(L to R) Dena Martinez as Sacajawea, Sharon Lockwood as William Clark, Dan Hiatt as Meriwether Lewis, and Sean San José as Juan José in Cal Shakes’ American Night: The Ballad of Juan José by Richard Montoya, directed by Jonathan Moscone; photo by Kevin Berne.
American Night: The Ballad of Juan José: Comedy. By Richard Montoya. Directed by Jonathan Moscone.California Shakespeare Theater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda.(510) 548-9666. www.calshakes.org. June 1- June 23
AMERICAN NIGHT: THE BALLAD OFJUAN JOSE at CalShakes rocks!!
A wise teacher once said “A lesson taught with humor is a lesson learned.” The rolling laughter in the audience at the Bruns Amphitheater on the opening of American Night: The Ballad of Juan José indicated that lessons were being learned big time scene after scene. Written by Richard Montoya and developed by Culture Class and Jo Bonney it had its world premiere in 2010 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and was the only show in their entire history to be extended by popular demand. Because of commitments of their 2013 season CalShakes may not have that option so don’t wait to get your ticket(s).
It all begins on the eve of the day Mexican immigrant Juan Jose (Sean San Jose) will take his citizenship exam. He falls asleep and has a fantastic dream tracing mostly the history of America. His dream trek though time is full of esperanza (hope) and the characters he meets are broad caricatures, in extravagant costumes (Martin Schnellinger) backed up by jarring music to match the nonstop action and irreverent dialog. Director Jonathon Moscone has imbued them with enough slapstick to fill a couple of shows.
Who is our intrepid hero Juan José traveling through a chimerical dream? He is a former honest Mexican policeman and when he does not accept bribes to “just do nuthin” or else there will be a contract on his life. What is an honest Mexican cop to do but seek sanctuary in the marvelous country north of his border where the sign reads (in red, white and blue of course): U.S.A. BIENVENIDOS. Time has passed and now Juan must pass the citizenship exam before he can bring his family into America.
Of the nine member cast eight actors play 80 plus roles and Sean San Jose plays only one, the lead. For example local favorite Dan Hiatt starts out as a proselytizing Mormon, ends up as labor leader Harry Bridges and in between as Abraham Lincoln, a Klu Klux Klan leader, etc, etc. Sharon Lockwood switches genders often once playing William Clark (of Lewis and Clark) to Dan Hiatt as Meriwether Lewis, She is a riot as “Who Wants to Be an American” Game Show Spokesmodel. Dena Martinez plays the recurring role of Juan’s wife but also shows up as Joan Baez and Sacajawea. Margo Hall is a joy as she flips in an out of her characters and she even plays a living clock to mark the passage of time and is most effective as Viola Pettus the African-American nurse who treated friend and enemy alike during the Spanish flu pandemic. Two roles played by Tyee Tilghman’s are a black cowboy and Jackie Robinson. Todd Nakagawa starts out as Brother Clark, Dan Haitt’s Mormon cohort and has a serious stint upon the stage as teen-aged Mexican Ralph Lazo who joined his Japanese friends at the Manzanar Internment Camp.
All the actors are marvelous but if you must pick out one of the bunch for special praise it would be full bodied Richard Ruiz who bounces around the stage with the agility of a Billy goat playing Juan José the First, Teddy Roosevelt, a Sumo wrestler, Bob Dylan and to close the show as Neil Diamante belting a song in a Woodstock setting. Running time 90 minutes without intermission.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theathreworldinternetmagazine.com
