Steadstyle Chicago
	June 2009 Theatre Review by Alan Bresloff
	Boleros for the Disenchanted Often, writers pose questions pertaining to true love and what makes a relationship last.  In many of these stories it is the past that brings us to the future and the stories of our people or ancestors that create the paths we take.  Jose Rivera's "Boleros For The Disenchanted" now  playing at The Goodman Theatre is such a story.  Based on his own parents love story, we journey through a period of forty plus years, starting in a small village in Puerto Rico in 1953 and ending in a small town in Alabama in 1993. Directed by Henry Godinez in a style that is truly his own, he brings the realism of Rivera's story to the stage with all of the emotions one can feel.  We laugh with them, we feel for them and we cry in both happiness and in sadness.  The actors that Godinez has in these roles are marvelous performers and due to the time span, play several roles, each to perfection.  Part of what this play represents is people being forced or having the need to leave their homes and families.  For some, it has been war, for some rebellion.  To leave their home is difficult but to search for a new beginning is a challenge with a potential far greater than what would be if they stayed is the force behind the emigration in this story. The story begins in Puerto Rico.  Flora (beautifully played by Elizabeth Ledo, who has all the charm and fight this character calls for) is engaged to Manuelo (a solid performance by Felix Solis) who feels that a man must do what a man must do, breaking Flora's heart.  Her parents (played by the always reliable Sandra Marquez and Rene Rivera) send her to visit her cousin Petra (the sparkling Liza Fernandez) where she meets a young man, Eusebio (Joe Minoso is charming in this role) who wins her heart and marries her to end act one. As the first act closes, we see the married couple standing at the top of the stairs leaving behind their past and the homeland where they have lived their lives going forward to their new lives in The United States.  What makes this moment one of magic is the set design by Linda Buchanan, the lighting effects by Joseph Appelt and the music by Gustavo Leone all add to this special moment onstage at the Goodman.  As the set revolves and they are facing the future, we see an older couple and what they will be forty years in the future.  The older Eusebio (now played by Rene Rivera brilliantly) is in a hospital bed and yells to his wife "Flora"! (who is now played with great heart and soul by Ms. Marquez) as the lights fade and the act ends. Act two begins with Flora and her husband's caretaker, Eve (this is handled by Ms. Ledo, who amazingly is beyond recognition in her role change).  We learn more about what has taken place in the lives of this happy couple that came to the United States to begin their new lives.  Eusebio is now a double amputee, bedridden and cared for by Flora.  Flora is active in her church and has volunteered to help consul young couples prior their wedding day to see what married live is truly all about.  One such couple enters (played by Minoso and Fernandez) and there is a wonderful feeling in the relationships we see between the couples, both the young and the old. When Eusebio sees the angel of death one night, offering him the chance to prepare for the hereafter, he demands that his last rites be read and in confessions brings up secrets that stir up strong emotion between this couple.  What we see is a very strong relationship that binds these two together despite these secrets, a love that can endure anything.  The final scenes are highly emotional and will allow for three or four tissues.  I suggest that you have them out of the wrapper or your purse at the start of the act so that you can hear every word and feel every emotion that Rivera and Godinez bring to the stage.  You will not want to miss one word or movement of this heartwarming love story. "Boleros" will run in The Goodman's Albert Theatre through July 26, 2009.  Performances are Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. (no evening on 7/19), Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. (no performance on July 3 or 4), Matinees Sunday and Saturday at 2 p.m., Thursday July 2, 9 and 16 at 2 p.m.  There are also performances on Tuesday July 14 and 21 at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets range from $31-$70 and are available at the box office located at 170 N. Dearborn, by phone at 312-443-3800 or online at www.GoodmanTheatre.org.   About Alan Bresloff Alan Bresloff, once an actor himself, has been covering the Chicago Theater Scene since 1993, first as the Theater and Arts critic for LaRaza newspaper, then with Salsachicago.com and then onto Extra Newspaper and The Epoch Times.  He also writes for ElImparcial and TeleGuia.  His reviews can also be seen on www.theatreinchicago.com.  Alan does not call himself a "critic" but a "reviewer" as he tries to educate the reader about theater itself, what is a good value, what to look for in a play or musical and more.  "Exposure to theater is a very important part of a young person's life" he says. "Learning about the arts and culture is in fact learning about life" and he tries to explain more in his reviews than just if it is good or bad.  Even some of the poor productions have some value, he often says and he would love your feedback on shows that you have seen.  You can write him here or at albresloff@sbcglobal.net.