Sometimes perspective affects how we see things. As a Chicago sports fan, I can give you a specific example. When Dennis Rodman played for the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls fans despised him. However, when he was traded to the Bulls, he suddenly became our savior and Chicago won three more NBA Championships with his help. So, perspective makes an enormous difference.

In Spanish textbooks, we see a different perspective regarding history and cultural aspects. When I was in grade school and studied history, I remember learning about Sir Francis Drake as a naval hero who was second in command when England defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588. When I started taking university Spanish courses and reading history books in Spanish, I discovered that he was Francis Drake el pirata because he helped loot Spanish colonial cities and ships taking gold and silver to Spain. In the Spanish textbook Sueña that I’m using now, the book mentions that the governments of England and France financed these pirates. So, you see, perspective changes a person’s status in history.

Last night, I went to Aguijón Theater, 2707 N. Laramie Avenue, 773.637.5899. I saw No hay ladrón que por bien no venga, an adaptation of a play by 1997 Nobel Prize for Literature winner Dario Fo. The play was very funny even if the plot was a bit contrived. I love seeing plays at this theater because all its productions are in Spanish. I have seen many plays here over the years and I love this little theater.

Once, I brought my Spanish literature class to see La casa de Benarda Alba by Federico García Lorca because we were reading in class that semester. We read the play so they could understand it when we saw it at the theater. Everyone in the class enjoyed the experience because watching a play is the best way to experience it. If you want to see a play in Spanish, this is the theater for you. Here’s their website:

www.aguijontheater.org