” La Ruta”

[rating=4] With all the talk about Mexico and the United States border of late, it seems very fitting that Steppenwolf Theatre would host the World Premiere of  ” La Ruta” by Isaac Gomez. La Ruta is a bus route that the factory workers use to get from their small towns to the U,S, owned factories in Ciudad, Mexico. There are not many Americans who know about the women who have been known to disappear as they are returning home from the tedious work they do ( for little pay, as it turns out). What happens to them? They are found, in most cases, dead!

“La Ruta” is a tightly woven 100 minutes of solid story telling, sharply directed by Sandra Marquez on a set designed by Regina Garcia that allows us to see the simple lives these workers live. We are also privy to a graveyard of sorts where many of those found have crosses bearing their names, so the townspeople can remember those they loved. The lighting ( Jesse Klug) and sound (Mikhail Fiksel) as always is superb and the music direction by Zacbe Pichardo, excellent!! Laura Crotte, A Teatro Vista company member handles the guitar and the main vocal with great energy and her final song is so hauntingly beautiful, you will get chills up and down your spine. The songs date back as far as 1882 and are as current as 2008. Each adds great meaning to the story we are being told.

The cast of  eight actresses is smashing. The always reliable  Sandra Delgado portrays Yoli, whose daughter Brenda ( deftly handled by Cher Alvarez) goes missing. She has just started at the factory and is a mere teenager (16) when this all takes place. Her sister ,Marisela ( played to perfection by Charin Alvarez) becomes the one most concerned about stating a message and protesting. Karen Rodriguez handles Ivonne, another worker, who as it turns out has her own secrets in the telling of this story. Her scenes with Yoli, Brenda and Marisela are tightly woven allowing us to see that there is more to what we are hearing and seeing than we think. I will say no more, so you can judge for yourself.The other women of the community are Mari Marroquin, Isabella Gerasole and Alice da Cunha.

All of the sub-stories contained within the play are based on real people who Gomez interviewed, but names have been changed to protect them from being injured or even killed. These workers  are caught in the web of the gangs that own the streets of Mexico. When a girl disappears, one can only hope that she has only been kidnapped or perhaps borrowed for the night. The other alternative is what they fear. There is a great deal of violence, which is one of the reasons that the people want to leave and come to America, just as our forefathers did ( without any walls!).

The fight choreography  (Gaby Labotka) is well done and the projections (Rasean Davonte Johnson) spectacular. In particular, the final scene where the photos of those who have gone missing are projected on the three walls surrounding the stage. It is a moment when you think about how lucky we are to have the lives we have in our country . Gomez, was himself helped by the ladies of the border when he came to our country and vowed to tell their story. He has, with heart and soul as well as love for those who have lost their lives.

“La Ruta” will continue at Steppenwolf Theatre “upstairs” thru January 27th with performances as follows:

Stage: Upstairs Theatre

Show Type: Drama

Box Office: 312-335-1650

www.steppenwolf.org

Tickets range from $20-$89

Special performances-Wednesday $25 Cultural Industry use code CULTURAL

Sundays ( starting in January) post show discussions, looking at violence against women

Parking is available at the Steppenwolf Garage, a few doors South of the theater at 1650 N. Halsted

and valet parking is available as well.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “La Ruta”.