By Carol Davis
SAN DIEGO — The more things change, the more they stay the same.
When Luis Valdez wrote Zoot Suit in the 1970’s, he could never have imagined that it would make as much impact today as it did when it premiered at the Mark Taper Forum in 1978. Zoot Suit is the docudrama based on an incident in Los Angeles in 1942, the Sleepy Lagoon murder trials and the race riots that broke out as a result of the trial.
A young man, José Diaz, was found dead at the sleepy lagoon. At the time the police never determined how he died or who was responsible for his death. Those arrested for the crime were members of the 38th Street Gang or Chicano Zoot Suiters.
That they never determined the cause of death, didn’t deter Los Angeles law enforcement that, with the help of the military and egged on by the press, arrested and charged for murder a group of young Chicano youths. In the minds of law enforcement, all Mexicans were zoot suiters and all zoot suiters were criminals. At the time they rounded up nearly 300 boys and girls, 22 belonged to the 38th Street Gang.
One young man in particular was the scapegoat for the entire group, young Henry Reyna (Lakin Valdez). Zoot Suit is the fictionalized account of what happened to them all in general and Henry in particular. As racial tensions reached crescendo proportions with young service men (this all during WWII) attacking and rounding up all and any Chicanos they could get their hands on during and surrounding this incident the streets were a virtual battleground. Reyna along with 22 others who were accused and tried were actually convicted of murder in what can be called a mockery of a trial. The trial played out in the press as mob violence and riots dominated the streets.
Significant was the fact that the term ‘zoot suiters’ (from the term pachuco) comes from the Mexican City Pachuca, a poor over crowded community with a reputation for being a tough and dangerous place. Originally it meant the poorest of the poor. In addition to the name, pachucos were identified by their clothes.
Typically a zoot suit is fashioned with a high waist, baggy legs tapered at the ankles, colorful shirts with long jackets squared at the shoulders. The trousers are accessorized with several long gold chains. Shiny shoes, wide brimmed porkpie hats and ducktail haircuts complete the look. The style resembled the 1930’s look of the patrons of Harlem’s jazz clubs.
Henry’s story is told through the eyes of El Pachuco (Raul Cardona who, at some point turns into a Christ like figure) who is Henry’s alter ego. Cardona is a bigger-than-life personality with a telling pose: hands in pockets, one leg in front of the other and leaning back as far as he can go without falling over with a sideways look at the audience and a poker face. He is pretty much in command of the show.
Lakin Valdez, the son of Luis Valdez, knows Henry inside and out. While he may be thinking everything El Pachuco is saying, he doesn’t necessarily act on every thought. Valdez’s Reyna is more nuanced and more of this world than is El Pachuco. He gets strong support from Michael S. Garcia who plays Henry’s younger brother, Rudy. Others in his circle who are equally up to the task are Mark Pinter, Stephen Lone, Spencer Smith, Kevin Koppman-Gue, and John Padilla who plays Henry’s father with passion, understanding and caution. Catalina Maynard plays his mother with conviction.
Outside his circle James Newcomb is George Shearer (based on the real life attorney George E. Shipley) his defense attorney who risks everything to defend his client. He is passionate and sensitive as he tries every trick in the book to get a fair trial for Henry, but to no avail. Jo Anne Glover is perfect as Alice Bloomfield, (based on Alice McGrath a renowned activist) reporter and activist who spent endless hours speaking out against the injustices aimed at the trials of the 38th Street Gang.
Herbert Siguenza represents ‘The Press’ with tongue in cheek as he snaps away with his press camera keeping the incidents alive every day. The press played a crucial role in the Zoot Suit trials and Siguenza, who is largely recognized as co-founder of the group Culture Clash is spot-on popping up here and there keeping the pressure on.
Director Kirsten Brandt is at the helm bringing with her, her brand of humor, style, energy and drama allowing the story to develop at a nice pace, Javier Valasco’s lively choreography is tip top as at least 40 performers, many from the San Diego School of Performing Arts, dance, sing and swing to everything from Glenn Miller to Latin jazz sounds to tangos.
The San Diego Rep., has another hit on its hands and I recommend everyone with a social conscience see it. As it has over the last three years, the theatre has teamed up with the School of Performing Arts to audience delight. Valasco choreographed this very same show when the Rep first produced it as its season opener in 1997/98, nineteen years after it had its premiere at the Mark Taper Forum.
And what would a zoot suit be without the costume designer? Not a whole lot, that’s for sure and this is where Mary Larson comes in recreating both the Pachuco look and the zoot suit look. Each costume is rather unique, colorful and fitting to the character. David Lee Cuthbert is credited for the scenic, lighting and projection design (newspaper clippings of the actual event are projected on the back walls throughout) that help bring it all together. And the young dancers and swingers from the school deserve two thumbs up!
It would have been comforting if Zoot Suit was a look back at a time that was and that we as a society had moved on. Unfortunately it was not to be. While the play Zoot Suit swings, it also stings because the same attitudes that prevailed in the 40’s are bubbling up again in 2012 only now it’s about immigration rather than assimilation. Congrats to the Rep. for remounting this timely show.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: through Aug. 12th
Organization: San Diego Repertory Theatre
Phone: 619-544-1000
Production Type: Docudrama
Where: 79 Horton Plaza, Downtown
Ticket Prices: start at $31.00
Web: sdrep.org
Venue: Lyceum Stage
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Davis is a San Diego-based theatre critic who may be contacted at carol.davis@sdjewishworld.com