REVIEW: 'Queen of the Rumba' pays proper homage to a Cuban queen
The world premiere of “Queen of the Rumba” at CASA0101 Theatre in Boyle Heights is a Cuban American story and more. It touches our shared humanity and the power of the human spirit. The performance I attended had a full house, and a standing ovation.
This is a welcome addition to the large body of work from playwright and screenwriter Josefina López, best known for her “Real Women Have Curves”, the award-winning play, movie, and musical which has a Broadway bound production debuting at the American Repertory Theatre in December, 2023.
Inspired by a true story – Alicia Parla is a 21-year-old virgin Cuban girl who set the world on fire with the rhumba back in the 1920s and 1930s. She is credited with introducing the U.S. to the rumba.
López says,” I thought she was an outrageous woman who reminded me of myself. I too had a strict father who forbade me to dance, and for my parents, staying a virgin and being a good married daughter was their priority. I wanted to be free from those expectations and saw an opportunity to tell my story through Alicia’s story.”
This story begins when Alicia, now a woman of 89 (Paloma Morales), is diagnosed with cancer and she refuses to stay in the cancer ward. She claims she is ready to go, because she had a happy and full life.
The doctor (Sammy Montero) insists she stay overnight for observation. At night she hears a young girl, Sofia, (Kenia Romero) crying because she too has a terminal illness with just a few months to live. She tries to cheer her up by sharing her story of how she went from a precocious girl (Angel Juarez) who came to the US from Cuba and ended up introducing the US to the rumba and had an amazing dance career that took her to Paris and many other exciting places.
Alicia teaches her that when you live in the moment, as she did when she danced, that you can live forever.
In sharing her story, she reveals her one true regret – not following her heart and not going with the man she loved (Mauricio Marte) because he was poor and a black Cuban. She had to marry well in order for her white Cuban family to accept her. Sofia realizes that although she is going to die, she can do it peacefully now because she will not die with regret because she too has had true love in her life.
She asks Alicia to teach her how to dance the rumba, and she gets everyone in the cancer ward to dance the rumba as though their life depended on it.
The gifted and talented Corky Dominguez is the director and choreographer who brings this story to life through the exploration of Cuban American culture, and the spirit of the rumba with an equally spirited cast.
Paloma Morales’s years of experience as an actor and dancer have prepared her for the role as the elder Alicia. From the instant she hits the stage, with a twinkle in her eye, she sets the play in motion.
It is her authenticity that allows us to immediately relate to her character, who narrates this story to a series of flashbacks to the 20’s and 30’s. That’s where the real action of the play is. And let’s make it clear, she embodies the spirit of the rumba. It’s about living in the moment: “My life is my own. My life is a celebration of me.”
Angel Juarez as the young Alicia captures her innocence, spirit of rebellion, youthful enthusiasm, and determination to dance. And she’s got the moves.
Vivian Marie Lamolli is spellbinding as Rosita Vega, Alicia’s Afro-Cuban family maid. The rumba was developed by Afro-Cuban workers in the poor neighborhoods of Havana. Alicia first witnesses Rosita dancing the slow sensual rumba with her lover. It is that experience that inspires Alicia to dance, and it is in the dancing that she feels free and alive.
Mauricio Marte stands out in his honest human portrayal as Marcos, the poor, black-skinned Cuban that Alicia’s mother forbids to marry.
Lolita Lazcano is the complex character of the mother, Goretti Parla, torn between her love for her husband, her devotion Catholicism, and her daughter.
The set design by Cesaŕ Retana-Holguiǹ and the lighting by Alejandro Parra give us the color palette and texture that accent costumes by Abel Alvarado and make up/hair by Josh Freilich that enhance the characters and period. Even the elder Alicia’s hospital outfit is tropical and vibrant. The music and sound design by James Alonzo could very easily be a perfect playlist. The song “Queen of the Rumba” features music by Josh Freilich and lyrics by Anita Reyes.
Queen of the Rumba
CASA101 Theatre, 2102 E. First Street, Boyle Heights
Friday-Saturday, 8 pm; Sunday, 3 pm; through Oct. 22
Box office: (323) 263-7684 www.casa0101.org