GAY AND LESBIAN TIMES REVIEW OF CHELA

CHELA

THEATER REVIEW: “Chela” is tribute to woman who survived stunning abuse
JEAN LOWERISON – SDGLN THEATER CRITIC
June 13th, 2011

Chela Solis, born into Mexican poverty and the eldest of six children, became one of the millions of abused women who try to make it through each day without the loss of life, limb or children.

Early responsibility for her siblings aged her; rape and pregnancy at a young age taught her that men are to be feared. Her mother was not immune to that fear: after the birth, her mother puts her in the hands of a coyote and sends her to the U.S. in the hope hope she can make her way there.

Life in Oklahoma City doesn’t improve her lot much: she meets and marries Finito, a violent and abusive man who virtually imprisons her, taking the phone and the knives when he leaves for work each morning.

But somehow, despite the abuse and degradation, she not only survives but manages to reinvent herself and her life.

Chela’s daughter Dulce Maria Solis offers the one-woman show “Chela” as a tribute to this remarkable woman.

Solis, a graduate of Cal State San Marcos, is touring this show (right now she’s dividing her time between San Diego’s ion theatre and the Hollywood Fringe festival). The next stop is the New York Fringe festival.

Solis is a gifted actress. She’s especially effective as Oklahoma nurses’ assistant Mary Jo, whose attempt to communicate with Chela in her high-school Spanish is a hoot. She’s also excellent as East Indian Dr. Gusami, too busy pushing meds to see her patient.

It’s a harrowing journey, lightened by just enough humor and the kind of ending you’re hoping for.

The details:

The details

In San Diego: “Chela” plays Sunday, June 19, at 2 and 7 p.m. at ion theatre’s BLK BOX, 3704 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest. For tickets call (619) 600-5020 or visit HERE.

In Hollywood: “Chela” plays June 17-18 and 24-25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dorie Theatre at THE COMPLEX on 6476 Santa Monica Blvd. For tickets, click HERE.

To read more reviews by SDGLN Theater Critic Jean Lowerison, click HERE.

http://www.sdgln.com/entertainment/2011/06/13/theater-review-chela-tribute-woman-who-survived-stunning-abuse