Review: CTC'S I COME FROM ARIZONA Cuts to the Heart of Contemporary Immigration Concerns

In a New York Times article dated October 14, 2018, "A Mexican Man's Fatal Journey to Reclaim HIs Life," the newspaper retells the story of Adrián Luna, a man from a small town in Idaho. His life scenario reads eerily familiar to the themes in the World Premiere Play at Children's Theatre Company (CTC) titled "I Come From Arizona." In another play titled, "Augusta and Noble," playwright Carlos Murillo depicts a related story for these character, while in "Arizona, he relives the story of a 14 year old girl Gabi, who must negotiate attending a new college prep high school in tony North Chicago. She also needs to care for her younger brother, Jesus, while worrying if her father will remain safe while he visits his dying father in Mexico. Both stories, in the newspaper and at the theater retell the plight of immigrants in America, both documented and undocumented, and certainly other than illegal.

In Gabi's high school on the first morning of the semester, she finds herself in a course titled "Global Perspectives," The teacher asks the students to discuss: How much do we know about our origins? The question reverberates to audience members when they wonder where their families or other families come, or originate, from and how that might change their perspectives on current circumstances, in the United States and other countries throughout the world. How do immigrant parents integrate into American culture and maintain their employment while their children attend school and might be American citizens. In a phrase from the play, "Humans are unable to be illegal, they can only be undocumented."

Gabi, a sincere and sympathetic Ayssette Muñoz, faces a barrage of questions from her Global Perspectives teacher, Ms. Chen and other class members. Two of her new friends, Puerto Rican Ricardo, Antonio De La Vega, and Fiona, a European descendent, Madison Neal, portray affluent teenagers from North Side Chicago. Gabi travels a huge distance from her less than desirable South Side Chicago home, and feels uncomfortable when working on a group project in the suburban wealth. Their very funny and wonderful teacher, Shá Cage as Ms. Chen, forces her students and the audience to ponder their views on immigration and how the great United States was created over its long history, begun by immigrants from every continent.

While at times the script becomes overbearing, and too specific, the main themes persist with power. If several of these conversations at the forefront of the play were more open ended, the play might span the decades immigration has been a concern. Gabi also deals with her own issues confronting her very personal situation, in speaking of her own orgins, which could eventually put her family in danger. Luca La Hoz Calassara plays a spot on job as Gabi's younger brother, Jesus, and has a great chemistry with Muñoz. Gabi's mother Delores, Nora Montañez, appropriately demonstrates her frustration with her husband's absence and life in America.

All the action plays out against a dramatic mural, a backdrop to the scenic design by Yu Shibágaki, especially including the necessary and versatile scene changes. Director Lisa Portes builds the tension to a feverish peak in the second act, which could be somewhat frightening for younger audience members. Gabi's dream sequences during the play are also incredibly realistic, and slightly uncomfortable as well.

A mountain of contemporary event content inhabits this production, and includes heavy weight emotional impact when exploring the immigration concerns. While appropriate for older teenagers and adults, younger children may need caution and explanations when attending a performance. Performed in both Spanish and English simultaneously, the dialogue is easily understood by the audiences as the actors usually clarify what the Spanish means, and provides authenticity to the performance in this diverse cast.

CTC's intense, powerful world premiere production, executed with excellence, leaves plenty to discuss after the show, or when discovering current events in the news media to coraborate with. Be sure to attend this exceptional play giving one family's story insightfully ripped from today's newspapers, although this has been an ongoing story waiting to be told for decades. Then compare the play and newspapers, the origins in your own family, and use eye opening clarity to see the world from other perspectives, global perspectives, which as Gabi learns, "May be what's in front of you, in your mother's eyes or the sound of her voice."

Children's Theatre Company presents the World Premiere I Come From Arizona on the Cargill Stage through November 25 . For information on the upcoming season or tickets to the present performance, please contact: childrenstheatre.org.

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