What I liked
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What I didn't like
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My overall impression
Performer Gabriela Ortega certainly has the chops to pull off a solo show. She is a charismatic performer who can switch emotions and characters at the drop of a hat. While it is good, I feel that the script could use some work. Her present day character – a college student yearning to learn more about her past and culture – is cute, but there are several subplots that she introduces that are never resolved. This leaves the character’s story feeling haphazard and unresolved.
In stark contrast, the real meat of this show lies in her flashback character – a young singer who gets caught up in the 1965 April revolution in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The energy and urgency of this character is captivating and Ortega shines in the role. This character and story are rich enough to have been the entirety of the play, and are worth seeing.
For more about this play, tune into episode 8 of the See It or Skip It podcast.
