Sitting in the audience of The Goodman Theatre with my 1^st generation Puerto Rican-American mother and watching the play Boleros for the Disenchanted brought me back to the Island of Puerto Rico for a night. It also brought back a flood of memories of my abuela (grandmother) and the struggles our family endured as we tried to make a better life for ourselves in America much like Eusebio and Flora, the main characters of the play.

Elizabeth Ledo and and Joe Minoso as Flora and Eusebio

Boleros for the Disenchanted written by Jose Rivera and directed by Henry Godinez is a moving play about struggles of love and life for Eusebio and Flora, two young Puerto Ricans who leave the Island to make a new life for themselves in America after their wedding during the 50’s. Eusebio is a young man who is in the Coast Guard while Flora is young naiveté who comes from a very traditional family and has barely seen the other side of the Island, but she has a strong head on her shoulders. She is a bit jaded when it comes to love, but Eusebio sweeps her off her feet and away from the only place and family she has known. The decision to leave Puerto Rico is one of the hardest decisions they will have to face in their young lives. Yet they make the decision unabashedly and never think twice even with the disgrace of Flora’s family.

Elizabeth Ledo as younger Flora

As I watched their lives unfold I experienced their emotional turmoil—I laughed when they laughed, I worried when they worried and I cried when they shed tears. I sat next to my mother and gained a deeper understanding of what our family went through when she was younger and the hardships my grandmother faced as a young woman who barely spoke English in America in the 50’s and 60’s. Much like Eusebio, she was a proud woman who worked hard at horrendous jobs to provide for her family, but unlike Flora who kept her loyalty to God, she lost her faith and religion early on.

Flora, Dona Milla and Don Fermin

Rivera did an incredible job creating a story that crosses cultural barriers and allowed all races and ethnicities to relate to the story of a love that faced trials and tribulations. Yet, he didn’t stray from the authenticity of his culture that he hoped to reveal to his audience. Throughout the evening my mother would constantly whisper of things that brought her back home, especially the music—the old fashioned Boleros.

Upon entering the Goodman Theatre my mother was surprised at the diversity of the audience. She suspected an array of people just like her, but we were surrounded by more than just Latinos and Hispanics, there were many types of people in the audience ready to be exposed to the beautiful culture of Puerto Rico. Boleros for the Disenchanted did just that, it educated its audience a bit on the Puerto Rican culture. It was a great opportunity to really show a Latino presence in the theatre in Chicago.

Rene Rivera as older Eusebio

Each of the characters were played strongly by a Latino cast. I was incredibly touched by the stage presence of Sandra Marquez who played the older version of Flora as well as Flora’s mother, Dona Milla. She resonated with strength and an undying devotion to her husband who falls very ill in the end despite his infidelity. She is the epitome of the matriarch. Rene Rivera was show stopping and intimidating as Flora’s father Don Fermin as well as heart wrenching as older Eusebio. He reminded me of my own abuelo (grandfather).

Sandra Marquez as older Flora

Felix Solis was the man you loved to hate as Manuelo, younger Flora’s ex-fiancé who broke her heart. The funniest of the crew was definitely the trio of Joe Minoso (younger Eusebio), Elizabeth Ledo (young flora) and Liza Fernandez (petra and Monica). Each of these younger actors showed great posterity among the more tenured ensemble. They hit their marks right on cue and had the audience roaring with laughter half the evening!

Boleros for the Disenchanted, despite the name, was truly an enchanting play. A tribute to a country that holds strong to values, honor and tradition. A country that my family as well as Rivera’s family left long ago, but is always ever present in many a Puerto Rican’s heart.

History on Goodman:

Established in 1925, Goodman Theatre has been a part of life in Chicago for over 80 years. Every season, the Goodman presents the work of an extraordinary group of local, national and international artists. For more information check out: http://www.goodmantheatre.org/. Goodman Theatre is located at: 170 North Dearborn Street Chicago, IL 60601. Boleros for the Disenchanted will be playing at Goodman through July 29th 2009.

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