 |
 |
 |
| SERVING THE ON-LINE RPI COMMUNITY SINCE 1994 |
 |
|
|
 |
| Current Issue: |
Volume 130, Number 1 |
July 14, 2009 |
Features

Alianza Latina act in two short Hispanic plays
Posted 05-01-2002 at 6:54PM
 Gil Valadez Senior Reporter Alianza Latina held its first-ever theatrical performance last Saturday in the West Hall auditorium. Members of Alianza Latina were cast to perform in two one-act plays from Estorias Del Barrio (Stories from the Hood) by Frankie Perez. The first play was titled Un Ghost. Antonio Borges, president of Alianza Latina, had the crowd in stitches as Frankie, a very unsuccessful hard-luck gambler, looking for the right numbers or just a little money. Esther Garcia played Frankie’s frustrated wife, who was tired of all of the gambling and of being poor—as she puts it in the play, “Remember Frankie, no money, no honey!” A ghost of Frankie’s father, masterfully played by Evaristo Soler, pays the two a visit, and what happens is a true lesson in materialism and love, not to mention comedy. Garcia and Borges had incredible onstage chemistry, and their improv added a unique spice to the performance.
The second play had a better script than the first. Special People of International Color is set at a talent agency Justin Seret played a slimy casting agent, Mr. Warren, in search of “Hispanic talent” to fill television and movie roles. The roles are only stereotypically negative Latino roles such as rapists, drug dealers, and prostitutes. Ivonne Droz, Jose Nunez, Chris Humphrey, and Jessica Benton played prospective actors at the agency for auditions. Nunez played Tomas—a less-than-veiled reference to his “Uncle Tom” behavior in the play—who is a cab driver willing to do anything if the money is right. Throughout the play, the other actors help Tomas to see that it is not worth selling your culture short for money. The ending is funny when the talent director unveils the new sign for his talent agency, named Special People of International Color. The acronym in big red letters—SPIC—made even Tomas see the true nature of the agency. The second play did a great job of presenting a very serious social issue in a digestible, provoking, and entertaining manner.
Jason Tavares, director of both plays, deemed the inaugural performance a huge success. “It was nice to see such a great turnout.” Tavarez said, adding, “[Alianza Latina’s] hope is to take the plays to another level next year.” Tavarez seemed excited at the prospect of working with the Players and getting more general RPI community involvement. | |
 Posted 05-01-2002 at 6:54PM |  |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Copyright 2000-2006 The Polytechnic |
| Comments, questions? E-mail the Webmaster. Site design by Jason Golieb. |
|
|
|