At a time when the current presidential administration is targeting Latinx families who are trying to experience the American Dream, it is so appropriate and bold for actor, playwright, and producer John Leguizamo to write and star in “The Other Americans,” his new play at The Public Theatre at 425 Lafayette Street. In it, Leguizamo shows a Latinx family headed by Nelson (Leguizamo), a Colombian American, who owns several laundromats, and who believes that achieving the American Dream means moving his family from Jackson Heights to Forest Hills and running laundromats there as well. When Nelson experiences financial difficulties, he finds that the bank won’t consider him for a loan, even though he is an established businessman. Nelson and his family find that they are not welcome in the neighborhood, either as residents or as business owners.
When we meet Nelson, his wife Patti (Luna Lauren Velez), his future son-in-law Eddie (Bradley James Tejeda), Nelson’s older sister Norma (Rosa Evangelina Arredondo), who also run many successful laundromats, and Patti’s sister Veronica (Sarah Nina Hayon), the family is preparing for the homecoming of Nick (Trey Santiago-Hudson), Nelson and Patti’s son who has had issues with mental health. You can feel the tension in the room as the family prepares for Toni (Rebecca Jimenez), their daughter, to bring Nick back to the house. You also witness how Nelson is trying to figure out ways to keep his struggling business afloat, a business he is determined to leave to Nick, whether he wants it or not. There is a great deal of tension in this family over situations that have occurred and not been discussed; devastating secrets and lies smoldering underneath the surface. With this script, Leguizamo reveals the distorted nightmare that the American Dream can become for people of Latinx descent, and the extreme means to which a father is willing to go in order to secure what he thinks is the American Dream for himself and his family, no matter what the cost.
Questions are posed: what are you willing to do to be “successful,” and how far is too far to go in giving your family what you think they need? There is also the question of what type of justice you get when you are a Latinx victim and your assailant is white. If you are running a business in order to give your family a better life, does making a deal with the devil accomplish that, or lead to destruction?
This play looks at the dynamics that exist in some father/son relationships in the Latinx community, as well, not only a lack of communication, but a father’s ability to stifle his son and feel justified in doing so. It also looks at the relationship between a father and daughter and how the female is not taken as seriously as the male when it comes to their involvement in the family business.
Leguizamo leaves you numb by the end of this very revealing, outstandingly crafted, and engaging work. The cast will have you mesmerized. Leguizamo shows various levels of Nelson, but in the end, his character feels justified by his own actions and defends them. Velez is captivating as Patti, a Latina who loves and supports her husband, until she can’t. Everyone on that stage delivers a stunning performance. Arredondo is riveting as Norma, the successful older sister who will not hesitate to give Nelson a piece of her mind. She sees him for what he is and she is a strong Latina who can hold her own. Jimenez is sympathetic as Toni, the daughter who is basically taken for granted by Nelson. Hayon is amusing as Veronica. Santiago-Hudson delivers an incredibly emotional, dramatically devastating performance as Nick, a young man who has been through much and is part of a family that does not comprehend his need to talk about what he has been through and find closure. Santiago-Hudson is making his Public Theatre debut, but we should definitely be seeing a great deal more of this amazing talent.
The play has a great cohesiveness that is accomplished by its seasoned director, Ruben Santiago-Hudson. I would expect nothing less. Santiago-Hudson has always had a remarkable ability to take any work he is involved with to the next level and leave the audience thinking about the message they have just received.
I loved seeing so many Latinx audience members in the theater. I also appreciated how Leguizamo carefully crafted this script, often having the characters speak in Spanish and then English. It seemed like he was telling his Latin community, ‘This play is here to represent you.’ He was acknowledging how hard it can be to be a success somewhere that is growing increasingly hostile towards a community of so many hardworking people.
On the creative side, the production was exquisite. The set design by Arnulfo Maldonado was extraordinary. Everything about this production was phenomenal, including costume design by Kara Harmon, lighting design by Jen Schriever, sound design by Justin Ellington, original music by Ricky Gonzalez, hair and wig design by Anika Seitu, and choreography by Lorna Ventura.
“The Other Americans” will run through October 25. For tickets, go to http://www.publictheatre.org.
I miss NY for theater like this! I
.maybe it will tour.