Playcrafters Barn Theatre in Moline is recognizing National Hispanic Month by bringing Real Women Have Curves to the boards, a stage play by Josefina López directed by Cindy Ramos. National Hispanic Week was established by President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded to a full month under the Reagan administration. It is unique in that it runs from September 15 to October 15 and is so observed because it encompasses several significant historical dates to Hispanic and Latino communities. Not only is this show timely, it is highly relevant reflecting the social upheaval our country is currently experiencing over purported illegal immigrants and the controversial open borders debate.
Set in a tiny sewing factory in East Los Angeles in September 1987, the show examines issues of gender politics and the Latina immigrant experience. The story is told from the point of view of Ana, the youngest employee at the factory. She and her mother, Carmen, are employed there by her sister, Estela.
The ambitious and bright, Ana yearns to go to college, but does not have the money. Other characters are thirty-something Pancha who bemoans being barren, and the young attractive Rosali.
The action follows the course of a week at the factory, as the women talk about their lives, loves and deepest desires while attempting to meet impossible production deadlines. The women encounter many challenges such as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or I.C.E. (called La Migra in Spanish slang), troubles with their husbands and other male characters mentioned in the play, judgement from other characters, as well as yearning for dreams that do not seem possible to fulfill. All of the women, except Estela, are “legal” and have their Green Cards. Therefore, Estela lives in constant fear of I.C.E.
This script has a raw, authentic ring to it in that the playwright grew up in Los Angeles in constant fear of la migra. Lending even more authenticity is the fact that two of the actors in this show are from California and no doubt bring a wealth of first-hand experience to their characters.
Making her acting debut in the role of Ana is neophyte Cristina Gomez. This young woman exhibits a boatload of talent. She closes the show with an emotional wrap-up that was laudable; she was crying real tears which only confirms my suspicion that the issues confronted in this show are up close and personal to her and possibly all of the performers.
In their PCB debuts are Adriana Blanco as Estela and Celeaciya Olvera as Rosali. Returning to PCB as Pancha is Cindy Ramos and Lidia Gomez Castillo as Carmen. An outstanding element in this show is the palpable camaraderie and bonding of the cast. The acting was totally real. The downfall opening night was poor projection which caused me to lose almost all of the dialog in the first act which can be attributed to opening night jitters. The really impressive set has a large window upstage and when there was dialog while looking through it, their lines literally “went out the window.” There was significant improvement in the second act and I am confident they will continue to improve.
This is one of those shows that pulls us up short and gives us pause to examine the social issues of our day. This peek into a significant subculture will give you something to talk about on the way home and, maybe, even longer.
Real Women Have Curves continues at Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 - 35th Avenue in Moline, Friday and Saturday October 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 4 at 3:00 p.m.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg.