If I am surrounded by Cuban people, food, and music, you can bet that I'm probably with my big, fat, Cuban family or that I'm back in Miami. So imagine my absolute delight to find myself in this situation yesterday in Laguna Beach (practically in my own backyard, but that's not important right now) and (wait for it,Theater Geeks…) at a Cuban play!
Our local venue for this surge of Cubanism was The Laguna Playhouse. The play was Alexandros written by Melinda Lopez and this weekend was the world premiere.
Abuela, matriarch of a Cuban exile family is celebrating her 75th birthday. Apart from her age (our matriarch is 94), it could have been set at my house with my own family. And it was laugh-out-loud funny all the way through, with just enough poignancy to make the characters accessible and familiar.
Loved. It.
Loved each and every one of the characters.
Loved the way they portrayed "us."
Loved the way the story unraveled.
Loved the familiarity of the Cubanisms.
Loved the Cuban food at the reception afterwards. (from Havana Mania and Porto's)
Loved the Cuban party.
Loved that the final words spoken on stage (by Chaz Mena) were: "Viva, Cuba Libre!"
Each of the five cast members is amazingly talented and I thought it was very cool that the young daughter was played by the lovely Katharine Luckinbill (granddaughter of Cuban royalty, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, daughter of Lucie Arnaz).
My Amy Kikita was loving the music at the reception afterwards….
A totally fun Cuban play about a totally fun Cuban family.
They might as well have called it My Big, Fat, Cuban Family…. but, oh wait….
that name was already taken. =D
George says
June 2, 2008 at 2:01 pmThanks Marta. This is a good way to try to more Cubanize my kids. You have done a better job than me on that!
Kikita says
June 2, 2008 at 3:33 pmThat was so much fun! Gracias Mami!
Marta says
June 2, 2008 at 10:12 pmGeorge,I should probably mention that the content of the play was for more mature audiences (I didn’t take my younger kids), but I do whatever it takes for them to remember their Cuban heritage, especially here in The O.C.
Thanks!
Eric says
June 3, 2008 at 1:11 pmChaz Mena’s “orange” monologue is simply hilarious.
Claudia says
June 3, 2008 at 6:47 pmAmy is so shy. She should really come out of her shell more! 😉
Amy Arnaz (Mrs Desi Arnaz Jr) says
July 1, 2008 at 2:54 pmLove, love, love your Big Fat Cuban Family blog. Found it by accident and can’t wait to show it to Desi.Muchas gracias! Amy Arnaz