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<\/a>Rose Portillo, Matias Ponce, Daniel Valdez, and Andres Ortiz. Photo by Craig Schwartz, as is the big one at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n
Even though I knew going in that Zoot Suit<\/em> would not be the usual kind of happy play that I like, I had to see it. After witnessing Luis Valdez, the writer and director, speak so passionately at Gordon Davidson’s memorial recently, about how wonderful it was of Gordon to have commissioned this important show way back in 1978, when Mexican theatre was far from in vogue, Luiz\u2019s ardor convinced me that I would have to see this incarnation of it, which is running now to celebrate Center Theatre Group\u2019s 50th Anniversary. (Plus, I was compelled to go, as my own little tribute to Gordon, whose family I\u2019ve known forever.)<\/p>\n The defendants with their lawyer, played by Brian Abraham. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n Here it is all these years later, and, sadly, the topic of the play is so relevant now. It reminded me of the recent Oscar-nominated documentary, 13th<\/em>, about more racial unfairness. Ever since I was a little girl, I could never handle social discrimination. And I\u2019m not sure that the situation has improved much over the decades. But, at least plays and documentaries such as these help make more people aware of what\u2019s going on around us, which is a big step in the right direction. And I was shocked to discover, via Zoot Suit<\/em>, that there were activists around all the way back in the day, who helped correct horrible injustices such as the ones depicted in this play. Good to know.<\/p>\n The scenario is based on the 1942 \u201cSleepy Lagoon murder\u201d in Los Angeles. As the press release states: \u201cZoot Suit<\/em> remains an urgent portrayal of the clash between generations in a Chicano family, the rifts between cultures in America, and how racism and injustice can haunt a city and a society.\u201d I could not have stated it better myself. (Which is why I didn\u2019t<\/em>. Duh.)<\/p>\n Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n But I hate that the script combines fact with fiction. Very few people do as much post-show research as I<\/em> do, so I\u2019m sure that most audience members believe every word in the script. Even the pal I took that night, who\u2019s uber-intelligent, was confused by what the ending was telling us. I had to go home, do more research, and break it down for her afterwards.<\/p>\n It helps to know Spanish for the production, although it\u2019s not necessary. (It\u2019s like when I was in Italy; I don\u2019t speak Italian, but people just talked to me until I actually finally got what they were saying. That\u2019s how it is with the occasional foreign languages in of Zoot Suit<\/em>.) [Note: By the way, there\u2019s a helpful Glossary towards the back of the program, so you might want to get to the theatre early enough to check it out. And, since this one isn\u2019t in there, let me explain that an actual \u201czoot suit\u201d is a specific kind of attire that was very popular among certain ethnic communities, mainly Mexicans, in the 1940s.]<\/p>\n Phillip Esparza, (Executive Producer of El Teatro Campesino,) addressing the crowd, pre-show. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Since I had to miss the official opening night, (contrary to popular opinion, even I can\u2019t be in two places at one time, although I do try,) I was happy to be there on another<\/em> special night, when cast members from all of this show\u2019s previous runs were in the audience…and they all sat right near me! Edward James Olmos, the original iconic character, \u201cEl Pachuco,\u201d (thirty-nine years ago!–wow,) looked so proud to be among them. These were the most personal pre-curtain festivities that I\u2019ve seen at the Taper since Gordon used to hand-out the \u201cSkipper Awards,\u201d named for his beloved father, who was my very first acting teacher in New York! I loved those nights. So I was grateful that this<\/em> one made me hark back to them.<\/p>\n Okay, so my shallow<\/em> review of Zoot Suit<\/em> is that the star, Matias Ponce, is so cute! He looks kind-of like Sal Mineo.<\/p>\n Demian Bichir. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n And I was thrilled to see Demian Bichir, who was nominated for an Oscar in 2011 for his starring role in the depressing American<\/em> film, A Better Life<\/em>. (Not to be confused with the depressing French<\/em> film of the same name.) I didn\u2019t even realize that Demian was El Pachuco until he got almost naked! (I don\u2019t mean that I would recognize his naked body; it\u2019s just that I broke-out the binoculars to get a closer look, of course, and finally saw his face! See my paragraph above, if you need to be reminded that I\u2019m shallow.)<\/p>\n And here\u2019s one other very interesting casting note: Rose Portillo and Daniel Valdez, (who, along with his playwright\/director brother, Luis, is the co-founder of El Teatro Campesisno, the company that brings us this show,) who play the main guy\u2019s parents here, played the star couple in the original production, all those decades ago! Wow! Talk about sticking with a project!)<\/p>\n Jeanine Mason and Matias Ponce. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n Even though Zoot Suit<\/em> is not a musical, per se, there\u2019s plenty of singing and dancing. (And it\u2019s all in appropriate places, like when the characters are actually dancing in a club.) I was happy to read that so many members of the ensemble are true professional dancers, with many impressive credits. Jeanine Mason, who plays the main guy\u2019s love interest, even won a season of So You Think You Can Dance<\/em>! Who knew at the time that she could also act?! I\u2019m glad to see that she\u2019s grown-up so nicely. (I watch that show like a hawk, and love to see the alumni make good. A dancer\u2019s path is not an easy one, so my heart sings when they\u2019re successful. And I was happy to see her being supported that night by two of her SYTYCD<\/em> colleagues in the audience: choreographer Tyce Diorio, and finalist on a different season, Katee Shean. I love mutual admiration societies!)<\/p>\n Matias Ponce and Demian Birchir. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n Actually, every aspect of the show is first-rate, from the wonderful casting job by M-O-C Casting to the music primarily by Lalo Guerrero, to the choreography by Maria Torres, to the script and direction by the aforementioned legendary Luis Valdez, to the performances themselves. It all worked beautifully!<\/p>\n And you know I love colorful everything, so I was visually thrilled by Ann Closs-Farley\u2019s costumes, the very utilitarian set by Christopher Acebo, the clever projection design by David Murakami, and the lighting design by Pablo Santiago, (which is probably the first time I\u2019m complimenting that art here!) I loved it all<\/em>!<\/p>\n And I\u2019m confident that you will, too.<\/p>\n Zoot Suit<\/em> running through March 26, 2017<\/strong> ZOOT SUIT The revival of Zoot Suit at the Mark Taper Forum appears to be the biggest thing to hit the LA theatre scene in years, perhaps even decades! So, no Angeleno should miss this very important production. Even though I knew going in that Zoot Suit would not be the usual kind of happy<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Mark Taper Forum \u00a0 135 N. Grand Ave. \u00a0213-972-4400 \u00a0www.centertheatregroup.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"