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Esperanza Rising By Lynne Alvarez Based on the Book by Pam Munoz Ryan Directed by Henry Godinez Produced by Chicago Children’s Theatre At the Goodman’s Owen Theatre As part of the Latino Festival 170 N. Dearborn Chicago, IL Call 312-443-3800, tickets from $15 to $38 for children and adults www.chicagochildrenstheatre.org Thursday, July 31 at 1 pm Friday, August 1 at 1 pm Saturday, August 2 at 2 & 6 pm Sunday, August 3 at 11 am & 3 pm Tuesday, August 5 at 1 pm Wednesday, August 6 at 10:30 am Thursday, august 7 at 7 pm Saturday, august 9 at 11 am & 3 pm Sunday, August 10 at 10:30 am Running time is 90 minutes with intermission Through August 10, 2008 Warm message of hope delivered nicely in “Esperanza Rising.’ Produced by Chicago Children’s Theatre (a major Equity Children’s theatre troupe) as part of the Goodman Theatre’s Latino Festival, “Esperanza Rising” is a worthy tale vividly depicting Mexican culture through story and the rich and tuneful Mexican Mariachi music. Act one demonstrates how the landed gentry of the Ortega family lives on a large ranch on Mexico. The land yields grapes for wine making Don Sixto Ortega (Gustavo Mellado) and his family rich. Sixto treats his servants and workers fairly providing food and housing. Filled with the rich sounds of Mexican folk music by the three Mariachis (Gonzalo Cordova, Richardo Guitierrez and Rudy Pinon, we get a glimpse of the tranquil life of landowners in 1930’s Mexico. We see how 12 year old Esperanza (Maite Alverez) is a spoiled and intolerant girl contemptuous to the servants.
When Don Sixto is killed by thieves, his brother Luis uses Mexico’s inheritance laws to force Ramona (Charin Alvarez), Sixto’s wife, to marry him in order to continue living on the estate, she refuses knowing that she and her daughter will have to flee to the USA to earn a living. After the hacienda burns down, Romona enlists the housekeeper Hortensia (Laura E. Crotte) and her son Miguel (Juan Gabriel Ruiz) to take Esperanza to Califirnia with them as she must hide in a convent from Luis.
Esperanza eventually learns the value of hard work as she becomes tolerant and sympathetic toward the working poor. We see the persistence of the migrant farm workers both Mexican and poor “Okie’s.” Smartly, the music changes to some Woody Guthrie folk tunes including a Mariachi version of “This Land Is Your Land.” We witness how discrimination toward Mexicans by Americans makes their struggles more desperate. The determination of the Mexicans leaves them with the hope of a better life if they just work hard and put up with their hardships. This story also give glimpses of workers organizing against owners to fight for their basic rights. Marta (Brenda Arellano) tries to organize a union of farm workers. We see Esperanza growing as a person as she struggles to save enough money to bring her mother to California. The lessons of hard work, cooperation and determination are splendidly portrayed as Esperanza and her friends rise above their hardships to make a life filled with hope. These are excellent life lessons for all children. “Esperanza Rising” rejoices Mexican culture through the Mariachi music. Charnin Alvarez and Maite Alverez were terrific and Juan Gabriel Ruiz and Laura E. Crotte added fine work to this ensemble. For children 8 and up, “Esperanza Rising” offers worthy life lessons as well as a positive look at Mexican culture. Recommended Tom Williams Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast Date Reviewed: July 26, 2008 |
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Site owned by Tom Williams 1-773-549-0227, tom99@chicagocritic.com Copyright, Chicago, IL 2006 |
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