by Amy Dalness
Daily Lobo
During a symposium for the play "Zoot Suit," writer Luis Valdez called on Hispanics to vote.
"We stand on the shoulders of giants," he said. "None of us are alone."
Valdez's play about a controversial Mexican-American gang has come to Albuquerque.
"Zoot Suit" opened at the National Hispanic Cultural Center Journal Theatre on Thursday, starting the first season at the Roy E. Disney Center for the Performing Arts at the center.
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"Zoot Suit" first opened in 1979. It was the first play written by a Hispanic to open on Broadway.
Valdez's dramatized version focuses on Henry Reyna (Lakin Valdez), the leader of the 38th Street Gang. Reyna goes out for one last night of swing dancing, complete with zoot suit, before he enlists in the Navy the next day.
The play is based on the true story of gang members, their detainment, trial, jail time and acquittal for a murder they did not commit, and the world events that surrounded it.
The story is of the Sleepy Lagoon case of 1942. JosÇ Diaz was found dead at the Sleepy Lagoon reservoir, a hangout and lovers' lane for Mexican-American youths. The pachucos, or zoot suiters, were blamed.
The press did a series of articles on pachuco gangs. Public outrage grew and sheriff's officials conducted a sweep through the city's barrios, arresting more than 600 young men. A grand jury eventually indicted 24 for murder.
Reyna and his friends are sent to a frightfully unconstitutional and dehumanizing trial for the murder of a boy at the Williams' ranch.
With the help of Alice Bloomfield (Heather Pauley), a local reporter and activist, lawyer George Shearer and huge community support, they are acquitted and released from jail only to find the zoot suit riots and other events changed the world they knew.
The audience also gets a glimpse into Reyna's alter ego with the character of El Pachuco (Raul Cardona) - the suave storyteller who is aware of the audience and directs the play.
Valdez and Cardona are indisputably the stars of the show. Not only are their performances the strongest, their characters have the most change and development during the play.
Valdez glided from the essence of strength to a helpless child with the ease of a seasoned professional.
Cardona's charisma makes the show. The character El Pachuco was created as a symbol for more then just Reyna's ego.
El Teatro Campesino, or The Farmworker's Theater, formed by Valdez in an effort to popularize and raise funds for the grape boycott and farmworker strike in 1965, brought the play.
Three years ago, El Teatro came to the center to perform "La Carpa de los Rasquachis," Valdez said.
"We are very proud to have the first play on this stage," Valdez said.
On Wednesday, Valdez spoke at a symposium with Alice McGrath of the Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee and Lalo Guerrero, who is known as the father of Chicano music. Guerrero's music is showcased in "Zoot Suit."
UNM senior Tara Brinduse said "Zoot Suit" is an important play taught in many of her classes.
"It's a neat piece of culture," she said.
UNM sophomore Amy Archuleta said she is inspired by Valdez's work and has waited years to see "Zoot Suit" on stage.
"It has inspired me to write screenplays about our culture," she said.
"Zuit Suit"
Through Sunday
Roy E. Disney Center for Performing Arts Albuquerque Journal Theatre
$35, $30 and $20
766-9858
Grade: B+
