By Sandi Masori
SAN DIEGO — Although Derecho, the new show at the La Jolla Playhouse, is about a Latino family, some of the themes may feel familiar to anyone who comes from an immigrant or first-generation family. Playwright Noelle Viñas tells of the struggle of first-generation American Eugenia (Ashley Alvarez) to balance her desire for upward mobility and achieving the American dream against her responsibility to her people and heritage, especially as she prepares to run for local office.
Eugenia’s sister Mercedes (Caro Guzmán) took care of their mom when she was dying from cancer, while Eugenia went to school, got married and worked in a career that enabled her to buy a big house in a “white” neighborhood. While Eugenia felt that she was building a better future for both of them, Mercedes felt like the brunt of the work was on her.
Now Eugenia is running for public office and the show opens as she’s preparing for José (Jorge Sánchez Díaz), an old friend from the “barrio” to come over. She hopes he will be her campaign manager. She already has started the campaign process with a White campaign manager who procured for her donations and contacts, and now she is looking to bring on a Latino campaign manager to make sure she has the Latino vote.
Her husband’s best friend Jeff (Eric Hagen) is a very progressive wealthy White man who is trying to use his family’s money for good and to undo their past history of racism. He is also coming over to offer a large campaign contribution. Much of the show deals with Eugenia trying to reconcile the need for “White money” with the desire to appeal to the Latino voters and for them not to feel that she has been bought.
There are also some side plots like the romantic relationship between Jeff and Mercedes, and some very old trust issues between Eugenia and Mercedes, as well as a secret from the past that threatens to ruin everything. All of this is happening as a major storm, in Spanish a derecho, is about to hit. Derecho is also a metaphor for the tumultuous relationships that develop on stage under the directorship of Delicia Turner Sonnenberg.
The beautifully detailed set by Tanya Orellana is a colonial home in Alexandria, Virginia. The entire 90-minute show takes place in the living room and yard of Eugenia’s and her husband Gabe’s home.
Alvarez and Guzmán do a really nice job bringing the sisterly drama to life. We really feel Mercedes’ anguish at having been the caretaker who put her own dreams on hold and Eugenia’s mixed feelings of guilt and pride at having become a success. Pragmatically, she recognizes that she needs to attract both White and Latino voters if she wants to win. And while they don’t say much about her political opponent “Levy,” I do wish that he would have been named “Jones” or “Smith” instead. With no other mention of Jews in the story it seems strange that her “white” opponent should have a Jewish-sounding surname.
Since most of the story is dialogue, it does feel a little bit “talking heady” at times. There’s a lot going on as they try to unpack privilege, politics, progressivism, assimilation, social responsibility and other themes. While it can get a little overwhelming, it’s broken up by dream-like sequences when Eugenia and Mercedes break the fourth wall and talk directly to the audience.
Derecho plays through August 18.
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Sandi Masori is a theater and restaurant reviewer for San Diego Jewish World,
Sandi, you are doing a great job as a theater critic!