Hemet Tutors

About Hemet

Hemet is well known for annually hosting the longest running outdoor play in the United States known as “The Ramona Pageant”. It’s has been playing since 1923 and in keeping with its original performance, it is held in an amphitheater. Whereas many amphitheatres were constructed, the Ramona Bowl is a natural amphitheater nestled in the foothills above Hemet.

Hemet tutors describe an amphitheater as a grand outdoor venue, and normally the center of entertainment for surrounding towns and villages. A well-known example would be the “Colosseum” in Rome. Here, live entertainment, performances of plays and sports would have regularly occurred. Ancient Roman amphitheatres were usually round or sometimes oval in plan, the seating is tiered around the perimeter of the circle and the stage sits in the middle.

The script for The Ramona Pageant was adapted from the 1884 novel “Ramona” written by Helen Hunt Jackson. Ramona is an orphan who is half Native American and half Scottish. Ramona is brought up and provided for by her foster mother’s sister who is Mexican, after her foster mother passes away. However her ‘aunt’ cannot bring herself to love the child who inhibits non-Mexican characteristics. She is a very proud woman and vehemently dislikes the Americans who have come and laid claim to her land and her heritage. In the story, she postpones the seasonal sheep shearing as she is awaiting the return of the Native American’s whom she usually pays to do the work. When they arrive Ramona falls in love with the chiefs son Alessandro, but because her aunt forbids their relationship, they elope in order to be together.

When they start a life together they struggle to settle down because each time they find a place they are moved along by Americans demanding their land, their house and their belongings. They endure both physically and mentally, eventually Alessandro becomes mentally ill due to the persistent humiliation. He also feels guilty for marrying her and in doing, taking her away from a comparatively comfortable life. When their daughter dies because a doctor refuses to treat her, he becomes even more withdrawn. He eventually dies from making a poor judgment call, impaired by his mental illness.

Ramona returns home and marries again to her foster Aunts’ son Felipe who has always been in love with her. Together they grow old and have more children.

Hemet tutors regularly take part in the performance, which features a cast of almost 400 players. The cast consists of local residents and of course amateur actors. The lead roles in the performance are Ramona and Alessandro. The play is held for three consecutive weekends in April and May.