Host your own post-show discussion with friends or reflect on the play yourself with our list of discussion questions. Spoilers ahead, so be sure to save these for after you see a performance.
- Throughout the play, Maria Celia and Lieutenant Portuondo connect about writing, and Sofia and Victor Manuel connect over music, both of which are heavily monitored in Cuba. What does that tension say about the power of art as a means of interruption and connection?
- The characters of the play are under constant observation. How do you see them communicate strategically and navigate issues of trust? When do you think they are being truthful and why? When and why might they be lying?
- Where do the sisters draw hope from, either internally or externally, throughout the play? When do you see that hope building and when do you see it slipping away?
- The story is firmly rooted in 1991 Cuba, a specific historical time and location, but speaks to universal experiences. What part of this story feels uniquely Cuban? What themes can you relate to other times in history or today?
- What are the differences between how Maria Celia and Sofia cope with life under house arrest? What does it communicate about what they want or need? How would you handle (or have you handled) that situation?
- The ninety-year-old piano witnesses the action of the play. What does it represent in the story? What is the significance of its removal at the end?
- Do you believe there is genuine love or care between the couples? How are their roles in life barriers to furthering their relationships?
