Multi-Award Winning Stage and Screen Actor John Leguizamo Wrote and Stars in The Other Americans at Arena Stage
WASHINGTON, DC-Reflecting style elements of “I Love Lucy”, “American Family”, “Primo”, “One Day at a Time”, “Chico and the Man”, “Ugly Betty”, “Modern Family”, “George Lopez” and other well-loved TV sitcoms based on the Latino experience in America, The Other Americans tells a story about a humorous and dysfunctional Columbian American family struggling to achieve the ‘American Dream’ while at the same time keeping their family from falling apart. Yet, unlike many feel-good, living-in-America TV shows, this searing play reveals a far darker theme than other. It revolves around a suicidal son and a family in crisis.
Playwright John Leguizamo is a multi-award-winning actor and playwright who has garnered more than his share of Tony, Emmy, Drama Desk, Obie and Outer Critics Circle awards. As well-known for stand-up as for his film work, often portraying gritty characters on the fringes of society, Leguizamo both wrote and stars in this world premiere family dramedy that showcases his live performance skills and film experience. In the role of Nelson, he gives us a father and jokester whose outsized ego systematically tears apart the family he most loves.
Nicky (Trey Santiago-Hudson) has returned home from a mental institution where his family had committed him after his failed attempt to take his own life. His devoted mother, Patti (Luna Loren Velez), alcoholic father Nelson (John Leguizamo), his loving sister Toni (Rebecca Jimenez), Patti’s sister Veronica (Sarah Nina Hayon), soon-to-be son-in-law Eddie (Bradley James Tejeda), and successful entrepreneur and Nelson’s sister Aunt Norma (Rosa Arredondo) all walk on tenterhooks to avoid telling him they are glad he’s better. Nicky doesn’t like hearing those words, insisting he’s still working on his mental health with the help of a girlfriend Mitzi whom he met at the institution.
It begins with light banter between Nelson, Eddie, Veronica and Patti. Patti is preparing a large Latino style meal to celebrate Nicky’s return home. While they await Nicky’s return, the couple tease each other playfully, bust a move to Latin and disco music and blame each other relentlessly for Nicky’s mental breakdown. We begin to see Nelson’s drinking problem, his demeaning treatment of Eddie and his domineering attitude towards Patti. Nelson owns a string of laundromats inherited from his father and the family is living a comfortable life with a just-built swimming pool in hopes of convincing competitive swimmer Nicky to stay at home.
When Nicky returns, any hope of family unity collapses quickly as both Nelson and Patti act out their frustrations towards him and each other for his refusal to accept their plans for his future. Nelson pressures him to go into the laundromat biz, while Patti insists he live at home and return to his college education. However, in a flash of self-determination, Nicky declares his intent to move in with the elusive Mitzi and become a choreographer. This becomes yet another rift in an already high-stress environment, making clear clear that no one’s agency is valued in this emotionally unstable household.
Along with the intense drama of a family in financial and emotional trauma are elements of comic relief. The lines are cleverly written and deftly acted, yet this story is about a family who descends into a nobody-wins, all-out competition of sabotage and self-destruction and it’s not until the second act when Nicky’s illness is revealed. Cue a story of racism and violence.
As despicable a character as he has written for himself, Leguizamo’s performance as Nelson is extraordinary. His capacity for warp-speed morphing from caring father to domineering husband to chief manipulator and one-man insult factory is a master class in and of itself. But it can only be successful with the counterbalance of co-star Velez’s stellar performance as Patti who matches his fire, as well as Trey Santiago-Hudson’s searing star turn as Nicky.
Thanks to the brilliance of famed director Ruben Santiago-Hudson this broadly complex American tragedy comes to life only to echo the destructive human conflicts that seem never to be resolved. What serves to temper the drama is Patti’s actual cooking, done onstage with accompanying aromas thanks to Arnulfo Maldonado’s brilliant set design of a functioning kitchen + living room + bedroom + outdoor swimming pool – all enhanced by Simon Adrian’s and Kayla Prough’s props.
Destined to be an American classic.
With Associate Director Timothy Johnson; Dramaturg Jack Moore; Costumes by Kara Harmon; Lighting Design by Jen Schriever; Sound Design by Justin Ellington; Original Music by Ricky Gonzalez; Hair Design by LaShawn Melton; Fight Director, Thomas Schall; and Intimacy Coordinator, Ann C. James.
Through November 24th at Arena Stage on the Fichandler Stage, 1101 Sixth Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024. For tickets and information call the box office at 202 488-3300 or visit www.ArenaStage.org.
