young revolutionary, out-of-work actors, Marxist priests, fascist police, Chilean Eco-warriors, and Pinochet’s neighbors, Searles recounts a journey that turns into a quest for truth and meaning in land torn apart by thirteen years of military dictatorship.
Searles' touring show has won so many rave reviews from major newspapers that it is difficult to decide which ones to quote. But here is a smattering: “This wonderful and timely one-man play is delivered raconteur-style, direct to the audience. Searles has you in the palm of his hand from the moment he opens his mouth. He is a natural storyteller and talented comedian; everything about the show is understated and spot-on.” — The Scotsman / “A bloke stands on a bare stage telling us about a holiday he took in Chile, and an hour and 20 minutes later you are yearning for more. Peter Searles is a riveting storyteller.” - The Guardian / “A stand-up storyteller par excellence, Searles could have gone on for another hour and nobody would have batted an eye. He is Britain's answer to Spalding Gray.” - Metro / "A stream of polished observations that create what is essentially a well-honed play, nudged to a fresh dramatic level. Searles has struck it rich.” - The Stage
Hey Gringo! A Chile Christmas will be presented four times only: Thursday, Jan. 31 through Saturday, Feb. 2, at 7pm; Sunday, Feb. 3, at 3pm. The San Miguel Playhouse is located at Avenida Independencia 82, and features secured free parking and taxi-concierge service. Advance-sale tickets can also be purchased for 250 pesos at the Boleto City ticket desk on the second floor of the Mercado Sano, Ancha de San Antonio 123, Monday through Saturday, 11am to 5pm. Tickets (if still available) can be purchased at the door of the theater starting one hour before showtime, for 300 pesos. This is not a reserved-seat event, so early arrival the theater is recommended.