In recent years, an unprecedented wave of Latin Americans have arrived in the U.S. in search of a better life. And in recent weeks, the federal government’s efforts to barricade the border and deport these immigrants has been swift and surprising.
So, the opening of “La Havana Madrid” at Carlsbad’s New Village Arts Theatre on Saturday felt not only prescient, but also like déjà vu.
Sandra Delgado and Christian Amigo’s lively and touching 2017 musical tells the story of La Havana Madrid, a real-life Chicago nightclub that welcomed Latin Americans from Cuba, Puerto Rico and Colombia from 1961 until its closure in 1969.
The two-hour musical traces the experiences of eight characters — some based on real individuals others are a composite of people — from their early optimism in pursuing the American Dream to their growing struggles with racism, segregation, job discrimination and loss of civil rights.
Yet while the characters in this musical face steep odds, there’s an underpinning of joy and hope for the future fueled by their shared ion for their culture, their newfound community and the lively salsa and cumbia music, dance and songs they enjoy at La Havana Madrid.
An elegant Michelle Caravia leads the cast as La Havana Madrid, the ghostly embodiment of the club itself. She sings, dances, tells the club’s story and introduces each of the characters to the audience.
Directed by Richard Trujillo with a top-notch onstage Latin band led by music director-bassist Carlos Ordiano, the show really swings, with entertaining music, energetic choreography by Lilea Alvarez and Tamara Rodriguez, and a fine cast. The script is informative, if a bit formulaic in style, with each character taking turns telling their stories.
The two best narratives, of the innocent youth Maria and life-embracing beauty queen Myrna, bookend the musical.
Alyssa Rodriguez gives a touching performance as 13-year-old Maria, one of 14,000 unaccompanied minor children from Cuba who arrived in the U.S. from 1960-1962 through Operation Peter Pan. Maria’s lonely struggle to adapt to American food, clothing and culture ends happily with a loving foster mom and her dance nights at La Havana Madrid.
And Lena Ceja is a saucy standout as Myrna, a proud and independent Puerto Rican immigrant in 1966 who stands up for herself, the U.S. territory where she was born and her right to thrive in the U.S., despite the oppression she and her community face.
There are also stories of the club’s owner Tony (Fredy Gomez Cruz); the Colombian married couple Henry and Maruja (Leonardo Romero and Cena) forced to live apart due to immigration laws; Puerto Rican activist Carlos (Jawann McBeth) who chronicled the urban renewal that razed Latino neighborhoods; and Carpacho, a Latino musician struggling to survive for his art (Romero).
Christopher Scott Murillo designed the nightclub set, Russell Chow designed lighting and Miki Vale designed sound. The projections, featuring historic photographs and video, were designed by Michael Wogulis.
As we know today, the Latin Americans who arrived in the U.S. in the 1960s contributed mightily to the U.S. economy, not only as agricultural and factory workers, but also as future entrepreneurs, cultural arts icons and taxpayers. History is repeating itself now. Let’s hope it’s not too late to learn a lesson from the value of immigrants like Maria, Myrna, Tony, Carlos and the rest.
‘La Havana Madrid’
When:2 p.m. Wednesdays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through April 27
Where: New Village Arts, 2787 State St., Carlsbad
Tickets: $40 and up
Phone: 760-433-3245
Online: newvillagearts.org
