Royal Flush

What I liked

I think the multimedia presentation to open the play set the tone and mood that allowed me to place myself in the right context.

For the most part, I think the dialogue was done really well and captured aspects of Chicano identity that aren’t always depicted naturally.

The box. I think the ways in which performers utilized it added dimension particularly as an object to punctuate scenes of violence. Very effective.

Unlike most portrayals of Chicano gang culture, this one didn’t just foreground males.

I actually think the fatalistic nature of the show makes it ore powerful. Makes a sobering impression.

What I didn't like

The show does such a good job at relying on the audience to sit with their own discomfort that I think more of the same sentiment can be used for the dialogue. There are times when the performers recite lines about the Brown experience that are very on the nose and almost too obvious, which makes it feel like a PSA. Maybe making some of those lines more subtle would have actually been more effective.

My overall impression

Engaging and provoking. Willing to let the audience sit without complacency