Chicago Sun Times July 11, 2008
'Esperanza' gives hope for smart theater for kids
By Jennifer Burklow
KIDDING AROUND
"Esperanza Rising," based on Pam Munoz Ryan's novel, contains all that and more. And that's exactly why director Henry Godinez thinks it's a great play for kids age 8 and older.
"There's a lot of action in this play," he said. "It's very epic and exciting, and I think the kids will like that. I think they'll love the music. I think they'll love that it's kind of serious, too; it doesn't talk down to them. It's not cutesy. It's not light and fluffy. It's pretty gutsy. ... I think kids like that more than we give them credit for."
"Esperanza Rising" closes the Chicago Children's Theatre's season while simultaneously opening the Goodman Theatre's 2008 Latino Theater Festival at the Goodman's Owen Theatre at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Ryan will be on hand for the 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday performances to sign books.
Set in the 1930s, "Esperanza Rising" tells the tale of a wealthy Mexican girl whose world is turned upside down when her father is killed by thieves. To escape the clutches of her greedy uncle, Esperanza and her mother head to California, where they land in a migrant labor camp. This chain of events teaches Esperanza about what's important in life, and that's what Godinez likes about it.
"I'm really attracted to the riches-to-rags story and the coming-of-age story," he said. "I like the theatricality of it. I love the opportunity to reach out to young audiences, and girls in particular."
Even though the play has a reflective tone, Godinez stresses that humor in the script balances its serious side and the music helps lighten it up. A mariachi trio acts as the chorus/storytellers to move the 1-hour, 45-minute production along (there is one intermission).