Highly Recommended ***** It is Hispanic Heritage Month, and we once again have The Goodman Theatre working with the Chicago Latino Theatre Alliance’s “Destinos”. This time, it is the Chicago premiere of a wonderful story, “American Mariachi” written by Jose Cruz Gonzales. The production was to have taken place pre-covid and now with the alliances of the CLATA, Chicago gets to see this play about love, family and traditions.
The story takes place during the 1970’s ( the furniture in the setting is perfect- I think that they used my aunt Lil’s couch). Linda Buchanan found all the right pieces. Lucha ( Tiffany Solano is a
delight) spends her days caring for her mother, who it seems has Dementia. Her father, Federico ( Chicago favorite Ricardo Gutierrez) is a Mariachi who plays around the area and is quite distant from the Madre. We later find out that he thought that his friend Mino ( deftly handled by Bobby Plasencia) had a “thing” with her, many years ago.
Lucha and her cousin Boli ( the always incredible Lucy Godinez) while playing an old record see that Amalia ( Gigi Cervantes) starts to come alive. At least during the music. When Federico hears the music, he grabs for the record and it breaks. This causes Amalia to go back to her listless self. The record is a one of a kind made in a record booth ( these were big in the 70’s)
It is then that Boli and Lucha decide to break tradition and find the right people to form an all female Mariachi band and record the song that had an uplifting effect on her mother. Of course there is great opposition.
The search is a wonderful one filled with many comedic moments as well as sub-stories that were a sign on the times. Sharply directed by Henry Godinez with true Mariachis playing the music on stage, the search for the “players” is incredible. We meet Isabel ( a delightful Molly Hernandez) who is married to a man that treats her like a possession and forbids her to join these women. She does so anyway, sneaking to their gigs and rehearsals. Gabby ( Amanda Raquel Martinez) adds the comic touches to perfection and Soyla ( Gloria Vivica Benavides). Watching them become Mariachis is a delight. I can’t forget Christopher Llewyn Ramirez, a member of the Dallas Theater Center who is a dynamite character actor.
There is also a standout performance by Erendira Izguerra as Tia Carmen ( she in fact is the founder of Chicago’s First all female Mariachi band). Tia Carmen is in “the other life” and plays along with the Mariachi on stage. I do not want to give away the end of the story ( so I won’t) except to tell you that these women, in spite of the opposition they face, do conquer the learning of the instruments and do become a real Mariachi. Along the way, they also bring forgiveness to the others that are involved.
The Mariachi band is composed of Victor Pichardo ( director and musician), Juan Dies, Zacbe Pichardo, Giovanni Garcia and Rodolfo “Rudy” Pinon. Godinzs worked the live musicians into the story with grace and style, never disrupting the great storytelling experience that Gonzalez has put to paper.
This is a story filled with emotion. From start to finish, no matter where you came from, you are drawn into the story and feel the feelings of the people. You may even have a memory come back to you of some event in your life that draws a parallel. I can tell you that you will laugh, you will smile, you may find a tear in the eye ( of happiness), but of great importance, you will leave the Goodman Theatre feeling elated!
“American Mariachi” will continue thru October 24th with performances as follows:
Stage: Albert Theatre
Show Type: Musical
Box Office: 312-443-3800
The theater is located at 170 Dearborn and there are parking garages on Dearborn with discounted rates.
For those who used to frequent the restaurant next door, there are a few new spots in the Loop. I tried one that is unique at 15 West Washington called URBANSPACE. A large selection of different foods so that everyone can satisfy their own tastes.
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “American mariachi”.
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