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| Flaco Navaja photos by Victoria Sanders |
By Joe Straw
"Dicen que bailar mambo es como hablar con los ángeles”
Hundreds of invitations from press agents fly into my computer emails. And one person shows seems to be the thing these days - the probable cause being the pandemic which has led to some incredible thinking about performance in a space.
My preference is to see at least two actors interacting because the interaction provides a glimpse of reality through the craft sometimes played out in the extreme in action, reaction, and emotions so deep and connecting that it drives ones' sensations to critical levels.
So, one must wing it sometimes. What is my relationship to the man, the artist? And how does the journey move me as a critical spectator?
Flaco Navaja brings it,
Sings it.
from the Puerto Rican
bowels of the Bronx
expressing the songs
in a syncopating
rhythm
and raising his arms
like he’s guided
by a creator
pulling invisible
marionette strings
serendipitously
feet never touching
the floor
What is life?
If it’s not
charmed
enigmatic
evolution
Latino Theater Company presents Evolution of a Sonero written and performed by Flaco Navaja, directed by Miranda Gozález, produced in association with the Urban Theater Company through May 28, 2022.
The Latino Theater Company presented a packed house on this night. And as one looked about the room, everyone knew everyone else, tons of hugs and laughter filled the auditorium awaiting the respectable spectacle. Most were decked in colorful garb, and in just a very good mood. And it stayed that way throughout the 90-minute delightful presentation.
Flaco Navaja gave an inspired and physically creative performance. The Evolution of a Sonero mixes song, poetry, and the telling of stories from his past and through his eyes. The joyfulness is in the imitations and the humor that accompanies his observations of life.
And specifically, Navaja tells the story of how the music defined his life, and how the night came to be. And he does this by relating the sonero, the mechanics of music, to the significant moments in his journey. Those moments are often hilarious, sometimes soul searching, but told with the love he has in his performance of a song, his unraveling life, and the storytelling that accompanies his passage.
Navaja is backed by The Razor Blades, a sextet featuring Carlos Ordiano on piano, Edward Resto on electriBass, Juan Moreno on congas, Richard Velzen on trombome, Joey De Leon on Timbales, and Gener Miguel López Alcantara on timbales (sub).
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| Flaco Navaja |
There is something here, something that can be significant if the pieces, directed by Miranda González, sedulously lined up with the theatre gods and the book of this musical. The underlying bridge may not work, that being his first arrest at school, and is not dramatic enough to take us away from whatever may be the verse or the chorus. The clave-key-code is a little more direct with his start of his parents meeting in 1964 giving us an insight to his humble beginning, his first musical interlude in the third grade. The mambo is a little more unswerving with his call for prayer, and for the answers to his life disrupted by drugs. There is very little in the story of the pain that must be overcome with addiction and that specifically needs to be highlighted. Finally, the coda is the end, it may be the end of the night, but not the end of the story. If the theatrical harmony is possible, it is only possible with a clear definition and harmoniously in tune with the result.
The night was exceptional, the audience sang along, and they were up on their feet on this night swaying the sounds of this remarkable band.
The Urban Theater Company, founded by Marilyn Camacho, Madrid St. Angelo, and Ivan Vega in 2005 in Chicago, Illinois and is “deeply rooted in their (Latino) community and culture.”
https://urbantheaterchicago.org/about-us/
The wonderful night would not have been possible without the help of this fantastic crew:
Manuel Ortiz – Scenic Design
Sarah Albrecht – Costume Design
Lighting Design – Ellie Humphrys
Carlos Ordiano – Musical Director
Iván Vega – Co-Producer
Antonio Bruno – Co-Producer
Miranda González – Co-Producer
Illiana Citlaly Solorzano – Stage Manager
May Fei – Production Manager
Para mis amigos hispanohablantes, mis disculpas, mi español no es tan bueno como me gustaría.
Run! Run! Run! And take your Puerto Rican friend. I did and we had a great time.
Twitter: @joestraw9
Sharing or comments are greatly appreciated.
The Los Angeles Theatre Center
514 S. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
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