Isabella Campos and Bobby Plasencia in SOMEWHERE OVER THE BORDER at People’s Light. A co-production with Pittsburgh City Theatre
By Ellen Wilson Dilks
Though Malvern’s People’s Light officially turned 50 on the 19th, the musical SOMEWHERE OVER THE BORDER is the final offering of Season 49. Directed by Laura Alcalá Baker, Brian Quijada’s piece explores how the “American Dream” pulls many to travel a perilous yellow brick road to this country. The musical is a co-production with Pittsburgh’s City Theatre and Pittsburgh CLO; it is running on the Leonard C. Haas Stage from July 17th to August 11th.
Playwright Quijada has taken elements of Frank L. Baum’s The Wizard of Oz to musically tell the story of his 17-year-old mother’s journey from El Salvador to Texas in the US in 1978. Reluctantly leaving him behind (he was an infant) with his abuella, single mother Reina sets off alone. Along the way she encounters three others who join her on the journey. These characters loosely represent the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion that Dorothey meets on her way to Oz. Reina’s yellow brick road has as many challenges and dangers as Dorothy’s, but with the support of her new friends, she makes it. It takes her a decade to earn citizenship and to travel back to El Salvador to get her son. SOMEWHERE OVER THE BORDER is a touching, joyous and funny tale of friendship and new beginnings.
The technical elements of the production are well done. Pittsburgh City Theatre and director Laura Alcala Baker have employed a solid group of artisans to create the world of Quijada’s play. Chelsea M. Warren has invented a scenic design that evokes a poor village in El Salvador quite well, and then surprising the viewer with the clever transitions to other locales. Aiding perfectly in this are Joe Spinogatti’s beautifully projections that show Reina’s long journey and the various stops along the way. Lighting all this is Cat Wilson—strong work in creating the moods needed. The costumes created by Damian E. Dominguez go far in delineating the personalities of each character, while Stephanie Senior’s soundscape supplements the music perfectly.
Musical Director Michael Meketa Sanchez—who also plays keyboards—has put together a tight band who really rock the Latino rhythms; myself and others seemed itching to get up and dance. Only four pieces create a vibrant sound: Alexa Vallejo on guitar, Jimmy Coleman on percussion—joined by Senfu Stoney on additional percussive instruments. Bravo gang.
Gloria Viveca Benavides, Bobby Plasencia, Isabella Campos and Jerreme Rodriguez in SOMEWHERE OVER THE BORDER at People’s Light. A co-production with Pittsburgh City Theatre
Serving as the Narrator of Reina’s tale, Arusi Santi also plays guitar throughout. His performance is loaded with charm as he engages the audience and guides viewers through the story. He also assumes various minor characters encountered along the way with great aplomb. Reina’s mother, Julia, is nicely illuminated by Ariana Valdes as she easily blends the character’s strength and vulnerability. Jerreme Rodriguez nicely morphs from Reina’s kind-but-gruff, Adan to ebullient Cruz—the story’s version of the Scarecrow. Gloria Viveca Benavides is a hoot as both the village’s “hot mama,” Antonia and Leona—a nun who wants to be a rock star. Leona is the Cowardly Lion stand-in—she has tried three times to cross the border and chickened out each time. Ms. Benavides has a gift for comedy and belts out a rock ballad like nobody’s business. Bobby Plasencia performs the roles of Don Napoleon, village grandfather-figure and Silvano, a broken man whose heart has “rusted” from mourning for his wife and family. Plasencia brings heart to both roles, while also setting up the comedy. Isabella Campos is delightful as Reina, making the journey from naïve 17-year-old to a woman in her late 20s who has struggled but never gave up.
SOMEWHERE OVER THE BORDER is at its heart about family and community—the one we’re born into and the one we make for ourselves. It’s also about striving for “better.” A better place to live, a better education, a better life. Isn’t that something we all want?
My one caveat is that it takes a long time to “get the show on the road,” as it were. The early part seems stuck in Reina’s village a tad too long. The first act is rather lengthy, and then the second seems rushed. Musically, the score is a nice balance of catchy tunes that audiences will be humming long after they leave the theatre and more dramatic tunes that give insight into the characters.
Immigration has become a political hot potato, with much vitriol hurled at poor people seeking sanctuary and a better life in our country. They’ve taken “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” to heart. Numerous lies have been told about those that struggle to get here. Vicious lies. We’ve forgotten we are a country of immigrants. Some of our ancestors have been here longer than others, but unless you’re a Native American, you came from people who traveled from another place to be here. My maternal grandfather was an immigrant from Ireland in 1910—when it was still “Irish need not apply.” I guess being only second generation born here, I’ve always had an empathy for those coming from other countries. The more the merrier…
WHEN YOU GO: SOMEWHERE OVER THE BORDER is performing on the Leonard C. Haas Stage at People’s Light—39 Conestoga Road (Route 401), Malvern, PA 19355. Performances are Tuesdays thru Sundays now until August 11, 2024. This production is recommended for ages 12+.
Special Events: There will be a Relaxed Performance on Sunday, Aug. 4 @ 2pm, with Audio description also available at this performance. Open Captioning will be available Aug. 6th to the 11th. An ASL interpreted performance will be held on Aug. 4th @ 2pm. In addition, Spanish Language Access Performances will be held on Sunday, Jul. 28 at 2pm and Saturday, Aug. 10 at 2pm, with the dialogue in Spanish on the open captioning screens.
People’s Light is fully handicapped accessible. There is plenty of free, off-street parking and the Farmhouse Bistro serves dinners prior to curtain. For additional information and background on SOMEWHERE OVER THE BORDER, patrons can call the Box Office at 610-644-3500, or visit the company’s website at www.peopleslight.org
COVID PROTOCOLS: Masks ARE NOT REQUIRED AT THIS TIME. The CDC may change its protocols, so go prepared.