"asks its audience to do something a lot of us are bad at: Listen. The Pacific Northwest premiere of Carissa Atallah's play at Milagro Theatre gives a platform to angry and anguished young Latinos who live in fear of the U.S. government's war on immigrants."
"Both young women aspire to be poets - so much so that their idea of a big night out is attending a poetry open mic. When it comes to sharing her own writing, Gracia, an undocumented Chicana "Dreamer," is afraid to draw attention to herself. Unlike her, Mariza, who's white and U.S.-born (and whose given name is actually Marissa), is itching to get onstage."
"When the two friends impulsively agree that Mariza should perform Gracia's poem, she suddenly gains a following among the Latino poets who assume she's one of them. Here we see a Cyrano- type scenario with a combustible racial component, and Torres Garcia's direction complements her actors' impressive performances."
"Capturing the emotional high of both creating a poem and presenting it, projected stars (designed by Lawrence Siulagi) also appear on the walls and floor - an otherworldly effect that contrasts with the hard realism suggested by Julianne Bodner's scenic design of weathered café walls and wood block beds."
Two longtime friends, college freshmen in Southern California, aspire to be poets and attend a poetry open mic. Gracia is an undocumented Chicana “Dreamer” who fears drawing attention, while Mariza is white, U.S.-born, and eager to perform. When they impulsively agree that Mariza will perform Gracia’s poem, Mariza gains a following among Latino poets who assume she belongs. The story creates a Cyrano-like dynamic with racial tension, using visual poetry and magical realism. Projected stars and contrasting scenic elements heighten the emotional contrast between poetic creation and hard realities. Costumes and color choices underscore cultural identity and ignorance, while performances convey fear, ambition, and anger.
Read at Oregon ArtsWatch * Arts & Culture News
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