The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

University clubs will host ‘Criminal Love’ play

University clubs will host ‘Criminal Love’ play - The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Texas A&M University-San Antonio students Eden Badillo-Garza (left) and John Ortiz (right) rehearse a scene as Bonnie and Clyde from "Criminal Love" during an Oct. 8, 2022, rehearsal in the auditorium. The play, hosted by Theatre Club, History Club and Feminist Advocacy and Empowerment starts at 6 p.m. Oct 21 in the university's auditorium. Photo by Tim Danger Ramos

Students, faculty and staff can ride solo or bring along their partner in crime to a modernized play about Bonnie and Clyde 6 p.m. Oct. 21 in the auditorium at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

The university’s Theatre Club, History Club and Feminist Advocacy and Empowerment will host “Criminal Love,” a play about the lives of the crime-committing couple.

The play will take viewers through a day in the life of Bonnie and Clyde’s heist-filled sprees. 

According to Crime Museum, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, despite only being 19 and 21 years old, respectively, when they met, went on to become one of the most notorious criminal duos in American history. Barrow’s resentment toward the government during the Great Depression led him to form a criminal gang that would steal money they believed to be rightfully theirs. 

An undated file photo of notorious bandits Bonnie Parker, left, and Clyde Barrow, right. A&M-San Antonio will put on “Criminal Love,” a modernized play depicting the every-day lives of the crime-committing duo. (AP Photo/file)

Barrow began to bring Parker along on his group’s joy rides, and they became partners in crime ever since.

According to the FBI, on May 23, 1934, after being accused of many heists and murders, the couple were ambushed and shot dead by the police near Sailes, Louisiana.

While production will be managed by the Theatre Club, the History Club will certify the play’s historical accuracy, and Feminist Advocacy and Empowerment will ensure accurate representation of the struggles women face in their day-to-day lives, said Andrea Martinez, a biology senior and president of the Theatre Club, vice president of the History Club and community service/philanthropy officer for Feminist Advocacy and Empowerment. 

She encouraged students to bring their friends and family to see the Theatre Club’s first performance of its original play.

“As the show progresses, you’re going to see issues that come to light that Bonnie deals with as a woman that we still deal with today,” Martinez said. “So a lot of issues that we see in the workplace today … you’re going to see that. The modern take is really just making it fit today’s standards while still following their historical timeline.”

Without heading into spoiler territory, Martinez said free items will be given out during the play to help the audience “feel more immersed” in what is shown on stage.  

Admission to the play will be free, while food and drinks will be for sale. 

“It’s going to show everyone kind of what women don’t really talk about because we just aren’t really taken seriously,” Martinez said. “Personally, I’ve dealt with a couple of those things, women I’ve talked to have dealt with it. So it’s really just educating everyone on what’s going on that they don’t really know about.”

Martinez said the play will be both entertaining and educational. 

For more information about “Criminal Love,” go here or contact Andrea Martinez at amart0265@jaguar.tamu.edu.

Angelina Cuevas contributed to this story.

About the Author

Tim Danger Ramos
Photo Editor
Tim is a communication senior at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. He has been a passionate photographer for 10 years and plans to become a photojournalist after graduating. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the guitar or piano and learning more about photography.

Join the Conversation

© 2024 Jaguar Student Media | Texas A&M University-San Antonio. All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved.
San Antonio Website Design & Development - Backyard Studios
Join Our Newsletter

Get the Mesquite News delivered straight to you.